Topic: Other developments

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Ontario Securities Commission awards whistleblowers $7.5 million in first ever payout

Peter Tae-Min ChoiBy Peter Tae-Min Choi on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
On July 14, 2016, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) launched the Whistleblower Program (the Program). Under the Program, individuals that provide information on violations of Ontario’s securities law to the OSC are eligible for awards of between 5% and 15% of total monetary sanctions or voluntary payments. The maximum amount a whistleblower can collect is … Continue reading

US Tenth Circuit holds SEC can apply antifraud provisions extraterritorially in certain situations

Seth M. KruglakBy Seth M. Kruglak on Posted in Cross border issues, Other developments, White collar crime
One trend running through recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions is a sense of caution in expanding the scope of U.S. law to extraterritorial activities.  To that end, the Court has instructed that a statute does not apply extraterritorially unless the text clearly shows the U.S. Congress intended such a result.  Notably, the Tenth Circuit recently … Continue reading

SEC Takes Aim at Digital Tokens and Smart Contracts

Robert A. SchwingerBy Robert A. Schwinger on Posted in Cross border issues, Other developments
In his Blockchain Law column, Robert A. Schwinger discusses a wave of new enforcement actions brought by the SEC targeting blockchain-based digital token ventures under a variety of provisions in the securities laws. These proceedings show the breadth of the approaches the SEC is taking toward enforcement in this area, perhaps most notably in one case … Continue reading

The Quebec Court of Appeal qualifies litigation funding agreement as a plan of arrangement

Saam Pousht-MashhadSylvain RigaudBy Saam Pousht-Mashhad and Sylvain Rigaud on Posted in Other developments
Overview In Arrangement relatif à 9354-9186 Québec inc. (Bluberi Gaming Technologies Inc.), the Quebec Court of Appeal characterized a litigation funding agreement in the context of CCAA proceedings as a plan of arrangement, ordering a creditor vote for its approval. Background Bluberi Gaming Technologies Inc. (together with Bluberi Group inc. as Bluberi) operated a gaming … Continue reading

The Quebec Court of Appeal rules that dissident rights do not apply to trust unitholders

Saam Pousht-MashhadBy Saam Pousht-Mashhad on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
On January 21, 2019, the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled  in O’Leary Funds Management c. Boralex Inc., 2019 QCCA 84, that dissident rights under business corporations acts do not apply to trusts. Unitholders of a trust must therefore ensure that their rights are recognized under the trust agreement or the Civil Code of Quebec. The … Continue reading

Motion Judge Erred in Law by Approving Class Counsel’s Fees

Fahad SiddiquiBy Fahad Siddiqui on Posted in Class actions, Other developments
The Court of Appeal for Ontario recently set aside a decision approving the legal fees of class counsel on the condition that counsel would donate 40% of the approved fees to charity. The appeal provides useful guidance for practitioners on fee approval motions in class actions. The Settlement Agreement Welsh v. Ontario, 2019 ONCA 41 … Continue reading

Be Careful What You Say – SEC successfully concludes enforcement proceedings against robo-advisors for false advertising and misleading disclosures

Andrew McCoombBy Andrew McCoomb on Posted in Cross border issues, Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
On December 21, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled proceedings against two robo-advisors for making false statements about investment products and publishing misleading advertising. The proceedings were the SEC’s first enforcement actions against robo-advisors, providing guidance on some of the disclosure issues robo-advisors may face going forward. Wealthfront proceedings The first action involved … Continue reading

Personal jurisdiction in the age of blockchain

Robert A. SchwingerBy Robert A. Schwinger on Posted in Cross border issues, Other developments
As commercial activity increasingly intertwines with applications of blockchain technology with participants around the world, courts have had to grapple with the personal jurisdiction implications of such arrangements. Will participants in these blockchain applications based outside the United States find themselves subject to U.S. jurisdiction when disputes arise, based on how they have conducted their … Continue reading

Forum Selection Clauses in Delaware Corporate Charters Invalid as to Securities Claims

Thomas J. HallBy Thomas J. Hall on Posted in Cross border issues, Other developments
The Delaware Chancery Court recently faced a challenge to forum selection clauses in certificates of incorporation of three Delaware corporations that required shareholder claims under the Securities Act of 1933 be brought in U.S. federal court, thereby barring the state forum.  For securities cases, defendant corporations generally prefer the U.S. federal courts which are viewed … Continue reading

Ontario Court of Appeal Grants Leave to Appeal Tiffin Decision: Will Determine Role of the “Family Resemblance” Test in Defining Securities under the Securities Act

Erika AnschuetzBy Erika Anschuetz on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
It seems that the saga of the Ontario Securities Commission’s prosecution of Daniel Emerson Tiffin and Tiffin Financial Corporation is not over yet.  On November 28, 2018 (2018 ONCA 953), the Ontario Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal the May 15, 2018 merits decision of Charney, J which rejected the “family resemblance” test and … Continue reading

Findings of Fraud Constitute “Other Good Reason” to Order Security for Costs

Erika AnschuetzBy Erika Anschuetz on Posted in Other developments, White collar crime
Hung v Ontario Securities Commission, 2018 ONSC 6729 (Div Ct) The Divisional Court has released yet another chapter in the saga of one of the largest frauds in Canadian history.  In 2017, after a 188-day merits hearing, the Ontario Securities Commission (the Commission) released its decision concerning allegations of fraud against Sino-Forest Corporation (Sino-Forest) and … Continue reading

Stop the presses! Canadian securities regulators raise concerns about press releases and other promotional activities

Katherine PrusinkiewiczBy Katherine Prusinkiewicz on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have issued a notice regarding misleading promotional activities by issuers.  The notice includes examples such as press releases, presentations, social media posts and other marketing materials that provide insufficient or unbalanced information or that include unsubstantiated claims about the issuer. Problematic Promotional Practices Examples of potentially misleading promotional activities identified … Continue reading

Divisional Court Upholds OSC Finding that Trading Software License Contracts are Securities Within Meaning of Securities Act

Erika AnschuetzBy Erika Anschuetz on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Furtak v Ontario (Securities Commission), 2018 ONSC 6616, has upheld the Ontario Securities Commission’s (OSC) merits and sanctions decisions with respect to the Strictrade Offering, which we previously reported on here. Background In 2015, OSC Staff brought enforcement proceedings against Edward Furtak, Axton 2010 Finance Corp., (Axton), Strict … Continue reading

The Hard Way – SEC announces first penalties and compliance roadmap for unregistered ICOs

Andrew McCoombBy Andrew McCoomb on Posted in Cross border issues, Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions, Uncategorized
On November 16, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced consent orders settling actions in respect of two unregistered initial coin offerings (ICOs), including the first fines levied against non-compliant ICO issuers made by the SEC to date. The consent orders demonstrate the SEC’s willingness to follow through with enforcement proceedings against issuers of … Continue reading

Alberta Securities Commission Introduces Whistleblower Program

Steven LeitlAditya BadamiBy Steven Leitl and Aditya Badami on Posted in Legislation, rules and policies, Other developments
On November 19, 2018, the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) implemented its first whistleblower program (the Program) through the release of ASC Policy 15-602 Whistleblower Program (the Policy) and simultaneous amendments to the Alberta Securities Act (the Act). The Program is effective as of November 19, 2018.  Its protections apply retroactively to securities misconduct but only … Continue reading

Re Fauth: A Primer on ss. 75(1)(a), 92(4.1) and 93(b) of Alberta’s Securities Act

Steven LeitlAditya BadamiBy Steven Leitl and Aditya Badami on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions, White collar crime
The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) recently released its decision in the matter of Re Fauth, finding the respondent, Vernon Ray Fauth (Fauth), in breach of ss. 75(1)(a), 92(4.1) and 93(b) of Alberta’s Securities Act, RSA 2000, c S-4 (the Act). The decision offers some important insight on issues regarding limitation periods, illegal dealing, misrepresentations, and … Continue reading

MFDA Publishes Principles-Based Sanction Guidelines

Erika AnschuetzBy Erika Anschuetz on Posted in Other developments
The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) has published new Sanction Guidelines which will take effect on November 15, 2018.  The Sanction Guidelines, which replace the MFDA’s Penalty Guidelines, in place since 2006, are intended to promote consistency, fairness and transparency while focusing on a principles-based approach to sanctioning.  While the Sanction Guidelines are … Continue reading

DOJ provides additional insight on compliance and investigations matters

Kevin James HarnischKeith M. RosenPaul SumilasIlana Beth SinkinVijay RaoBy Kevin James Harnisch, Keith M. Rosen, Paul Sumilas, Ilana Beth Sinkin and Vijay Rao on Posted in Cross border issues, Legislation, rules and policies, Other developments, White collar crime
On October 25, 2018, John Cronan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), delivered an important speech that touched on several key issues for legal and compliance counsel trying to balance business realities with regulator expectations, particularly with respect to compliance with the US Foreign Corrupt … Continue reading

What auditors need to know about blockchain

Robert A. SchwingerBy Robert A. Schwinger on Posted in Cross border issues, Legislation, rules and policies, Other developments
The implications of blockchain and other disruptive technologies for many legal areas have been addressed by a variety of regulators. While much attention has been focused on the pronouncements by bodies such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission, other regulators have been looking at these matters as well. A recent speech by a member … Continue reading

Supreme Court of Canada Rules that Proposed Canadian Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System is Constitutional

Jeremy DevereuxJustine SmithBy Jeremy Devereux and Justine Smith on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
Today the Supreme Court of Canada (the Supreme Court) released its much-anticipated decision on the reference regarding the proposed Canadian Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System, finding that the proposed national regulatory system is constitutional. Previous Attempts to Create National Securities Regulator It has been suggested by the a number of governments, academic commentators and others … Continue reading

A tough break for third party litigation funding in Ontario? Not so fast.

Linda FuerstSaam Pousht-MashhadBy Linda Fuerst and Saam Pousht-Mashhad on Posted in Class actions, Other developments
The Ontario Superior Court (ONSC) issued two back-to-back decisions on acceptable litigation financing agreements, both involving the same third party funder.  While the ONSC continues to approve classic litigation financing arrangements, uncertainty remains as to whether third party financiers may profitably fund counsel fees in the context of class actions. Classic funding schemes continue to … Continue reading

Nova Scotia Bill 67 – IIROC expands its enforcement authority

Andrew McCoombBy Andrew McCoomb on Posted in Legislation, rules and policies, Other developments
On October 12, 2018, Bill 67 was proclaimed into force in Nova Scotia. Bill 67 expands the enforcement powers of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) in Nova Scotia in the interest of strengthening investor protection, with a focus on safeguarding the financial interests of seniors and vulnerable retail investors. Bill 67 amends … Continue reading

From boom to busted: TMF deems PlexCoins as investment contracts

Saam Pousht-MashhadBy Saam Pousht-Mashhad on Posted in Other developments, Securities regulatory decisions
The legal noose is tightening around the necks of rogue cryptocurrency issuers in Quebec. PlexCorps’s legal troubles, as covered in our previous post, have deepened. In Autorité des marchés financiers c. PlexCorps, 2018 QCTMF 91, the Tribunal des Marchés Financier (TMF) qualified PlexCoin as an investment contract within the meaning of Quebec’s Securities Act. This … Continue reading
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