CSA publish proposed amendments to beneficial owner communication procedures
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today released proposed amendments to National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer, its companion policy, forms and related consequential amendments. The amendments are intended to improve the beneficial owner communication procedures by, among other things, incorporating notice-and-access provisions for proxy-related materials for meetings that are not special meetings, simplifying the beneficial owner proxy appointment process and enhancing disclosure regarding the beneficial owner voting process.
In particular, the notice-and-access provisions would allow reporting issuers to post information circulars on a website (non-SEDAR) and send a notice to beneficial owners informing them that the proxy-related materials have been posted. An explanation of how to access the material and a voting instruction form would be included with the notice. The CSA also highlighted the differences between its proposals and the U.S. model for notice-and-access. Despite the differences, however, SEC issuers would be permitted to use the U.S. process to comply with CSA requirements.
The CSA are accepting comments on its proposals until August 31, 2010 and have specifically invited comments on a number of questions, primarily relating to notice-and-access.
