In Sharp v. Autorité des marchés financiers, 2023 SCC 29, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the transnational nature of modern securities regulation in holding there was a “real and substantial connection” between alleged perpetrators of a “pump-and-dump” scheme and Québec. This connection allowed the province’s Financial Markets Administrative Tribunal (FMAT) to assume jurisdiction over … Continue reading
In reasons released October 5, 2023, the Capital Markets Tribunal summarily dismissed a motion by OSC Staff to adjourn a 15 day hearing on the merits approximately three weeks before it was scheduled to commence. The adjournment was requested due to the departure of the OSC senior litigation counsel who had had carriage of the … Continue reading
In Binance Holdings Limited (Re), 2023 ONCMT 27, Ontario’s new Capital Markets Tribunal (the Tribunal) clarified that it does not have the jurisdiction to revoke an investigation order made by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). Background In May 2023, the OSC issued an investigation order under s. 11 of the Ontario Securities Act[1](the Act) to … Continue reading
Ontario’s Divisional Court has upheld a decision of the new Capital Markets Tribunal, finding an over-the-counter financial instrument to meet the definition of “investment contract” pursuant to the Securities Act. Background The appellants conducted business trading in Contracts for Difference (CFDs), a financial instrument offered through online trading platforms “over the counter” rather than on … Continue reading
On March 22, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission or SEC) issued a Wells Notice to Coinbase, Inc., the largest US-based cryptocurrency exchange and a NASDAQ-listed company. A Wells Notice is a communication from the SEC enforcement staff (Staff) to a person or entity involved in an investigation informing them that the Staff has … Continue reading
Introduction In accordance with the Québec Securities Act[1], any person wishing to distribute securities must prepare a prospectus[2]. However, Regulation 45-106[3] offers several exemptions from prospectus requirements. In addition to these exemptions, the Autorité des marchés financiers may also grant discretionary exemptions, as long as it is deemed not to affect the protection of investors.[4] … Continue reading
At the conclusion of a liability trial before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in this class action commenced 17 years ago[1], two Canadian mutual fund managers were found negligent for having failed to prevent certain hedge funds from engaging in “time zone arbitrage”, a type of trading strategy employed by short term traders characterized … Continue reading
On December 12, 2022, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) issued a news release further cautioning crypto trading platforms operating in Canada on the applicability of securities laws to their operations. This news release comes amidst the OSC’s increasing oversight of cryptocurrency offerings. When does securities legislation apply? Previously, in January 2020, the Canadian Securities Administrators … Continue reading
In D.L. v. Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the Superior Court of Quebec ruled on solicitor client privilege claims made by D.L. to resist disclosure of documents seized by the AMF at D.L.’s home in the context of an ongoing pump and dump investigation. The Court recalled the following principles: The burden of establishing solicitor … Continue reading