Canadian securities regulators seek comment on soliciting dealer arrangements

Calgary and Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment CSA Staff Notice 61-303 and Request for Comment Soliciting Dealer Arrangements. The notice outlines regulatory issues raised by soliciting dealer arrangements and seeks input on the practice, which generally involves an issuer paying a dealer to successfully solicit securities
from a securityholder in connection with corporate transactions.

“The practice of soliciting dealer arrangements raises certain securities regulatory issues, notably around conflicts of interest and the integrity of the voting and tendering process,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. “In light of these issues, we believe it is appropriate to assess how these arrangements are being used and whether further regulatory action is appropriate.” 

Soliciting dealer arrangements may be used to solicit securities from securityholders to vote in connection with a matter requiring shareholder approval, or to tender securities for a takeover bid. These arrangements may also be used to incentivize dealers to contact securityholders to participate in a rights offering, to exercise rights to redeem or convert securities, or to attain the requisite quorum for amendments to documents affecting the rights of securityholders.

The Staff Notice can be found on CSA members’ websites.

Comments should be submitted in writing by June 11, 2018.

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

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