Canadian securities regulators adopt fundamental changes to take-over bid regime

Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published final amendments to the regime that governs take-over bids in Canada. The changes, as reflected in a fully harmonized National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids (NI 62-104) and National Policy 62-203 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids, will enhance the quality and integrity of the take-over bid regime while rebalancing the dynamics among bidders, target company boards of directors and target company shareholders during a take-over bid.

In a fundamental change, the new take-over bid regime will require that all non-exempt take-over bids meet a minimum tender requirement of more than 50 per cent of the outstanding securities that are subject to the bid (excluding securities owned by the bidder itself or its joint actors).

The amendments will also require a minimum deposit period of 105 days, subject to exceptions that allow for a shorter minimum period, either at the discretion of the target board, or in the event that the issuer enters into a specified alternative transaction. Further, the minimum deposit period will be subject to an extension period of a minimum of 10 days after the minimum tender requirement and all other conditions are met.

“The new regime will enhance the ability of the security holders to make voluntary, informed and co-ordinated tender decisions while providing boards with additional time and discretion when responding to a take-over bid,” said Louis Morisset, Chair of the CSA and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

Under the existing regime, non-exempt take-over bids must remain open for 35 days and are not subject to any minimum tender requirement or an extension requirement once the bidder has taken up deposited securities.

Except in Ontario, provided all Ministerial approvals are obtained, the amendments to the take-over bid regime and consequential amendments will come into force on May 9, 2016. In Ontario, the amendments will come into force on the later of: a) May 9, 2016, and b) the day on which certain sections of Schedule 18 of the Budget Measures Act, 2015 (Ontario) are proclaimed into force.

A copy of the amendments can be found on CSA members’ websites.

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

For more information:

Kristen Rose
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2336

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Mark Dickey
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-4481

Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities
Commission
604-899-6713

Ainsley Cunningham
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-4733

Andrew Nicholson
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission, New Brunswick
506-658-3021

Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Janice Callbeck
Office of the Superintendent
of Securities, P.E.I.
902-368-6288

John O’Brien
Office of the Superintendent of Securities
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-4909

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent
of Securities
867-667-5466

Jeff Mason
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6591

Tom Hall
Northwest Territories
Securities Office
867-767-9305

Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs
Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160