Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Insurance Companies Act.
Interpretation and Application
Definitions
In this Act,
actuary means a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries; (actuaire)
adjustable policy means an adjustable policy as defined in the regulations; (police ajustable)
affairs, with respect to a company, means the relationships among the company and its affiliates and the shareholders, policyholders, directors and officers of the company and its affiliates, but does not include the business of the company or any of its affiliates; (affaires internes)
affiliate means an entity that is affiliated with another entity within the meaning of section 6; (groupe)
Agency means the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada established under section 3 of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act; (Agence)
annual statement, in relation to a company, means the annual financial statement of the company within the meaning of paragraph 331(1)(a) and, in relation to an insurance holding company, means the annual financial statement of the insurance holding company within the meaning of paragraph 887(1)(a); (rapport annuel)
assets in Canada means the assets that have been vested in trust for a foreign company under Part XIII; (actif au Canada)
auditor includes a firm of accountants; (vérificateur)
bank holding company means a body corporate that is incorporated or formed under Part XV of the Bank Act; (société de portefeuille bancaire)
bearer, in relation to a security, means the person in possession of a security payable to bearer or endorsed in blank; (porteur)
bearer form, in respect of a security, means a security in bearer form as determined in accordance with subsection 87(2); (titre au porteur)
beneficial ownership includes ownership through one or more trustees, legal representatives, agents or other intermediaries; (véritable propriétaire et propriété effective)
body corporate means an incorporated body wherever or however incorporated; (personne morale)
Canadian financial institution means a financial institution that is incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province; (institution financière canadienne)
central securities register or securities register, in relation to a company or an insurance holding company, means the register referred to in section 271; (registre central des valeurs mobilières ou registre des valeurs mobilières)
class, in respect of insurance or an insurance policy, means a class determined in accordance with section 12; (branche)
Commissioner means the Commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada appointed under section 4 of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act; (commissaire)
common-law partner, in relation to an individual, means a person who is cohabiting with the individual in a conjugal relationship, having so cohabited for a period of at least one year; (conjoint de fait)
company means a body corporate referred to in subsection 13(1); (société)
complainant, in relation to a company or any matter concerning a company, means
a registered holder or beneficial owner, and a former registered holder or beneficial owner, of a security of the company or any of its affiliates,
a policyholder entitled to vote at a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders of the company,
a director or an officer, or a former director or officer, of the company or any of its affiliates, or
consumer provision means a provision referred to in paragraph (c) or (c.1) of the definition consumer provision in section 2 of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act; (disposition visant les consommateurs)
converted company means a mutual company that has been converted under this Act into a company with common shares; (société transformée)
court means
in the Province of Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice,
in the Province of Quebec, the Superior Court of the Province,
in the Provinces of Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, the Supreme Court of the Province,
in the Provinces of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, the Court of Queen’s Bench for the Province,
in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of the Province, and
in Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the Supreme Court, and in Nunavut, the Nunavut Court of Justice; (tribunal)
court of appeal means the court to which an appeal lies from a decision or order of a court; (cour d’appel)
debt obligation means a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness of an entity, whether secured or unsecured; (titre de créance)
director means a natural person occupying the position of director, by whatever name called, of a body corporate, and board of directors or directors refers to the directors of a body corporate as a body and, in the case of a society, refers to the supreme governing body of the society; (administrateur, conseil d’administration ou conseil)
equity, in respect of a company or an insurance holding company, means its equity as determined in accordance with the regulations; (capitaux propres)
entity means a body corporate, trust, partnership, fund, an unincorporated association or organization, Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province, an agency of Her Majesty in either of such rights and the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof and any agency thereof; (entité)
federal credit union has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Bank Act; (coopérative de crédit fédérale)
federal financial institution means
a company or a society,
a bank,
a body corporate to which the Trust and Loan Companies Act applies, or
an association to which the Cooperative Credit Associations Act applies; (institution financière fédérale)
fiduciary means any person acting in a fiduciary capacity and includes a personal representative of a deceased person; (représentant)
financial institution means
a company or a society,
a bank or an authorized foreign bank within the meaning of section 2 of the Bank Act,
a body corporate to which the Trust and Loan Companies Act applies,
an association to which the Cooperative Credit Associations Act applies,
a trust, loan or insurance corporation incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province,
a cooperative credit society incorporated and regulated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province,
an entity that is incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province and that is primarily engaged in dealing in securities, including portfolio management and investment counselling, and
a foreign institution; (institution financière)
financial year, in respect of a foreign company, means a calendar year; (exercice)
foreign company means an entity that is the subject of an order made under subsection 574(1); (société étrangère)
foreign institution means an entity that is
engaged in the business of banking, the trust, loan or insurance business, the business of a cooperative credit society or the business of dealing in securities or is otherwise engaged primarily in the business of providing financial services, and
incorporated or formed otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province; (institution étrangère)
former-Act company means a body corporate referred to in paragraph 13(1)(b); (société antérieure)
former-Act society means a body corporate referred to in paragraph 13(2)(b); (société de secours antérieure)
form of proxy means a written or printed form that, when completed and executed by or on behalf of a shareholder or a policyholder, or, in the case of a fraternal benefit society, a member, constitutes a proxy; (formulaire de procuration)
fraternal benefit society means a body corporate
that is without share capital,
that has a representative form of government, and
that was incorporated for fraternal, benevolent or religious purposes, including the provision of insurance benefits solely to its members or the spouses, common-law partners or children of its members; (société de secours mutuel)
going-private transaction means a going-private transaction as defined in the regulations; (transaction de fermeture)
guarantee includes a letter of credit; (garantie)
head office means
in relation to a company, the office required to be maintained by the company under section 260,
in relation to a society, the office required to be maintained by the society under section 544, and
in relation to an insurance holding company, the office required to be maintained by the insurance holding company under section 868; (siège)
holder means
in respect of a security certificate, the person in possession of the certificate issued or endorsed to that person or to bearer or in blank, and
in respect of the ownership of a share, the shareholder of the share within the meaning of section 7; (détenteur)
holding body corporate means a holding body corporate within the meaning of section 4; (société mère)
incorporated, when used with reference to a body corporate that is incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province, also refers to a body corporate that is continued by or under any such Act; (constitué en personne morale)
incorporating instrument means the special Act, letters patent, instrument of continuance or other constating instrument by which a body corporate was incorporated or continued and includes any amendment to or restatement of the constating instrument; (acte constitutif)
incorporator, in relation to a company or an insurance holding company, means a person who applied for letters patent to incorporate the company or insurance holding company, as the case may be; (fondateur)
infrastructure asset means a physical asset, including a long-lived physical asset that supports the delivery of public services, prescribed by regulation; (infrastructure)
insurance holding company means a body corporate that is incorporated or formed under Part XVII; (société de portefeuille d’assurances)
issuer, in respect of a security, means the entity that issues or issued the security; (émetteur)
letters patent, in respect of an instrument authorized to be issued under this Act, means letters patent in a form approved by the Superintendent; (lettres patentes)
life company means a company or a provincial company that is permitted to insure risks falling within the class of life insurance, other than a company or a provincial company that is also permitted to insure risks falling within any other class of insurance other than accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance; (société d’assurance-vie)
marine company means a company that is incorporated for the sole purpose of insuring risks within the class of marine insurance; (société d’assurance maritime)
Minister means the Minister of Finance; (ministre)
minor has the same meaning as in the applicable provincial law and in the absence of any such law has the same meaning as the word “child” in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted in the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989; (mineur)
mutual company means
a company that is incorporated or continued as a mutual company under this Act,
a former-Act company that, on the coming into force of this paragraph, has no issued and outstanding shares, or
and that is not converted into a company with common shares under this Act; (société mutuelle)
non-WTO Member foreign institution means a foreign institution that is not controlled by a WTO Member resident; (institution étrangère d’un non-membre de l’OMC)
officer means
in relation to a body corporate, a chief executive officer, president, vice-president, secretary, controller, treasurer and any other natural person designated as an officer of the body corporate by by-law or by resolution of the directors of the body corporate, and
in relation to any other entity, any natural person designated as an officer of the entity by by-law, by resolution of the members thereof or otherwise; (dirigeant)
order form, in respect of a security, means a security in order form as determined in accordance with subsection 87(3); (titre à ordre)
ordinary resolution means a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast by or on behalf of the shareholders or policyholders who voted in respect of that resolution; (résolution ordinaire)
participating policy means a policy issued by a company that entitles its holder to participate in the profits of the company; (police à participation)
participating policyholder means the holder of a participating policy; (souscripteur avec participation)
permitted infrastructure entity means an entity that, in accordance with prescribed conditions, only makes investments in infrastructure assets or engages in any other activity prescribed by regulation; (entité d’infrastructure admissible)
person means a natural person, an entity or a personal representative; (personne)
personal representative means a person who stands in place of and represents another person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes, as the circumstances require, a trustee, an executor, an administrator, a committee, a guardian, a tutor, a curator, an assignee, a receiver, an agent or an attorney of any person; (représentant personnel)
policy means any written contract of insurance or reinsurance whether contained in one or more documents and, in the case of insurance in a fraternal benefit society, any contract of insurance whether evidenced by a written document or not and any certificate of membership relating in any way to insurance, and includes any annuity contract and any endowment insurance contract; (police)
policy in Canada[Repealed, 2007, c. 6, s. 186]
policyholder in Canada[Repealed, 2007, c. 6, s. 186]
prescribed means prescribed by regulation; (Version anglaise seulement)
property and casualty company means a company or a provincial company that is not a life company or a marine company; (société d’assurances multirisques)
provincial company means, subject to subsection (1.1),
[Repealed]
Antigonish Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company,
Clare Mutual Insurance Company,
The Halifax Insurance Company, or
Pictou County Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company,
or, if the name of such company is changed, includes the successor company by its new name; (société provinciale)
proxy means a completed and executed form of proxy by means of which a shareholder or policyholder or, in the case of a society, a member, appoints a proxyholder to attend and act on behalf of the shareholder, policyholder or member at a meeting of shareholders, policyholders or members; (procuration)
proxyholder means the person appointed by proxy to attend and act on behalf of a shareholder or a policyholder or, in the case of a society, a member at a meeting of shareholders, policyholders or members; (fondé de pouvoir)
real property includes a leasehold interest in real property; (biens immeubles)
recorded address means
in relation to a person who is a shareholder of a company or an insurance holding company, the latest postal address of the person according to the central securities register of the company or the insurance holding company, as the case may be, and
in relation to a person in any other respect, the latest postal address of the person according to the records of the company or insurance holding company; (adresse enregistrée)
registered form, in respect of a security, means a security in registered form as determined in accordance with subsection 87(4); (titre nominatif)
regulated foreign entity means an entity that is
incorporated or formed otherwise in a country or territory, other than Canada, in which a trade agreement listed in Schedule IV of the Bank Act is applicable; and
subject to financial services regulation in that country or territory; (entité étrangère réglementée)
regulatory capital, in respect of a company, a society, a provincial company or an insurance holding company, has the meaning given that expression by the regulations; (capital réglementaire)
resident Canadian means a natural person who is
a Canadian citizen ordinarily resident in Canada,
a Canadian citizen not ordinarily resident in Canada who is a member of a prescribed class of persons, or
a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and ordinarily resident in Canada, except a permanent resident who has been ordinarily resident in Canada for more than one year after the time at which the individual first became eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship; (résident canadien)
residential property means real property consisting of buildings that are used, or are to be used, to the extent of at least one half of the floor space thereof, as one or more private dwellings; (immeuble résidentiel)
securities underwriter means a person who, as principal, agrees to purchase securities with a view to the distribution of the securities or who, as agent for a body corporate or other person, offers for sale or sells securities in connection with a distribution of the securities, and includes a person who participates, directly or indirectly, in a distribution of securities, other than a person whose interest in the distribution of securities is limited to receiving a distributor’s or seller’s commission payable by a securities underwriter; (souscripteur à forfait)
security means
in relation to a body corporate, a share of any class of shares of the body corporate or a debt obligation of the body corporate, and includes a warrant of the body corporate, but does not include a deposit with a financial institution or any instrument evidencing such a deposit, and
in relation to any other entity, any ownership interest in or debt obligation of the entity,
but does not include a policy; (titre ou valeur mobilière)
security interest means an interest in or charge on property by way of mortgage, lien, pledge or otherwise taken by a creditor or guarantor to secure the payment or performance of an obligation; (sûreté)
send includes deliver; (envoyer)
series, in respect of shares, means a division of a class of shares; (série)
significant interest means a significant interest determined in accordance with section 8; (intérêt substantiel)
society means a body corporate referred to in subsection 13(2) that is a fraternal benefit society; (société de secours)
special resolution means a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast by or on behalf of the shareholders and policyholders and, in the case of a fraternal benefit society, the members, who voted in respect of that resolution or signed by all the shareholders, policyholders and members entitled to vote on that resolution; (résolution extraordinaire)
squeeze-out transaction means a transaction by a company that is not a distributing company, or an insurance holding company that is not a distributing insurance holding company, that requires an amendment to a by-law referred to in subsection 238(1) or 851(1), as the case may be, and that would directly or indirectly result in the interest of a holder of shares of a class of shares being terminated without their consent and without substituting an interest of equivalent value in shares that are issued by the following persons and have rights and privileges equal to or greater than those of the shares of the affected class:
in the case of a company, the company, and
in the case of an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company; (transaction d’éviction)
subordinated indebtedness means an instrument evidencing an indebtedness of a company that by its terms provides that the indebtedness will, in the event of the insolvency or winding-up of the company, be subordinate in right of payment to all policy liabilities of the company and all other liabilities of the company except those other liabilities that, by their terms, rank equally with or are subordinate to such indebtedness; (titre secondaire)
subsidiary means an entity that is a subsidiary of another entity within the meaning of section 5; (filiale)
substantial investment means a substantial investment determined in accordance with section 10; (intérêt de groupe financier)
Superintendent means the Superintendent of Financial Institutions appointed pursuant to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act; (surintendant)
total assets, in respect of a company, society, provincial company or insurance holding company, has the meaning given that expression by the regulations; (actif total)
trade, in respect of securities, means any sale or disposition of securities for valuable consideration; (opération)
transfer, in respect of securities, includes a transmission by operation of law; (transfert)
WTO Member resident means a WTO Member resident within the meaning of section 11.1. (résident d’un membre de l’OMC)
For greater certainty, any reference in this Act to a loan does not include, unless otherwise provided, a reference to an advance on the security or against the cash surrender value of a policy.
For the purposes of this Act, a person is a major shareholder of a body corporate if
the aggregate of the shares of any class of voting shares of the body corporate that are beneficially owned by the person and that are beneficially owned by any entities controlled by the person is more than 20 per cent of the outstanding shares of that class of voting shares of the body corporate; or
the aggregate of the shares of any class of non-voting shares of the body corporate that are beneficially owned by the person and that are beneficially owned by any entities controlled by the person is more than 30 per cent of the outstanding shares of that class of non-voting shares of the body corporate.
For the purposes of this Act, a body corporate is widely held if it has no major shareholder.
Interpretation
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the determination of what constitutes a distributing company or distributing insurance holding company for the purposes of this Act.
On the application of a company or insurance holding company, the Superintendent may determine that it is not or was not a distributing company or distributing insurance holding company, as the case may be, if the Superintendent is satisfied that the determination would not prejudice any security holder of that company or insurance holding company.
The Superintendent may determine that members of a class of companies or insurance holding companies are not or were not distributing companies or distributing insurance holding companies, as the case may be, if the Superintendent is satisfied that the determination would not prejudice any security holder of a member of the class.
The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing
physical assets for the purposes of the definition infrastructure asset;
activities in which a permitted infrastructure entity is permitted to engage; and
conditions applicable to investments made and other activities carried out by permitted infrastructure entities.
For the purposes of this Act,
a person controls a body corporate if securities of the body corporate to which are attached more than 50 per cent of the votes that may be cast to elect directors of the body corporate are beneficially owned by the person and the votes attached to those securities are sufficient, if exercised, to elect a majority of the directors of the body corporate;
a person controls an unincorporated entity, other than a limited partnership, if more than 50 per cent of the ownership interests, however designated, into which the entity is divided are beneficially owned by that person and the person is able to direct the business and affairs of the entity;
the general partner of a limited partnership controls the limited partnership; and
a person controls an entity if the person has any direct or indirect influence that, if exercised, would result in control in fact of the entity.
A person who controls an entity is deemed to control any entity that is controlled, or deemed to be controlled, by the entity.
A person is deemed to control, within the meaning of paragraph (1)(a) or (b), an entity if the aggregate of
any securities of the entity that are beneficially owned by that person, and
any securities of the entity that are beneficially owned by any entity controlled by that person
is such that, if that person and all of the entities referred to in paragraph (b) that beneficially own securities of the entity were one person, that person would control the entity.
The Minister may, for any purpose of any provision of this Act that refers to control within the meaning of paragraph (1)(d), make guidelines respecting what constitutes such control, including guidelines describing the policy objectives that the guidelines and the relevant provisions of the Act are intended to achieve and, if any such guidelines are made, the reference to paragraph (1)(d) in that provision shall be interpreted in accordance with the guidelines.
A body corporate is the holding body corporate of any entity that is its subsidiary.
An entity is a subsidiary of another entity if it is controlled by the other entity.
One entity is affiliated with another entity if one of them is controlled by the other or both are controlled by the same person.
Despite subsection (1), for the purposes of Divisions VIII and X of Part VI and Subdivisions 8 and 10 of Division 6 of Part XVII, one entity is affiliated with another entity if one of them is controlled, determined without regard to paragraph 3(1)(d), by the other or both are controlled, determined without regard to paragraph 3(1)(d), by the same person.
For the purposes of this Act, a person is a shareholder of a body corporate when, according to the securities register of the body corporate, the person is the owner of one or more shares of the body corporate or is entitled to be entered in the securities register or like record of the body corporate as the owner of the share or shares.
A reference in this Act to the holding of a share by or in the name of any person is a reference to the fact that the person is registered or is entitled to be registered in the securities register or like record of the body corporate as the holder of that share.
A person has a significant interest in a class of shares of a company or an insurance holding company if the aggregate of
any shares of that class beneficially owned by the person, and
any shares of that class beneficially owned by entities controlled by the person
exceeds 10 per cent of all of the outstanding shares of that class of shares of the company or insurance holding company, as the case may be.
A person who has a significant interest in a class of shares of a company or insurance holding company increases that significant interest in the class of shares if the person or any entity controlled by the person
acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of that class, or
acquires control of any entity that beneficially owns shares of that class,
in such number as to increase the percentage of shares of that class that are beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person.
For the purposes of Part VII and Division 7 of Part XVII, if two or more persons have agreed, under any agreement, commitment or understanding, whether formal or informal, verbal or written, to act jointly or in concert in respect of
shares of a company or of an insurance holding company that they beneficially own,
shares or ownership interests that they beneficially own of any entity that beneficially owns shares of a company or of an insurance holding company, or
shares or ownership interests that they beneficially own of any entity that controls any entity that beneficially owns shares of a company or insurance holding company,
those persons are deemed to be a single person who is acquiring beneficial ownership of the aggregate number of shares of the company or insurance holding company or shares or ownership interests of the entity that are beneficially owned by them.
Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), any agreement, commitment or understanding by or between two or more persons who beneficially own shares of a company or insurance holding company or shares or ownership interests of any entity referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (c),
whereby any of them or their nominees may veto any proposal put before the board of directors of the company or insurance holding company, as the case may be, or
under which no proposal put before the board of directors of the company or insurance holding company, as the case may be, may be approved except with the consent of any of them or their nominees,
is deemed to be an agreement, commitment or understanding referred to in subsection (1).
For the purposes of this section, persons shall be presumed not to have agreed to act jointly or in concert solely by reason of the fact that
one is the proxyholder of one or more of the others in respect of shares or ownership interests referred to in subsection (1); or
they vote the voting rights attached to shares or ownership interests referred to in subsection (1) in the same manner.
Where in the opinion of the Superintendent it is reasonable to conclude that an agreement, commitment or understanding referred to in subsections (1) and (2) exists by or among two or more persons, the Superintendent may designate those persons as persons who have agreed to act jointly or in concert.
A person contravenes a provision of Part VII or Division 7 of Part XVII if the person agrees to act jointly or in concert with one or more other persons in such a manner that a deemed single person contravenes the provision.
A person has a substantial investment in a body corporate where
the voting rights attached to the aggregate of any voting shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person exceed 10 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the body corporate; or
the aggregate of any shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person represents ownership of greater than 25 per cent of the shareholders’ equity of the body corporate.
A person who has a substantial investment in a body corporate pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) increases that substantial investment when the person or any entity controlled by the person
acquires beneficial ownership of additional voting shares of the body corporate in such number as to increase the percentage of voting rights attached to the aggregate of the voting shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person; or
acquires control of any entity that beneficially owns any voting shares of the body corporate in such number as to increase the percentage of voting rights attached to the aggregate of the voting shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person.
A person who has a substantial investment in a body corporate pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) increases that substantial investment when the person or any entity controlled by the person
acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of the body corporate in such number as to increase the percentage of the shareholders’ equity of the body corporate represented by the aggregate of the shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person; or
acquires control of any entity that beneficially owns any shares of the body corporate in such number as to increase the percentage of the shareholders’ equity of the body corporate represented by the aggregate of the shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person.
For greater certainty,
where a person has a substantial investment in a body corporate pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) and the person, or any entity controlled by the person,
purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of shares of the body corporate, or
acquires control of any entity that beneficially owns shares of the body corporate,
in such number as to cause the shareholders’ equity of the body corporate represented by the aggregate of the shares of the body corporate beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person to exceed 25 per cent of the shareholders’ equity of the body corporate, or
where a person has a substantial investment in a body corporate pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) and the person or any entity controlled by the person
purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of voting shares of the body corporate, or
acquires control of any entity that beneficially owns voting shares of the body corporate,
in such number as to cause the voting rights attached to the aggregate of the voting shares beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person to exceed 10 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the company,
the acquisition is deemed to cause the person to increase a substantial investment in the body corporate.
A person has a substantial investment in an unincorporated entity where the aggregate of any ownership interests, however designated, into which the entity is divided, beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person exceeds 25 per cent of all of the ownership interests into which the entity is divided.
A person who has a substantial investment in an unincorporated entity increases that substantial investment when the person or any entity controlled by the person
acquires beneficial ownership of additional ownership interests in the unincorporated entity in such number as to increase the percentage of ownership interests in the unincorporated entity beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person; or
acquires control of any entity that beneficially owns ownership interests in the unincorporated entity in such number as to increase the percentage of ownership interests beneficially owned by the person and by any entities controlled by the person.
[Repealed]
For the purposes of this Act, a WTO Member resident is
a natural person who is ordinarily resident in a country or territory that is a WTO Member as defined in subsection 2(1) of the World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act, other than Canada;
a body corporate, association, partnership or other organization that is incorporated, formed or otherwise organized in a country or territory that is a WTO Member, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act, other than Canada, and that is controlled,
directly or indirectly, by one or more persons referred to in paragraph (a), or
by a government of a WTO Member, whether federal, state or local, or an agency of one of those governments;
a body corporate, association, partnership or other organization that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by a trust referred to in paragraph (c).
For the purposes of subsection (1),
a body corporate is controlled by one or more persons if
securities of the body corporate to which are attached more than 50 per cent of the votes that may be cast to elect directors of the body corporate are beneficially owned by the person or persons, and
the votes attached to those securities are sufficient to elect a majority of the directors of the body corporate;
an association, partnership or other organization is controlled by one or more persons if
more than 50 per cent of the ownership interests, however designated, into which the association, partnership or other organization is divided are beneficially owned by the person or persons, and
the person or persons are able to direct the business and affairs of the association, partnership or other organization;
a body corporate, association, partnership or other organization is controlled by one or more persons if the person or persons have, directly or indirectly, control in fact of the body corporate, association, partnership or other organization; and
a body corporate, association, partnership or other organization that controls another body corporate, association, partnership or other organization is deemed to control any body corporate, association, partnership or other organization that is controlled or deemed to be controlled by the other body corporate, association, partnership or other organization.
A class of insurance is a class set out in the schedule.
A class of insurance that includes insurance against the loss of, or damage to, property includes insurance against loss of use, occupancy, rents and profits resulting from that loss or damage.
Unless specifically mentioned in the schedule, no class of insurance includes insurance against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a natural person or the loss of, or damage to, property.
A class of insurance that includes insurance against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a natural person or the loss of, or damage to, property includes insurance against loss, damage or expenses incident to a claim giving rise to that liability.
The class of life insurance includes the issuance of endowment insurance the funds of which are to be paid at a fixed or determinable future time if the person whose life is insured is then alive or at the person’s death if the person dies before that time.
Application
This Act applies to every body corporate
that is incorporated or continued as a company under this Act, or
to which any of the provisions of Parts I, II, III and VII and either or both of Parts IV and VI of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act applied immediately before the coming into force of this section
and that is not discontinued under this Act.
that is incorporated or continued as a society under this Act; or
Where there is a conflict or inconsistency between a provision of this Act and a provision of the incorporating instrument of a former-Act company or former-Act society, the provision of this Act prevails.
Status and Powers
A company or society has the capacity of a natural person and, subject to this Act, the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person.
Neither a company nor a society shall carry on any business or exercise any power that it is restricted by this Act from carrying on or exercising, or exercise any of its powers in a manner contrary to this Act.
A company or society may carry on business throughout Canada.
Subject to this Act, a company or society has the capacity to carry on its business, conduct its affairs and exercise its powers in any jurisdiction outside Canada to the extent and in the manner that the laws of that jurisdiction permit.
A company or society shall establish and adhere to policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security, including foreign interference.
No act of a company or society, including any transfer of property to or by a company or society, is invalid by reason only that the act or transfer is contrary to the company’s or society’s incorporating instrument or this Act.
It is not necessary for a company to pass a by-law in order to confer any particular power on the company or its directors.
The shareholders and participating policyholders of a company are not, as shareholders or policyholders, liable for any liability, act or default of the company except as otherwise provided by this Act.
The members of a society are not, as members, liable for any liability, act or default of the society except as otherwise provided by this Act.
No person is affected by or is deemed to have notice or knowledge of the contents of a document concerning a company or society by reason only that the document has been filed with the Superintendent or the Minister or is available for inspection at an office of the company or society.
No company or society and no guarantor of an obligation of a company or society may assert against a person dealing with the company or society or against a person who has acquired rights from the company or society that
the company’s or society’s incorporating instrument or any by-laws of the company or society have not been complied with;
the place named in the incorporating instrument or by-laws of the company or society is not the place where the head office of the company or society is situated;
a person held out by the company or society as a director, officer or representative of the company or society has not been duly appointed or has no authority to exercise the powers and perform the duties that are customary in the business of the company or society or usual for a director, officer or representative; or
a document issued by any director, officer or representative of the company or society with actual or usual authority to issue the document is not valid or not genuine.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a person who has or ought to have knowledge of a situation described in that subsection by virtue of their relationship to the company or society.
The Governor in Council may, by order, extend by up to six months the time during which companies and societies may continue to carry on business and foreign companies may continue to carry on business in Canada. No more than one order may be made under this subsection.
The order is not a regulation for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act. However, it shall be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette.
If Parliament dissolves on the day set out in subsection (1) or on any day within the six-month period before that day or on any day within an extension ordered under subsection (2), companies and societies may continue to carry on business, and foreign companies may continue to carry on business in Canada, until the end of the 180th day after the first day of the first session of the next Parliament.
Incorporation, Continuance and Discontinuance
Formalities of Incorporation
On the application of one or more persons made in accordance with this Act, the Minister may, subject to this Part, issue letters patent incorporating a company or society.
Letters patent incorporating a company or society may not be issued if the application therefor is made by or on behalf of
Her Majesty in right of Canada or in right of a province, an agency of Her Majesty in either of those rights, or an entity controlled by Her Majesty in either of those rights;
the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof;
an agency of the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof; or
an entity, other than a foreign institution or any subsidiary of a foreign institution, that is controlled by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof.
Letters patent incorporating a society may not be issued if the society is to operate for profit or as a commercial enterprise or its property is not to be under the control of persons periodically elected by members of the society.
If a proposed company would be a subsidiary of a foreign institution that is engaged in the insurance business, letters patent to incorporate the company may not be issued unless the Minister is satisfied that, if the application is made by a non-WTO Member foreign institution, treatment as favourable for companies to which this Act applies exists or will be provided in the jurisdiction in which the foreign institution principally carries on business, either directly or through a subsidiary.
Nothing in subsection (1) affects the operation of Part XII of the Bank Act.
An application for letters patent to incorporate a company or society setting out the names of the first directors of the company or society shall be filed with the Superintendent, together with such other information, material and evidence as the Superintendent may require.
Before filing an application referred to in subsection (1), the applicant or one of the applicants, as the case may be, shall, at least once a week for a period of four consecutive weeks, publish, in a form satisfactory to the Superintendent, a notice of intention to make the application in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where the head office of the company or society is to be situated.
Any person who objects to the proposed incorporation of a company or society may, within thirty days after the date of the last publication under subsection 25(2) in respect of the proposed company or society, submit the objection in writing to the Superintendent.
On receipt of an objection under subsection (1), the Superintendent shall inform the Minister of the objection.
On receipt of an objection under subsection (1), and if the application for the issuance of the letters patent to which the objection relates has been received, the Superintendent shall, if satisfied that it is necessary and in the public interest to do so, hold or cause to be held a public inquiry into the objection as it relates to the application and, on completion of the inquiry, the Superintendent shall report the findings of the inquiry to the Minister.
Within thirty days after receiving a report under subsection (3), the Minister shall make the report available to the public.
Subject to the approval of the Governor in Council, the Superintendent may make rules governing the proceedings at public inquiries held under this section.
Before issuing letters patent to incorporate a company or society, the Minister shall take into account all matters that the Minister considers relevant to the application, including
the nature and sufficiency of the financial resources of the applicant or applicants as a source of continuing financial support for the company or society;
the soundness and feasibility of the plans of the applicant or applicants for the future conduct and development of the business of the company or society;
the business record and experience of the applicant or applicants;
the character and integrity of the applicant or applicants or, if the applicant or any of the applicants is a body corporate, its reputation for being operated in a manner that is consistent with the standards of good character and integrity;
whether the company or society will be operated responsibly by persons with the competence and experience suitable for involvement in the operation of a financial institution;
the impact of any integration of the operations and businesses of the applicant or applicants with those of the company or society on the conduct of those operations and businesses; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
There shall be set out in the letters patent incorporating a company or society
the name of the company or society;
the province in which the head office of the company or society is to be situated;
the date that the company or society came, or is to come, into existence; and
in the case of letters patent incorporating a company, whether the company is to be a mutual company.
In addition to the information required to be included under subsection (1), there shall be set out in the letters patent of a society
the criteria for membership in the society;
the manner in which the capital of the society is to be acquired; and
the disposition to be made of the property of the society on liquidation.
The Minister may set out in the letters patent incorporating a company or society any provision not contrary to this Act that the Minister considers advisable in order to take into account the particular circumstances of the proposed company or society.
The Minister may impose such terms and conditions in respect of the issuance of letters patent incorporating a company or society as the Minister considers necessary or appropriate.
If the Minister, under section 22, issues letters patent incorporating a company on the application of a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) or (11) applies or applied at any time, the Minister may include in the letters patent of incorporation of the company a provision deeming shares of the company to be issued, on a share for share basis, to all shareholders of the converted company in exchange for all the issued and outstanding shares of the converted company.
Shares of a company deemed to be issued under subsection (1) are subject to the same designation, rights, privileges and restrictions or conditions and, subject to any agreement to the contrary, to the same charges, encumbrances and other restrictions as the shares of the converted company for which they are exchanged and the shares of the converted company, on the issuance of the letters patent, become the property of the company free and clear of any charge, encumbrance or other restriction.
An exchange of shares of a converted company referred to in subsection (1) under a provision included in the letters patent incorporating a company does not deprive a person who was a holder of shares of the converted company immediately before the exchange of any right or privilege with respect to the shares or relieve the person of any liability in respect of the shares, but that right or privilege must be exercised in accordance with this Act.
Despite subsection (3), no share of a company that is deemed to be issued under a provision included in the letters patent incorporating a company may subsequently be transferred or voted contrary to this Act.
No provision described in subsection (1) may be included in letters patent issued under section 22 unless the application for the letters patent is accompanied by evidence that the request for the provision was approved by a special resolution of the shareholders and policyholders of the converted company who are entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders called to consider the application.
If, under a provision included in the letters patent incorporating a company, a share exchange is deemed to have taken place, the company shall, within ninety days after the issuance of the letters patent, make provision for the issue of share certificates representing shares of the company and for the exchange of those certificates for share certificates representing the shares of the converted company that were outstanding on the day the letters patent were issued.
On application, made in accordance with the regulations, by a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) or (11) applies or applied at any time to give effect to a proposal to incorporate a company as the holding body corporate of the converted company, to continue a body corporate as a company that is the holding body corporate of the converted company or to amalgamate two or more bodies corporate and continue those bodies corporate as a company that is the holding body corporate of the converted company — and to make any other fundamental change to the converted company, including an exchange of any or all of the shares of the converted company for shares of the company —, the Minister may, to give effect to the proposal,
despite any provision of the Act specified in regulations made under paragraph (2)(e), give any approval that the Minister considers necessary.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting applications referred to in subsection (1), including their form and the information to be contained in them, and authorizing the Superintendent to require additional information in respect of such applications;
respecting proposals to which subsection (1) applies, including the information to be contained in the proposals and the times within which the transactions involved in them must occur;
respecting the procedures to be followed by a converted company that makes an application under subsection (1);
respecting the approval, confirmation or authorization, if any, of all or any portion of proposals to which subsection (1) applies, including the approval of shareholders and policyholders and including the terms and conditions of those approvals, confirmations or authorizations and their effect; and
specifying provisions of the Act for the purpose of paragraph (1)(b).
The Superintendent shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette a notice of the issuance of letters patent incorporating a company or society.
The first directors of a company or society are the directors named in the application for letters patent to incorporate the company or society.
A company or society comes into existence on the date provided therefor in its letters patent.
Continuance
A body corporate incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act or any other Act of Parliament, including an insurance holding company but not including a federal credit union, may apply to the Minister for letters patent continuing the body corporate as a company under this Act.
A body corporate incorporated otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament may, if so authorized by the laws of the jurisdiction where it is incorporated, apply to the Minister for letters patent continuing the body corporate as a company under this Act.
A fraternal benefit society incorporated otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament may, if so authorized by the laws of the jurisdiction where it is incorporated, apply to the Minister for letters patent continuing the fraternal benefit society as a society.
A copy of the special resolution referred to in subsection (2) shall be filed with the application.
On the application of a fraternal benefit society under subsection 32(3), the Minister may, subject to this Part, issue letters patent continuing the fraternal benefit society as a society.
On the day set out in the letters patent continuing a body corporate as a company under subsection 34(1),
the body corporate becomes a company as if it had been incorporated under this Act; and
the letters patent are deemed to be the incorporating instrument of the continued company.
On the day set out in the letters patent continuing a fraternal benefit society as a society under subsection 34(2),
the fraternal benefit society becomes a society as if it had been incorporated under this Act; and
the letters patent are deemed to be the incorporating instrument of the continued society.
Where a body corporate is continued as a company or society under this Part, the Superintendent shall without delay send a copy of the letters patent to the appropriate official or public body in the jurisdiction in which the body corporate was authorized to apply to be continued under this Act.
The Superintendent shall publish in the Canada Gazette a notice of the issuance of letters patent continuing a body corporate as a company or society under this Act.
Where a body corporate is continued as a company or society under this Part,
the property of the body corporate continues to be the property of the company or society;
the company or society continues to be liable for the obligations of the body corporate;
an existing cause of action or claim by or against the body corporate or any liability of the body corporate to prosecution is unaffected;
a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding pending by or against the body corporate may continue to be prosecuted by or against the company or society;
a conviction against, or any ruling, order or judgment in favour of or against the body corporate may be enforced by or against the company or society;
a person who, on the day the body corporate becomes a company or society, is the holder of a security issued by the body corporate is not deprived of any right or privilege available to the person at that time in respect of the security or relieved of any liability in respect of it, but any such right or privilege may be exercised only in accordance with this Act; and
the by-laws of the body corporate, except those that are in conflict with this Act, continue as the by-laws of the company or society.
engage in a business activity specified in the order that the company or society would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to engage in and that the body corporate continued as the company or society was engaging in at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
continue to have issued and outstanding debt obligations the issue of which is not authorized by this Act if the debt obligations were outstanding at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
[Repealed]
hold assets that the company or society would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to hold, if the assets were held by the body corporate continued as the company or society at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
acquire and hold assets that the company or society would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to acquire or hold, if the body corporate continued as the company or society was obliged, at the time the application for the letters patent was made, to acquire those assets; and
maintain outside Canada any records or registers required by this Act to be maintained in Canada.
The permission granted under subsection (1) shall be expressed to be granted for a period specified in the order not exceeding
with respect to any activity described in paragraph (1)(a), thirty days after the date of issue of the letters patent or, where the activity is conducted pursuant to an agreement existing on the date of issue of the letters patent, the expiration of the agreement;
with respect to any matter described in paragraph (1)(b), ten years; and
with respect to any matter described in any of paragraphs (1)(d) to (f), two years.
The Minister shall not grant to a company or society any permission
with respect to matters described in paragraph (1)(b), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the date of the approval for the company or society to commence and carry on business, unless the Minister is satisfied on the basis of evidence on oath provided by an officer of the company or society that the company or society will not be able at law to redeem at the end of the ten years the outstanding debt obligations to which the permission relates; and
with respect to matters described in paragraphs (1)(d) and (e), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the date of the approval for the company or society to commence and carry on business.
Discontinuance
A company or society may
apply, under the Bank Act, for letters patent continuing the company or society as a bank or a bank holding company under that Act, or amalgamating and continuing the company or society as a bank or a bank holding company under that Act;
apply, with the approval in writing of the Minister, under the Canada Business Corporations Act for a certificate of continuance as a corporation under that Act;
apply, with the approval in writing of the Minister, under the Canada Cooperatives Act for a certificate of continuance, or a certificate of continuance and a certificate of amalgamation, as a cooperative under that Act;
apply, under the Cooperative Credit Associations Act, for letters patent continuing the company or society as an association under that Act, or amalgamating and continuing the company or society as an association under that Act; or
apply, under the Trust and Loan Companies Act, for letters patent continuing the company or society as a company under that Act, or amalgamating and continuing the company or society as a company under of that Act.
A society may also, with the approval in writing of the Minister, apply under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, for a certificate of continuance under that Act.
The approval referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (c) or subsection (2) may be given only if the Minister is satisfied that
the company or society has published, once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where the head office of the company or society is situated, a notice of its intention to apply for the approval;
the company or society has discharged, or provided for the discharge of, all its policy liabilities;
the application has been authorized by a special resolution.
If a special resolution authorizing the application for the certificate or letters patent so states, the directors of a company or society may, without further approval of the shareholders, policyholders entitled to vote or members, withdraw the application before it is acted on.
If a company or society applies for a certificate or letters patent referred to in section 39 in accordance with that section and the certificate is given or the letters patent are issued, this Act ceases to apply to the company or society as of the day the certificate or the letters patent take effect.
[Repealed]
Corporate Name
A company or society may not be incorporated under this Act with a name
that is prohibited by an Act of Parliament;
that is, in the opinion of the Superintendent, deceptively misdescriptive;
that is the same as or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, substantially the same as or confusingly similar to, any existing
trademark or trade name, or
corporate name of a body corporate,
except where the trademark or trade name is being changed or the body corporate is being dissolved or is changing its corporate name and consent to the use of the trademark, trade name or corporate name is signified to the Superintendent in such manner as the Superintendent may require;
that is the same as or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, substantially the same as or confusingly similar to, the known name under or by which any entity carries on business or is identified; or
Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply with respect to any former-Act company or former-Act society incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament that expressly authorizes the use of any name that would otherwise be prohibited.
Despite section 42, a company or society that is affiliated with another entity may, with the consent of that entity, be incorporated with, or change its name to, substantially the same name as that of the affiliated entity.
The name of a company or society may be set out in its letters patent in an English form, a French form, an English form and a French form or in a combined English and French form, and the company or society may use and be legally designated by any such form.
A company or society may identify itself outside Canada by its name in any language and the company or society may use and be legally designated by any such form of its name outside Canada.
Where a company or society is carrying on business under or identifying itself by a name other than its corporate name, the Superintendent may, by order, direct the company or society not to use that other name if the Superintendent is of the opinion that that other name is a name referred to in any of paragraphs 42(1)(a) to (e).
The Superintendent may, on request, reserve for ninety days a name for a proposed company or society or for a company or society that intends to change its name.
If through inadvertence or otherwise a company or society
comes into existence or is continued with a name, or
on an application to change its name, is granted a name
that is prohibited by section 42, the Superintendent may, by order, direct the company or society to change its name and the company or society shall comply with that direction.
If a company or society has been directed under subsection (1) to change its name and has not, within sixty days after the service of the direction, changed its name to a name that is not prohibited by this Act, the Superintendent may revoke the name of the company or society and assign to it a name and, until changed in accordance with section 224, 238 or 544.1, the name of the company or society is thereafter the name so assigned.
No entity incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament shall use the word “assurance”, “assurances”, “insurance” or “lifeco” or any word or words of import equivalent to any of those words in its name.
Subsection (1) does not apply to
a company or society;
an insurance holding company;
an entity the business of which is not financial activities;
an entity that is primarily engaged in insurance brokerage or insurance agency services; or
an entity that was, on the day immediately preceding the day on which that subsection comes into force, using the word “assurance”, “assurances”, “insurance” or “lifeco” or any word or words of import equivalent to any of those words in its name.
Despite subsection 47(1), a subsidiary of a company or society may use the company’s or society’s name in its name.
In this section, reserved name means a name that includes as part thereof the word “assurance”, “assurances”, “insurance”, “lifeco”, “fiduciaire”, “fiduciary”, “fiducie”, “trust”, “trustco”, “loan”, “loanco” or “prêt” or any word or words of import equivalent to any of those words.
No person, other than a financial institution, who
is carrying on business in Canada under a reserved name, and
has control or acquires control of a company,
shall control the company on the later of
one year after this section comes into force, and
one year after the date of acquisition of the control.
No person, other than a financial institution, who
controls an entity that is not a financial institution that carries on business in Canada under a reserved name, and
has control or acquires control of a company,
shall control the company on the later of
one year after this section comes into force, and
one year after the date of the acquisition of the control.
Notwithstanding subsection (3), where a financial institution controls an entity that
is not a financial institution,
carries on business in Canada under a reserved name, and
has control or acquires control of a company,
the entity shall not control the company on the later of
one year after this section comes into force, and
one year after the date on which the entity acquires control of the company.
Organization and Commencement
Organization Meetings
After letters patent incorporating a company or society are issued, a meeting of the directors of the company or society shall be held at which the directors shall appoint an actuary to be the actuary of the company or society and may, subject to this Part,
make by-laws;
adopt forms of share certificates and corporate records;
authorize the issue of shares of the company;
appoint officers;
make banking arrangements; and
deal with any other matters necessary to organize the company or society.
If at least five million dollars, or any greater amount that the Minister may specify, has been received by a company, other than a mutual company, in respect of which letters patent were issued under section 22 from the issue of its shares, the directors of the company shall without delay call a meeting of the shareholders of the company.
Where such amount as the Minister may specify has been received by a mutual company in respect of which letters patent were issued pursuant to section 22 from its incorporators, the directors of the mutual company shall forthwith call a meeting of the incorporators of the mutual company.
Where such amount as the Minister may specify has been received by a society in respect of which letters patent were issued pursuant to section 22 from its incorporators, the directors of the society shall forthwith call a meeting of the supreme governing body of the society.
approve, amend or reject any by-law made by the directors of the company or society;
subject to section 176, elect directors to hold office for a term expiring not later than the close of the third annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders or members following the election; and
appoint an auditor to hold office until the close of the first annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders or, in the case of a society, until the close of the first general meeting of members.
Commencement and Carrying on of Business
Subject to subsection (6), a company or society shall not carry on any business until the Superintendent has, by order, approved the commencement and carrying on of business by the company or society.
A certificate of registry issued to a company or society under Part III of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, or any other authorization, that is in effect immediately before the coming into force of this Part is deemed to be an order of the Superintendent of indeterminate duration under subsection 53(1) and the company or society remains subject to any and all other restrictions and conditions in the certificate.
Except in respect of a body corporate that is continued as a company or society under this Act for the purposes of amalgamating without delay with one or more bodies corporate and continuing as a company or society under this Act, where letters patent continuing a body corporate as a company or society under this Act are issued, the Superintendent shall make an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company or society.
Where letters patent amalgamating and continuing two or more bodies corporate as a company or society under this Act are issued, the Superintendent shall make an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company or society.
A company that is not a marine company may insure risks in the class of marine insurance without an order under subsection (1).
Every former-Act company and former-Act society that deposited securities with the Receiver General pursuant to section 76 or 82 of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act shall apply for the return of those securities within such period following the coming into force of this section as may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
On application by a company or society, the Superintendent may make an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company or society.
An application by a company or society for an order under subsection (1) must contain a statement setting out the amounts paid or to be paid by the company or society in connection with its incorporation and organization.
Until an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business is made in respect of a company or society, the company or society shall not make any payment on account of incorporation or organization expenses out of moneys received from the paid-in capital of the company or society and interest on those moneys, except reasonable sums
for the remuneration of not more than two officers;
for the payment of costs related to the issue of shares; and
for the payment of clerical assistance, legal services, accounting services, office accommodation at one location, office expenses, advertising, stationery, postage and travel expenses.
All incorporation and organization expenses of a company or society shall be charged to the paid-in capital of the company or society and shall not in any way be charged directly or indirectly to policyholders.
Subject to subsection (2), where a company or society comes into existence but no order approving the commencement and carrying on of business is made for the company or society, the company or society may only
deposit, in Canada, paid-in capital of the company or society in a deposit-taking Canadian financial institution; or
invest paid-in capital of the company or society in unencumbered securities of the Government of Canada or the government of any province.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of any company incorporated for the sole purpose of insuring risks in the class of marine insurance.
The Superintendent shall not make an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company or society until
it has been shown to the satisfaction of the Superintendent that
the company or society has paid-in capital of
at least five million dollars or any greater amount that is specified by the Minister under subsection 50(1), in the case of a company other than a mutual company,
the expenses of incorporation and organization to be borne by the company or society are reasonable, and
all other relevant requirements of this Act have been complied with; and
in the case of a society, the society has filed with the Superintendent
a report of an actuary appointed by the society, in such form as the Superintendent may require, on the results of an actuarial valuation of each of the benefit funds maintained by the society, having regard to the prospective liabilities of and contributions to each fund,
the opinion of the actuary that the assets of the society applicable to each fund, together with the contributions to be received thereafter from the members, are sufficient to provide for the payment at maturity of all of the obligations of the fund without deduction or abatement, and
a statement of its condition and affairs in such detail as the Superintendent may require, as at the date of the valuation referred to in subparagraph (i).
No order approving the commencement and carrying on of business of a society shall be made if the society operates for profit or as a commercial or business enterprise or the property or funds of the society are under the control of persons not periodically elected by members of the society.
The Superintendent shall not make an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company or society more than one year after the day on which the company or society comes into existence.
An order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company shall specify the classes of insurance risks that the company is permitted to insure pursuant to section 443.
An order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company or society may contain such conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act and relate to the business of the company or society as the Superintendent deems expedient and necessary.
In respect of the order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company or society, the Superintendent may at any time, by further order,
specify additional classes of insurance risks that the company is permitted to insure pursuant to section 443,
make the order subject to such conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act and that relate to the business of the company or society as the Superintendent deems expedient and necessary, or
amend or revoke any authorization contained in the order or any condition or limitation to which the order is subject,
but before making any such further order the Superintendent shall provide the company or society with an opportunity to make representations regarding that further order.
[Repealed]
The Minister may, by order, require a company that is a converted company in respect of which the Minister has issued an order under subsection 407(8) or a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(11) applied at any time not to have average total assets in any three month period ending on the last day of a month subsequent to the month specified in the order exceeding the company’s average total assets in the three month period ending on the last day of the month immediately before the month specified in the order if the Minister is of the opinion that it is in the best interests of the financial system in Canada to do so, after having considered the Superintendent’s opinion on
the nature and extent of the financial services activities carried out by entities affiliated with the company; and
the impact that the nature and degree of supervision and regulation of those financial services activities have on the supervision and regulation of the company.
If the Minister is of the opinion that the circumstances giving rise to the order have ceased to exist or have changed substantially, the Minister may, by further order, revoke the order.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the average total assets of a company in a three month period shall be computed by adding the total assets of the company as calculated for the month end of each of the three months in the period and by dividing the sum by three.
On the making of an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company or society, the company or society shall publish a notice of the making of the order in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where the head office of the company or society is located.
The Superintendent shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette a notice of the making of an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company or society.
For greater certainty, this section does not apply to a company or society referred to in subsection 52(2).
Subject to subsection (2), except for the sole purpose of winding up the company’s or society’s affairs, a company or society ceases to exist one year after the day on which its incorporating instrument became effective if it does not obtain an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business within that year.
A company that was incorporated for the sole purpose of insuring risks in the class of marine insurance ceases to exist one year after the day on which its incorporating instrument became effective if, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the company is not, by that date, actively engaged in insuring those risks.
Where
an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business is not made for a company or society, or
the Superintendent is of the opinion that a company referred to in subsection 61(2) is not actively engaged in insuring risks in the class of marine insurance,
no part of the moneys of the company or society shall be used for the payment of incorporation and organization expenses, other than remuneration and costs referred to in section 54, unless the payment has been approved by a special resolution.
If the amount allowed by a special resolution for the payment of any incorporation and organization expenses referred to in subsection (1) is considered insufficient by the directors or if no special resolution for the payment of such expenses is passed, the directors may apply to any court having jurisdiction in the place where the head office of the company or society is situated to settle and determine the amounts to be paid out of any moneys of the company or society before distribution of the balance to the shareholders or, where there are no shareholders, to the incorporators.
The directors shall, at least twenty-one days prior to the date fixed for the hearing of the application referred to in subsection (2), send to the shareholders or incorporators, as the case may be, a notice of the application, which notice shall contain a statement of the amounts that are proposed to be settled and determined by the court.
In order that the amounts paid and payable under this section may be equitably borne by the shareholders or incorporators, as the case may be, the directors shall, after the amounts of the payments have been approved by special resolution or settled and determined by a court, fix the proportionate part thereof chargeable to each shareholder or incorporator as the ratio of the amount paid in by the shareholder or incorporator to the aggregate of all the amounts paid in by the shareholders or incorporators.
After the amounts referred to in this section have been paid, the directors shall pay, with any interest earned thereon, to the shareholders or incorporators, the respective balances of the moneys paid in by them, less the amount chargeable to each shareholder or incorporator under subsection (4).
Capital Structure
Share Capital
Subject to this Act and the by-laws of the company, shares of a company may be issued at such times and to such persons and for such consideration as the directors of the company may determine.
[Repealed]
Shares of a company shall be in registered form and shall be without nominal or par value.
Shares with nominal or par value of a former-Act company are deemed to be shares without nominal or par value.
Where a body corporate is continued as a company under this Act, shares with nominal or par value issued by the body corporate before it was so continued are deemed to be shares without nominal or par value.
Where any right of a holder of a share with nominal or par value of a former-Act company or a body corporate continued as a company under this Act, other than a voting right, was stated or expressed in terms of the nominal or par value of the share immediately before the coming into force of this Part or the continuance under this Act, as the case may be, that right is thereafter deemed to be the same right stated or expressed without reference to the nominal or par value of the share.
A company, other than a mutual company, shall have one class of shares, to be designated as “common shares”, which are non-redeemable and in which the rights of the holders thereof are equal in all respects, and those rights include
the right to vote at all meetings of shareholders except where only holders of a specified class of shares, or policyholders, are entitled to vote;
the right to receive dividends declared on those shares; and
the right to receive the remaining property of the company on dissolution that pertains to shareholders.
No company shall designate more than one class of its shares as “common shares” or any variation of that term.
[Repealed]
A body corporate continued as a company under this Act that is not in compliance with subsection (2) on the date letters patent continuing it as a company are issued shall, within twelve months after that date, redesignate its shares to comply with that subsection.
The by-laws of a company may provide for one or more classes of shares and, if they so provide, shall set out
the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of each class; and
the maximum number, if any, of shares of any class that the company is authorized to issue.
Where a by-law referred to in subsection (1) is made, the directors of the company shall submit the by-law to the shareholders and policyholders at the next meeting of shareholders and policyholders.
The by-laws of a company may, subject to any limitations set out in them, authorize the issue of any class of shares in one or more series and may
fix the maximum number of shares in each series and determine the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to them; and
authorize the directors to do anything referred to in paragraph (a).
If any cumulative dividend or amounts payable on return of capital in respect of a series of shares are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the same class participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends and return of capital.
Where voting rights are attached to any series of a class of shares, the shares of every other series of that class shall have the same voting rights.
No rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached to a series of shares authorized under this section confer on the series a priority in respect of dividends or return of capital over any other series of shares of the same class that are then outstanding.
If the directors exercise their authority under paragraph (1)(b), the directors shall, before the issue of shares of the series, send to the Superintendent particulars of the series of shares and a copy of the by-law that granted the authority to the directors.
Where voting rights are attached to a share of a company, the voting rights may confer only one vote in respect of that share.
Shares issued by a company after the coming into force of this section are non-assessable and the shareholders are not liable to the company or to its creditors in respect thereof.
No share of any class of shares of a company shall be issued until it is fully paid for in money or, with the approval of the Superintendent, in property.
Where any share of a company is not fully paid for on the day this Part comes into force, the provisions of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act that applied to the company immediately prior to that day and that relate to
the liability of holders of shares of a company that are not fully paid for and the enforcement of that liability,
the forfeiture of the share, and
the forfeiture of the right to vote the share
continue to apply in respect of that share.
When issuing shares, a company may provide that any aspect of the shares relating to money or involving the payment of or the liability to pay money be in a currency other than the currency of Canada.
A company shall maintain a separate stated capital account for each class and series of shares it issues.
A company shall record in the appropriate stated capital account the full amount of any consideration it receives for any shares it issues.
in exchange for
property of a person who immediately before the exchange did not deal with the company at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act,
shares of or another interest in a body corporate that immediately before the exchange or because of it did not deal with the company at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act, or
property of a person who immediately before the exchange dealt with the company at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act if the person, the company and all of the holders of shares in the class or series of shares so issued consent to the exchange;
under an agreement referred to in subsection 246(1); or
to shareholders of an amalgamating body corporate who receive the shares in addition to or instead of securities of the amalgamated company.
On the issuance of a share, a company shall not add to the stated capital account in respect of the share an amount greater than the amount of the consideration it receives for the share.
Where a company that has issued any outstanding shares of more than one class or series proposes to add to a stated capital account that it maintains in respect of a class or series of shares an amount that was not received by the company as consideration for the issue of shares, the addition must be approved by special resolution unless all the issued and outstanding shares are of not more than two classes of convertible shares referred to in subsection 81(4).
On the coming into force of this Part, a former-Act company shall record in the stated capital account maintained for each class and series of shares then outstanding an amount that is equal to the aggregate of
the aggregate amount paid up on the shares of each class and series of shares immediately before the coming into force of this Part, and
the amount of the contributed surplus of the company that is attributable to those shares.
The amount of any contributed surplus recorded in the stated capital account pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) shall be deducted from the contributed surplus account of the company.
Any amount unpaid in respect of a share issued by a former-Act company before the coming into force of this Part and paid after the coming into force of this Part shall be recorded in the stated capital account maintained by the company for the shares of that class or series.
Where a body corporate is continued as a company under this Act, the company shall record in the stated capital account maintained for each class and series of shares then outstanding an amount that is equal to the aggregate of
the aggregate amount paid up on the shares of each class and series of shares immediately before the body corporate was so continued, and
the amount of the contributed surplus of the company that is attributable to those shares.
The amount of any contributed surplus recorded in the stated capital account pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) shall be deducted from the contributed surplus account of the company.
Any amount unpaid in respect of a share issued by a body corporate before it was continued as a company under this Act and paid after it was so continued shall be recorded in the stated capital account maintained by the company for the shares of that class or series.
Where the by-laws of a company so provide, no shares of any class shall be issued unless the shares have first been offered to the shareholders holding shares of that class, and those shareholders have a pre-emptive right to acquire the offered shares in proportion to their holdings of the shares of that class, at such price and on such terms as those shares are to be offered to others.
Notwithstanding the existence of a pre-emptive right, a shareholder of a company has no pre-emptive right in respect of shares of a class to be issued
for a consideration other than money;
as a share dividend; or
pursuant to the exercise of conversion privileges, options or rights previously granted by the company.
Notwithstanding the existence of a pre-emptive right, a shareholder of a company has no pre-emptive right in respect of shares to be issued
where the issue of shares to the shareholder is prohibited by this Act; or
where, to the knowledge of the directors of the company, the offer of shares to a shareholder whose recorded address is in a country other than Canada ought not to be made unless the appropriate authority in that country is provided with information in addition to that submitted to the shareholders at the last annual meeting.
A company may issue conversion privileges, options or rights to acquire securities of the company, and shall set out the conditions thereof
in the documents that evidence the conversion privileges, options or rights; or
in the securities to which the conversion privileges, options or rights are attached.
Conversion privileges, options and rights to acquire securities of a company may be made transferable or non-transferable, and options and rights to acquire such securities may be made separable or inseparable from any securities to which they are attached.
Where a company has granted privileges to convert any securities issued by the company into shares, or into shares of another class or series, or has issued or granted options or rights to acquire shares, if the by-laws limit the number of authorized shares, the company shall reserve and continue to reserve sufficient authorized shares to meet the exercise of such conversion privileges, options and rights.
hold shares of the company or of any body corporate that controls the company;
hold any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the company;
permit any of its subsidiaries to hold any shares of the company or of any body corporate that controls the company; or
permit any of its subsidiaries to hold any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the company.
Subject to subsection (2) and to its by-laws, a company may, with the consent of the Superintendent, purchase, for the purpose of cancellation, any shares issued by it, or redeem any redeemable shares issued by it at prices not exceeding the redemption price thereof calculated according to a formula stated in its by-laws or the conditions attaching to the shares.
A company shall not make any payment to purchase or redeem any shares issued by it if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or the payment would cause the company to be, in contravention of subsection 515(1), any regulation made under subsection 515(2) or any order made under subsection 515(3).
A company may accept from any shareholder a share of the company surrendered to it as a gift, but may not extinguish or reduce a liability in respect of an amount unpaid on any such share except in accordance with section 79.
A company may, and may permit its subsidiaries to, hold, in the capacity of a personal representative, shares of the company or of any body corporate that controls the company or ownership interests in any unincorporated entity that controls the company, but only where the company or the subsidiary does not have a beneficial interest in the shares or ownership interests.
A company may, and may permit its subsidiaries to, by way of a security interest
hold shares of the company or of any body corporate that controls the company, or
hold any ownership interests of any entity that controls the company,
where the security interest is nominal or immaterial when measured by criteria established by the company that have been approved in writing by the Superintendent.
Nothing in subsection (2) precludes a former-Act company or any of its subsidiaries from holding any security interest held immediately prior to the coming into force of this Part.
A company may permit any of its subsidiaries to acquire shares of the company through the issuance of those shares by the company to the subsidiary if the conditions prescribed for the purposes of this subsection are met before the subsidiary acquires the shares.
After a subsidiary has acquired shares under the purported authority of subsection (1), the conditions prescribed for the purposes of this subsection must be met.
If a company permits any of its subsidiaries to acquire shares of the company under the purported authority of subsection (1) and one or more of the conditions prescribed for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) were not met, are not met or cease to be met, as the case may be, then, despite section 16 and subsection 70(2), the company must comply with the prescribed requirements.
A company may hold shares of the company or shares or ownership interests of an entity that controls the company, if
the shares or ownership interests are assets of a fund maintained by the company as required by paragraph 451(b); and
the assets of the fund reflect the securities upon which a generally recognized market index is based and the weighting of those securities in that index.
If a mutual fund entity, as defined in subsection 490(1), or a closed-end fund, as defined in that subsection, becomes a subsidiary of a company by reason of the company investing, in the entity or fund, assets of a fund maintained by the company as required by paragraph 451(b), the company may permit the entity or fund to hold shares of the company, or shares or ownership interests of an entity that controls the company, as long as the assets of the mutual fund entity or closed-end fund reflect the securities upon which a generally recognized market index is based and the weighting of those securities in that index.
Subject to subsection (2), where a company purchases shares of the company or fractions thereof or redeems or otherwise acquires shares of the company, the company shall cancel those shares.
Where a company or any of its subsidiaries, through the realization of security, acquires any shares of the company or of any body corporate that controls the company or any ownership interests in an unincorporated entity that controls the company, the company shall, or shall cause its subsidiaries to, as the case may be, within six months after the day of the realization, sell or otherwise dispose of the shares or ownership interests.
Subject to the regulations, a former-Act company shall cause any subsidiary of the company that holds shares of the company, or of any body corporate that controls the company, or any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the company to sell or otherwise dispose of those shares or ownership interests within six months after the day this section comes into force.
The stated capital of a company may be reduced by special resolution.
A company shall not reduce its stated capital by special resolution if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or the reduction would cause the company to be, in contravention of subsection 515(1), any regulation made under subsection 515(2) or any order made under subsection 515(3).
A special resolution to reduce the stated capital of a company shall specify the stated capital account or accounts from which the reduction of stated capital effected by the special resolution will be deducted.
A special resolution to reduce the stated capital of a company has no effect until it is approved in writing by the Superintendent.
Subsection (4) does not apply if
the reduction in the stated capital is made solely as a result of changes made to the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4); and
there is to be no return of capital to shareholders or policyholders as a result of the reduction.
No approval to reduce the stated capital of a company may be given by the Superintendent unless application therefor is made within three months after the time of the passing of the special resolution and a copy of the special resolution, together with a notice of intention to apply for approval, has been published in the Canada Gazette.
In addition to evidence of the passing of a special resolution to reduce the stated capital of a company and of the publication thereof, statements showing
the number of the company’s shares issued and outstanding,
the results of the voting by policyholders and by class of shares of the company,
the company’s assets and liabilities, and
the reason why the company seeks the reduction of capital
shall be submitted to the Superintendent at the time of the application for approval of the special resolution.
Where any money or property was paid or distributed to a shareholder or other person as a consequence of a reduction of capital made contrary to section 79, a creditor of the company may apply to a court for an order compelling the shareholder or other person to pay the money or deliver the property to the company.
No person holding shares in the capacity of a personal representative and registered on the records of the company as a shareholder and therein described as the personal representative of a named person is personally liable under subsection (1), but the named person is subject to all the liabilities imposed by that subsection.
An action to enforce a liability imposed by subsection (1) may not be commenced more than two years after the date of the act complained of.
This section does not affect any liability that arises under section 216.
On a purchase, redemption or other acquisition by a company of shares or fractions thereof issued by it, other than shares acquired pursuant to section 76 or acquired through the realization of security and sold pursuant to subsection 77(2), the company shall deduct from the stated capital account maintained for the class or series of shares so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired an amount equal to the result obtained by multiplying the stated capital in respect of the shares of that class or series by the number of shares of that class or series so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired and dividing by the number of shares of that class or series outstanding immediately before the purchase, redemption or other acquisition.
A company shall adjust its stated capital account or accounts in accordance with any special resolution referred to in section 79.
On a conversion of outstanding shares of a company into shares of another class or series, or on a change of outstanding shares of the company into shares of another class or series, the company shall
deduct from the stated capital account maintained for the class or series of shares converted or changed an amount equal to the result obtained by multiplying the stated capital of the shares of that class or series by the number of shares of that class or series converted or changed, and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class or series immediately before the conversion or change; and
record the result obtained under paragraph (a) and any additional consideration received pursuant to the conversion or change in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the class or series of shares into which the shares have been converted or changed.
For the purposes of subsection (3) and subject to the company’s by-laws, where a company issues two classes of shares and there is attached to each class a right to convert a share of one class into a share of the other class and a share is so converted, the amount of stated capital attributable to a share in either class is the aggregate of the stated capital of both classes divided by the number of outstanding shares of both classes immediately before the conversion.
Shares issued by a company and converted into shares of another class or series, or changed under subsection 238(1) into shares of another class or series, become issued shares of the class or series of shares into which the shares have been converted or changed.
On a conversion of any debt obligation of a company into shares of a class or series of shares, the company shall
deduct from the liabilities of the company the nominal value of the debt obligation being converted; and
record the result obtained under paragraph (a) and any additional consideration received for the conversion in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the class or series of shares into which the debt obligation has been converted.
The directors of a company may declare and a company may pay a dividend by issuing fully paid shares of the company or options or rights to acquire fully paid shares of the company and, subject to subsection (4), the directors of a company may declare and a company may pay a dividend in money or property, and, if a dividend is to be paid in money, the dividend may be paid in a currency other than the currency of Canada.
The directors of a company shall notify the Superintendent of the declaration of a dividend at least 15 days before the day fixed for its payment.
If shares of a company are issued in payment of a dividend, the company shall record in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the shares of the class or series issued in payment of the dividend the declared amount of the dividend stated as an amount of money.
The directors of a company shall not declare and a company shall not pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or the payment would cause the company to be, in contravention of subsection 515(1), any regulation made under subsection 515(2) or any order made under subsection 515(3).
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
Restrictions Specific to Shares of Mutual Companies
A share may confer on its holder the right to vote where an event has occurred and is continuing or a condition is fulfilled.
Subject to subsection 173(4.1), participating shares may confer on their holders the right to elect the number of directors indicated in the company’s by-laws.
A mutual company shall not issue participating shares unless the by-laws of the company authorize it to issue participating shares.
A mutual company that issues participating shares shall maintain separate accounts, in the form and manner determined by the Superintendent, in respect of those shares.
There shall be credited to, or debited from, a participating shareholder account that portion of the income or losses of the company for a financial year, including accrued capital gains or losses, whether or not realized, that is determined in accordance with a method that is
in the written opinion of the actuary of the company, fair and equitable to the participating policyholders of the company;
approved by resolution of the directors, after considering the written opinion of the actuary; and
not disallowed by the Superintendent, on the ground that it is not fair and equitable to the participating policyholders, within sixty days after receiving the resolution.
There shall be debited from a participating shareholder account that portion of the expenses, including taxes, of the company for a financial year that is determined in accordance with a method that is
in the written opinion of the actuary of the company, fair and equitable to the participating policyholders of the company;
approved by resolution of the directors, after considering the written opinion of the actuary; and
not disallowed by the Superintendent, on the ground that it is not fair and equitable to the participating policyholders, within sixty days after receiving the resolution.
A mutual company the directors of which by resolution approve a method of allocating its income and losses and expenses to a participating shareholder account shall, within thirty days after the making of the resolution, file a copy of it with the Superintendent, together with a copy of the written opinion of the actuary of the company and any other information relevant to the allocation method that the Superintendent requests.
The actuary of a company shall annually report in writing to the directors on the fairness and equitableness of the method used by the company for allocating its income and losses and expenses to a participating shareholder account.
A mutual company that pays a dividend under section 83 on participating shares shall debit from the participating shareholder account in respect of those shares
in the case of a dividend paid by issuing fully paid shares, the amount recorded as stated capital in respect of the dividend as required by subsection 83(3); and
in any other case, the amount or value of the dividend.
On a purchase, redemption or other acquisition by a company of participating shares issued by it or fractions of participating shares issued by it, other than participating shares held under section 76 or acquired through the realization of security and sold as required by subsection 77(2), there shall be debited from the participating shareholder account for the class or series of shares so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired the amount determined by the formula A × B/C where A is the balance of the participating shareholder account for the shares of that class or series immediately before the purchase, redemption or other acquisition; B is the number of shares of that class or series so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired; and C is the number of shares of that class or series outstanding immediately before the purchase, redemption or other acquisition.
On a conversion of outstanding participating shares of a company into shares of another class or series, or on a change of outstanding participating shares of the company into shares of another class or series
there shall be deducted from the participating shareholder account maintained for the class or series of participating shares converted or changed the amount determined by the formula A × B/C where A is the balance of the participating shareholder account for the shares of that class or series immediately before the conversion or change, B is the number of shares of that class or series converted or changed, and C is the number of shares of that class or series outstanding immediately before the conversion or change; and
if the shares of that other class or series are participating shares, the amount determined under the formula in paragraph (a) shall be credited to the participating shareholder account for those participating shares.
For the purposes of subsection (2) and subject to the company’s by-laws, where a company issues two classes of participating shares and there is attached to each class a right to convert a share of one class into a share of the other class and a share is so converted, the amount in a participating shareholder account attributable to a share in either class is the amount determined by the formula A/B where A is the total of the balances of the participating shareholder accounts of both classes; and B is the number of outstanding shares of both classes immediately before the conversion.
The remaining property of a company that a participating shareholder of the company is entitled to receive on the dissolution of the company shall not exceed the sum of all amounts each of which is the amount in respect of a class or series of participating shares of the company determined by the formula A × B/C where A is the balance in the participating shareholder account for the shares of that class or series immediately before the dissolution; B is the number of shares of that class or series held by the participating shareholder immediately before the dissolution; and C is the number of shares of that class or series immediately before the dissolution.
Subordinated Indebtedness
A company shall not issue subordinated indebtedness unless the subordinated indebtedness is fully paid for in money or, with the approval of the Superintendent, in property.
A person shall not in any prospectus, advertisement, correspondence or literature relating to any subordinated indebtedness issued or to be issued by a company refer to the subordinated indebtedness otherwise than as subordinated indebtedness.
When issuing subordinated indebtedness, a company may provide that any aspect of the subordinated indebtedness relating to money or involving the payment of or the liability to pay money in relation thereto be in a currency other than that of Canada including, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the payment of any interest thereon.
Security Certificates and Transfers
adverse claim includes a claim that a transfer was or would be wrongful or that a particular adverse person is the owner of or has an interest in a security; (opposition)
bona fide purchaser means a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of any adverse claim who takes delivery of a security in bearer form or order form or of a security in registered form issued to the purchaser or endorsed to the purchaser or endorsed in blank; (acheteur de bonne foi)
clearing agency means a person designated as a recognized clearing agency by the Superintendent; (agence de compensation et de dépôt)
delivery means voluntary transfer of possession; (livraison ou remise)
fungible, in respect of securities, means securities of which any unit is, by nature or usage of trade, the equivalent of any other like unit; (fongibles)
genuine means free of forgery or counterfeit; (authentique)
good faith means honesty in fact in the conduct of the transaction concerned; (bonne foi)
over-issue means the issue of securities in excess of any maximum number of securities that the issuer is authorized to issue; (émission excédentaire)
purchaser means a person who takes an interest in a security by sale, mortgage, pledge, issue, reissue, gift or any other voluntary transaction; (acquéreur)
securities broker means a person who is engaged for all or part of the person’s time in the business of buying and selling securities and who, in the transaction concerned, acts for, or buys a security from, or sells a security to, a customer; (courtier)
security or security certificate means an instrument issued by a company that is
in bearer, order or registered form,
of a type commonly dealt in on securities exchanges or markets or commonly recognized in any area in which it is issued or dealt in as a medium for investment,
one of a class or series or by its terms divisible into a class or series of instruments, and
evidence of a share, participation or other interest in or obligation of a company,
but does not include a policy; (valeur mobilière ou certificat de valeur mobilière)
trust indenture has the meaning given that expression by section 317; (acte de fiducie)
unauthorized, in relation to a signature or an endorsement, means a signature or an endorsement made without actual, implied or apparent authority, and includes a forgery; (non autorisé)
uncertificated security means a security, not evidenced by a security certificate, the issue and any transfer of which is registered and recorded in records maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of a company; (valeur mobilière sans certificat)
valid means issued in accordance with the applicable law or validated under section 101. (valide)
A security is a negotiable instrument but, in the case of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Bills of Exchange Act and this Act, this Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
A security is in bearer form if it is payable to bearer according to its terms and not by reason of any endorsement.
A security is in order form where the security is not a share and, by its terms, it is payable to the order or assigns of any person therein specified with reasonable certainty or to the person or the person’s order.
A security is in registered form if
it specifies a person entitled to the security or to the rights it evidences, and its transfer is capable of being recorded in a securities register; or
it bears a statement that it is in registered form.
A guarantor for an issuer of a security is deemed to be an issuer to the extent of the guarantee, whether or not the guarantor’s obligation is noted on the security.
Subject to Part VII, every security holder is entitled at the holder’s option to a security certificate that complies with this Act or to a non-transferable written acknowledgement of the holder’s right to obtain a security certificate that complies with this Act from a company in respect of the securities of that company held by the security holder.
A company may charge a fee, not exceeding a prescribed amount, for a security certificate issued in respect of a transfer.
A company is not required to issue more than one security certificate in respect of securities held jointly by several persons, and delivery of a security certificate to one of several joint holders is sufficient delivery to all joint holders of the security.
A security certificate shall be signed by or bear the printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced signature of at least one of the following:
a director or officer of the company;
a registrar or transfer agent of the company or a branch transfer agent or a natural person on their behalf; or
a trustee who certifies it in accordance with a trust indenture.
If a security certificate contains a person’s printed or mechanically reproduced signature, the company may issue the security certificate even if the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the company. The security certificate is as valid as if the person were a director or officer at the date of its issue.
There shall be stated on the face of each share certificate issued by a company after the coming into force of this section
the name of the company;
a statement that the company is subject to the Insurance Companies Act;
the name of the person to whom the share certificate is issued; and
the number and class of shares and the designation of any series that the certificate represents.
No charge in favour of a company and no restriction on transfer, other than a constraint under Part VII other than section 427, is effective against a transferee of a security issued by the company if the transferee has no actual knowledge of the charge or restriction unless it or a reference to it is noted conspicuously on the security certificate.
If any of the issued shares of a distributing company remain outstanding and are held by more than one person, the company may not restrict the transfer or ownership of its shares except by way of a constraint under Part VII.
If a body corporate that is continued as a company under this Act has outstanding security certificates and the words “private company” or “private corporation” appear on the certificates, those words are deemed to be a notice of a charge or restriction for the purposes of subsection (1).
There shall be stated legibly on a share certificate issued after the coming into force of this section by a company that is authorized to issue shares of more than one class or series
the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to the shares of each class and series existing when the share certificate is issued; or
that the class or series of shares that the certificate represents has rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached thereto and that the company will furnish a shareholder, on demand and without charge, with a full copy of
the text of the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to each class authorized to be issued and to each series in so far as those rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions have been fixed by the directors, and
the text of the authority of the directors, if the directors are so authorized, to fix the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions of subsequent series of shares.
Where a share certificate issued by a company contains the statement mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), the company shall provide a shareholder, on demand and without charge, with a full copy of the texts referred to in subparagraphs (1)(b)(i) and (ii).
A company may issue a certificate for a fractional share or may issue in place thereof a scrip certificate in bearer form that entitles the holder to receive a certificate for a full share by exchanging scrip certificates aggregating a full share.
The directors of a company may attach conditions to any scrip certificate issued by the company, including conditions that
the scrip certificate becomes void if not exchanged for a share certificate representing a full share before a specified date; and
any shares for which the scrip certificate is exchangeable may, notwithstanding any pre-emptive right, be issued by the company to any person and the proceeds thereof may be distributed rateably to the holders of all the scrip certificates.
A holder of a fractional share issued by a company is not entitled to exercise voting rights or to receive a dividend in respect of the fractional share.
A holder of a scrip certificate is not entitled to exercise voting rights or to receive a dividend in respect of the scrip certificate.
A company or a trustee within the meaning of section 317 may, subject to sections 142 to 145 and 149, treat the registered owner of a security as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices, to receive any interest, dividend or other payment in respect of the security and to exercise all of the rights and powers of an owner of the security.
the heir or personal representative of a deceased security holder or the personal representative of the heirs of the deceased security holder;
the personal representative of a registered security holder who is a minor, an incompetent person or a missing person; or
a liquidator of, or a trustee in bankruptcy for, a registered security holder.
If a person on whom the ownership of a security of a company devolves by operation of law, other than a person described in subsection (2), provides proof of that person’s authority to exercise rights or privileges in respect of a security of the company that is not registered in the person’s name, the company shall, subject to this Act, treat that person as entitled to exercise those rights or privileges.
A company is not required to inquire into the existence of, or see to the performance or observance of, any duty owed to a third person by a registered holder of any of its securities or by anyone whom it treats, as permitted or required by this Part, as the owner or registered holder thereof.
If a minor exercises any rights of ownership in the securities of a company, no subsequent repudiation or avoidance is effective against the company.
A company may treat as owners of a security the survivors of persons to whom the security was issued as joint holders, if the company receives proof satisfactory to it of the death of any of the joint holders.
Subject to the provisions of Part VII and any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes, a person referred to in paragraph 97(2)(a) is entitled to become registered as the owner of a security, or to designate another person to be registered as the owner of a security, if the person referred to in paragraph 97(2)(a) delivers to the company or its transfer agent
the original grant of probate or of letters of administration, or a copy thereof certified to be a true copy by
the court that granted the probate or letters of administration,
a trust company incorporated under the Trust and Loan Companies Act or under the laws of a province, or
a lawyer or notary acting on behalf of the person referred to in paragraph 97(2)(a), or
in the case of transmission by notarial will in the Province of Quebec, a copy thereof authenticated pursuant to the laws of that Province,
together with
an affidavit or declaration of transmission made by the person referred to in paragraph 97(2)(a) that states the particulars of the transmission, and
the security certificate that was owned by the deceased holder
in the case of a transfer to the person referred to in paragraph 97(2)(a), with or without the endorsement of that person, and
in the case of a transfer to any other person, endorsed in accordance with section 115,
and accompanied by any assurance the company may require under section 131.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the laws of the jurisdiction governing the transmission of a security of a deceased holder do not require a grant of probate or of letters of administration in respect of the transmission, a personal representative of the deceased holder is entitled, subject to Part VII and any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes, to become registered as the owner or to designate a person to be registered as the owner, if the personal representative delivers to the company or its transfer agent the following documents, namely,
the security certificate that was owned by the deceased holder; and
reasonable proof of the governing laws, of the deceased holder’s interest in the security and of the right of the personal representative or the designated person to become the registered shareholder.
Subject to Part VII, delivery of the documents referred to in this section empowers a company or its transfer agent to record in a securities register the transmission of a security from the deceased holder to a person referred to in paragraph 97(2)(a) or to such person as the person referred to in that paragraph may designate and, thereafter, to treat the person who becomes so registered as the owner of that security.
The provisions of this Part that validate a security or compel its issue or reissue do not apply to the extent that a validation, issue or reissue would result in over-issue, but
if a valid security similar in all respects to the security involved in the over-issue is reasonably available for purchase, the person entitled to the validation or issue may compel the issuer to purchase and deliver such a security to that person against surrender of the security that the person holds; or
if a valid security similar in all respects to the security involved in the over-issue is not reasonably available for purchase, the person entitled to the validation or issue may recover from the issuer an amount equal to the price the last purchaser for value paid for the invalid security.
Where an issuer is subsequently authorized to issue securities of a number equal to or exceeding the number of securities previously authorized plus the amount of the securities over-issued, the securities so over-issued are valid from the date of their issue.
In any action on a security,
unless specifically denied in the pleadings, each signature on the security or in a necessary endorsement is admitted;
a signature on the security is presumed to be genuine and authorized but, if the effectiveness of the signature is put in issue, the burden of establishing that it is genuine and authorized is on the party claiming under the signature;
if a signature is admitted or established, production of the instrument entitles a holder to recover on it unless the defendant establishes a defence or a defect going to the validity of the security; and
if the defendant establishes that a defence or defect exists, the plaintiff has the burden of establishing that the defence or defect is ineffective against the plaintiff or any person under whom the plaintiff claims.
Unless otherwise agreed, and subject to any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, a person required to deliver securities may deliver any security of the specified issue in bearer form or registered in the name of the transferee or endorsed to the transferee or in blank.
Even against a purchaser for value and without notice of a defect going to the validity of a security, the terms of the security include those stated on the security and those incorporated therein by reference to another instrument, statute, rule, regulation or order to the extent that the terms so referred to do not conflict with the stated terms, but such a reference is not of itself notice to a purchaser for value of a defect going to the validity of the security, notwithstanding that the security expressly states that a person accepting it admits the notice.
A security is valid in the hands of a purchaser for value without notice of any defect going to its validity.
Except as provided in section 105, the fact that a security is not genuine is a complete defence even against a purchaser for value and without notice.
All defences of an issuer, including non-delivery and conditional delivery of a security but not including lack of genuineness, are ineffective against a purchaser for value without notice of the particular defence.
After an event that creates a right to immediate performance of the principal obligation evidenced by a security, or that sets a date on or after which a security is to be presented or surrendered for redemption or exchange, a purchaser is deemed to have notice of any defect in its issue or of any defence of the issuer
if the event requires the payment of money or the delivery of securities, or both, on presentation or surrender of the security, and the funds or securities are available on the date set for payment or exchange, and the purchaser takes the security more than one year after that date; or
if the purchaser takes the security more than two years after the date set for presentation or surrender or the date on which the performance became due.
An unauthorized signature on a security before or in the course of issue is ineffective, except that the signature is effective in favour of a purchaser for value and without notice of the lack of authority, if the signing has been done by
an authenticating trustee, registrar, transfer agent or other person entrusted by the issuer with the signing of the security, or of similar securities, or their immediate preparation for signing; or
an employee of the issuer or of a person referred to in paragraph (a) who, in the ordinary course of the employee’s duties, handles the security.
Where a security contains the signatures necessary to its issue or transfer but is incomplete in any other respect,
any person may complete it by filling in the blanks in accordance with the person’s authority; and
notwithstanding that the blanks are incorrectly filled in, the security as completed is enforceable by a purchaser who took it for value and without notice of the incorrectness.
A completed security that has been improperly altered, even if fraudulently altered, remains enforceable, but only according to its original terms.
A person signing a security, as authenticating trustee, registrar, transfer agent or other person entrusted by the issuer with the signing of the security, warrants to a purchaser for value without notice that
the security is genuine;
the person’s acts in connection with the issue of the security are within the person’s authority; and
the person has reasonable grounds for believing that the security is in the form and within the amount the issuer is authorized to issue.
Unless otherwise agreed, a person referred to in subsection (1) does not assume any further liability for the validity of a security.
Subject to Part VII, on delivery of a security the purchaser acquires the rights in the security that the purchaser’s transferor had or had authority to convey, except that the position of a purchaser who has been a party to any fraud or illegality affecting the security or who as a prior holder had notice of an adverse claim is not improved by taking from a later bona fide purchaser.
A bona fide purchaser, in addition to acquiring the rights of a purchaser, also acquires the security free from any adverse claim.
A purchaser of a limited interest acquires rights only to the extent of the interest purchased.
A purchaser of a security, or any securities broker for a seller or purchaser, is deemed to have notice of an adverse claim if
the security, whether in bearer form or registered form, has been endorsed “for collection” or “for surrender” or for some other purpose not involving transfer; or
the security is in bearer form and has on it a statement that it is the property of a person other than the transferor, except that the mere writing of a name on a security is not such a statement.
Notwithstanding that a purchaser, or any securities broker for a seller or purchaser, has notice that a security is held for a third person by, or is registered in the name of or endorsed by, a fiduciary, neither the purchaser nor the securities broker has any duty to inquire into the rightfulness of the transfer or any notice of an adverse claim, except that if the purchaser or securities broker for the seller or purchaser knows that the consideration is to be used for, or that the transaction is for, the personal benefit of the fiduciary or is otherwise in breach of the fiduciary’s duty, the purchaser or securities broker is deemed to have notice of an adverse claim.
An event that creates a right to immediate performance of the principal obligation evidenced by a security or that sets a date on or after which the security is to be presented or surrendered for redemption or exchange is not of itself notice of an adverse claim, except in the case of a purchase
made more than one year after any date set for such a presentation or surrender; or
made more than six months after any date set for payment of money against such a presentation or surrender if funds are available for payment on that date.
A person who presents a security for registration of transfer or for payment or exchange warrants to the issuer that the person is entitled to the registration, payment or exchange, except that a purchaser for value without notice of an adverse claim who receives a new, reissued or re-registered security on registration of transfer warrants only that the purchaser has no knowledge of any unauthorized signature in a necessary endorsement.
A person by transferring a security to a purchaser for value warrants only that
the transfer is effective and rightful;
the security is genuine and has not been materially altered; and
the person knows of nothing that might impair the validity of the security.
Where a security is delivered by an intermediary known by the purchaser to be entrusted with delivery of the security on behalf of another or with collection of a draft or other claim to be collected against that delivery, the intermediary by that delivery warrants only the intermediary’s own good faith and authority even if the intermediary has purchased or made advances against the draft or other claim to be collected against the delivery.
A pledgee or other holder for purposes of security who redelivers a security received, or after payment and on order of the debtor delivers that security to a third person, gives only the warranties of an intermediary under subsection (3).
A securities broker gives to the broker’s customer, to the issuer and to a purchaser, as the case may be, the warranties provided in subsections (1) to (4) and has the rights and privileges of a purchaser under those subsections, and those warranties of and in favour of the broker acting as an agent are in addition to warranties given by the broker’s customer and warranties given in favour of the broker’s customer.
Where a security in registered form is delivered to a purchaser without a necessary endorsement, the purchaser may become a bona fide purchaser only as of the time the endorsement is supplied, but against the transferor the transfer is complete on delivery and the purchaser has a specifically enforceable right to have any necessary endorsement supplied.
the person specified by the security or by special endorsement to be entitled to the security;
if a person described in paragraph (a) is described as a fiduciary but is no longer serving in the described capacity, either that person or that person’s successor;
if the security or endorsement mentioned in paragraph (a) specifies more than one person as fiduciaries and one or more of those persons are no longer serving in the described capacity, the remaining fiduciary or fiduciaries, whether or not a successor has been appointed;
if a person described in paragraph (a) is a natural person and is without capacity to act by reason of death, incompetence, minority or other reason, the person’s fiduciary;
if the security or endorsement mentioned in paragraph (a) specifies more than one person with right of survivorship and by reason of death not all of the persons can sign, the survivor or survivors;
a person having power to sign under any applicable law or a power of attorney; or
Whether the person signing is an appropriate person is determined as of the time of signing, and an endorsement by such a person does not become unauthorized for the purposes of this Part by reason of any subsequent change of circumstances.
An endorsement of a security in registered form is made when an appropriate person signs, either on the security or on a separate document, an assignment or transfer of the security or a power to assign or transfer it, or when the signature of an appropriate person is written without more on the back of the security.
An endorsement may be special or in blank.
An endorsement in blank includes an endorsement to bearer.
A special endorsement specifies the person to whom the security is to be transferred, or who has power to transfer it.
A holder may convert an endorsement in blank into a special endorsement.
Unless otherwise agreed, the endorser by the endorsement assumes no obligation that the security will be honoured by the issuer.
An endorsement purporting to be an endorsement of only part of a security representing units intended by the issuer to be separately transferable is effective to the extent of the endorsement.
Failure of a fiduciary to comply with a controlling instrument or with the law of the jurisdiction governing the fiduciary relationship, including any law requiring the fiduciary to obtain court approval of a transfer, does not render the fiduciary’s endorsement unauthorized for the purposes of this Part.
An endorsement of a security, whether special or in blank, does not constitute a transfer until delivery of the security on which it appears or, if the endorsement is on a separate document, until delivery of both the security and that document.
An endorsement of a security in bearer form may give notice of an adverse claim under section 109 but does not otherwise affect any of the holder’s rights.
The owner of a security may assert the ineffectiveness of an endorsement against the issuer or any purchaser, other than a purchaser for value and without notice of an adverse claim, who has in good faith received a new, reissued or re-registered security on registration of transfer, unless the owner
has ratified an unauthorized endorsement of the security; or
is otherwise precluded from impugning the effectiveness of an unauthorized endorsement.
An issuer who registers the transfer of a security on an unauthorized endorsement is liable for improper registration.
A person who guarantees the signature of an endorser of a security warrants that, at the time of signing,
the signature was genuine;
the signer was an appropriate person to endorse; and
the signer had legal capacity to sign.
A person who guarantees the signature of an endorser does not otherwise warrant the rightfulness of the transfer to which the signature relates.
A person who guarantees the endorsement of a security warrants both the signature and the rightfulness, in all respects, of the transfer to which the signature relates, but an issuer may not require a guarantee of endorsement as a condition to registration of transfer.
Delivery to a purchaser occurs when
the purchaser or a person designated by the purchaser acquires possession of a security;
the purchaser’s securities broker acquires possession of a security specially endorsed to or issued in the name of the purchaser;
the purchaser’s securities broker sends the purchaser confirmation of the purchase and the broker in the broker’s records identifies a specific security as belonging to the purchaser; or
in respect of an identified security to be delivered while still in the possession of a third person, that person acknowledges that it is held for the purchaser.
If a security is part of a fungible bulk, a purchaser of the security is the owner of the proportionate interest in the fungible bulk.
Notice of an adverse claim received by a securities broker or by a purchaser after the broker takes delivery as a holder for value is not effective against the broker or the purchaser, except that, as between the broker and the purchaser, the purchaser may demand delivery of an equivalent security in respect of which no notice of an adverse claim has been received.
Unless otherwise agreed, if a sale of a security is made on a stock exchange or otherwise through securities brokers,
the selling customer fulfils the customer’s duty to deliver when the customer delivers the security to the selling securities broker or to a person designated by the selling securities broker or causes an acknowledgement to be made to the selling securities broker that it is held for the selling securities broker; and
the selling securities broker, including a correspondent broker, acting for a selling customer fulfils the securities broker’s duty to deliver by delivering the security or a like security to the buying securities broker or to a person designated by the buying securities broker or by effecting clearance of the sale in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the transaction took place.
Except as otherwise provided in this section and unless otherwise agreed, a transferor’s duty to deliver a security under a contract of purchase is not fulfilled until the transferor delivers the security in negotiable form to the purchaser or to a person designated by the purchaser, or causes an acknowledgement to be made to the purchaser that the security is held for the purchaser.
If a security shown in the records of a clearing agency is evidenced by
a security certificate in the custody of the clearing agency or a custodian, or a nominee of either, subject to the instructions of the clearing agency, and is in bearer form or endorsed in blank by an appropriate person or registered in the name of the clearing agency or a custodian, or of a nominee of either, or
an uncertificated security registered or recorded in records maintained by or on behalf of the company in the name of the clearing agency or a custodian, or of a nominee of either, subject to the instructions of the clearing agency,
then, in addition to other methods, a transfer or pledge of the security or any interest therein may be effected by the making of an appropriate entry in the records of the clearing agency.
Under subsections (4) to (10), entries may be in respect of like securities or interests therein as part of a fungible bulk and may refer merely to a quantity of a particular security without reference to the name of the registered owner, certificate or bond number or the like and, in appropriate cases, may be on a net basis taking into account other transfers or pledges of the same security.
If a pledge or the creation of a security interest is intended, the making of entries has the effect of a taking of delivery by the pledgee or a secured party and the pledgee or secured party shall be deemed to have taken possession for all purposes.
A person depositing a security certificate or an uncertificated security with a clearing agency, or a transferee or pledgee of a security under subsections (4) to (10), is a holder of the security and shall be deemed to have possession of the security so deposited, transferred or pledged, as the case may be, for all purposes.
That entries made in the records of the clearing agency as provided in subsection (4) are not appropriate does not affect the validity or effect of the entries nor the liabilities or obligations of the clearing agency to any person adversely affected thereby.
A person against whom the transfer of a security is wrongful for any reason, including the person’s incapacity, may, against anyone except a bona fide purchaser,
reclaim possession of the security or obtain possession of any new security evidencing all or part of the same rights; or
claim damages.
If the transfer of a security is wrongful by reason of an unauthorized endorsement, the owner may reclaim possession of the security or a new security even from a bona fide purchaser if the ineffectiveness of the purported endorsement is asserted against the purchaser under section 121.
The right to reclaim possession of a security may be specially enforced, its transfer may be restrained and the security may be impounded pending litigation.
Unless otherwise agreed, a transferor shall, on demand, supply a purchaser with proof of the transferor’s authority to transfer a security or with any other requisite that is necessary to obtain registration of the transfer of a security, but if the transfer is not for value, it is not necessary for a transferor to prove authority to transfer unless the purchaser pays the reasonable and necessary costs of the proof and transfer.
If a transferor fails to comply with a demand under subsection (1) within a reasonable time, the purchaser may reject or rescind the transfer.
No seizure of a security or other interest evidenced thereby is effective until the person making the seizure obtains possession of the security.
An agent or bailee who in good faith, including observance of reasonable commercial standards if the agent or bailee is in the business of buying, selling or otherwise dealing with securities of a company, has received securities and sold, pledged or delivered them according to the instructions of the agent’s or bailee’s principal is not liable for conversion or for participation in breach of fiduciary duty even though the principal has no right to dispose of the securities.
Subject to Part VII, where a security in registered form is presented for transfer, the issuer shall register the transfer if
the security is endorsed by an appropriate person;
reasonable assurance is given that the endorsement is genuine and effective;
the issuer has no duty to inquire into adverse claims or has discharged any such duty;
all applicable laws relating to the collection of taxes have been complied with;
the transfer is rightful or is to a bona fide purchaser; and
the fee, if any, referred to in subsection 89(2) has been paid.
Where an issuer has a duty to register a transfer of a security, the issuer is liable to the person presenting it for registration for any loss resulting from any unreasonable delay in registration or from the failure or refusal to register the transfer.
An issuer may require an assurance that each necessary endorsement on a security is genuine and effective by requiring a guarantee of the signature of the person endorsing the security and by requiring
if the endorsement is by an agent, reasonable assurance of authority to sign;
if the endorsement is by a fiduciary, evidence of appointment or incumbency;
if there is more than one fiduciary, reasonable assurance that all who are required to sign have done so; and
in any other case, assurance that corresponds as closely as practicable to the foregoing.
For the purposes of subsection (1), guarantee of the signature means a guarantee signed by or on behalf of a person whom the issuer believes, on reasonable grounds, to be a responsible person.
An issuer may adopt reasonable standards to determine responsible persons for the purposes of subsection (2).
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), evidence of appointment or incumbency means
in the case of a fiduciary appointed by a court and referred to in subsection 100(1), a copy of the certified court order referred to in subsection 100(1) and dated not earlier than sixty days before the day a security is presented for transfer; or
in the case of any other fiduciary, a copy of a document showing the appointment or other evidence believed by the issuer to be appropriate.
An issuer may adopt reasonable standards with respect to evidence referred to in paragraph (4)(b).
An issuer is deemed not to have notice of the contents of any document referred to in subsection (4) that is obtained by the issuer except to the extent that the contents relate directly to appointment or incumbency.
If an issuer, in relation to a transfer, demands assurance other than an assurance specified in subsection 131(1) and obtains a copy of a will, trust or partnership agreement or a by-law or similar document, the issuer is deemed to have notice of all matters contained therein affecting the transfer.
An issuer to whom a security is presented for registration has a duty to inquire into adverse claims if
the issuer receives written notice of an adverse claim at a time and in a manner that provides the issuer with a reasonable opportunity to act on it before the issue of a new, reissued or re-registered security and the notice discloses the name and address of the claimant, the registered owner and the issue of which the security is a part; or
the issuer is deemed to have notice of an adverse claim from a document that it obtained under section 132.
An issuer may discharge a duty of inquiry by any reasonable means, including notifying an adverse claimant by registered mail sent to the address provided by the adverse claimant or, if no such address has been provided, to the adverse claimant’s residence or regular place of business, that a security has been presented for registration of transfer by a named person and that the transfer will be registered unless, within thirty days after the date of mailing of the notice, either
the issuer is served with a restraining order or other order of a court, or
the issuer is provided with an indemnity bond sufficient in the issuer’s judgment to protect the issuer and any registrar, transfer agent or other agent of the issuer from any loss that may be incurred by any of them as a result of complying with the adverse claim.
Unless an issuer is deemed to have notice of an adverse claim from a document that it obtained under section 132 or has received notice of an adverse claim under subsection 133(1), if a security presented for registration is endorsed by the appropriate person, the issuer has no duty to inquire into adverse claims and, in particular,
an issuer registering a security in the name of a person who is a fiduciary or who is described as a fiduciary is not bound to inquire into the existence, extent or correct description of the fiduciary relationship and thereafter the issuer may assume without inquiry that the newly registered owner continues to be the fiduciary until the issuer receives written notice that the fiduciary is no longer acting as such with respect to the particular security;
an issuer registering a transfer on an endorsement by a fiduciary has no duty to inquire into whether the transfer is made in compliance with the document or with the law of the jurisdiction governing the fiduciary relationship; and
an issuer is deemed not to have notice of the contents of any court record or any registered document even if the record or document is in the issuer’s possession and even if the transfer is made on the endorsement of a fiduciary to the fiduciary specifically or to the fiduciary’s nominee.
A written notice of adverse claim received by an issuer is effective for twelve months after the day it was received unless the notice is renewed in writing.
Except as otherwise provided in any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes, an issuer is not liable to the owner or any other person who incurs a loss as a result of the registration of a transfer of a security if
the necessary endorsements were on or with the security; and
the issuer had no duty to inquire into adverse claims or had discharged any such duty.
If an issuer has registered a transfer of a security to a person not entitled to it, the issuer shall on demand deliver a like security to the owner unless
the issuer is not liable by virtue of subsection (1);
the owner is precluded by subsection 137(1) from asserting any claim; or
the delivery would result in over-issue in respect of which section 101 applies.
Where a security has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the issuer of that fact by giving the issuer written notice of the owner’s adverse claim within a reasonable time after the owner knows of the loss, destruction or taking, then, if the issuer has registered a transfer of the security before receiving the notice, the owner is precluded from asserting against the issuer any claim to a new security.
Where the owner of a security claims that the security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the issuer shall issue a new security in place of the original security if the owner
so requests before the issuer has notice that the security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser;
provides the issuer with a sufficient indemnity bond; and
satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the issuer.
In addition to the rights that an issuer has by reason of an indemnity bond, the issuer may recover the new security issued under subsection (2) from the person to whom it was issued or any person taking under that person other than a bona fide purchaser.
An authenticating trustee, registrar, transfer agent or other agent of an issuer has, in respect of the issue, registration of transfer and cancellation of a security of the issuer,
a duty to the issuer to exercise good faith and reasonable diligence; and
the same obligations to the holder or owner of a security and the same rights, privileges and immunities as the issuer.
Notice to an authenticating trustee, registrar, transfer agent or other agent of an issuer is notice to the issuer in respect of the functions performed by the agent.
Corporate Governance
Shareholders and Policyholders
Place of Meetings
Meetings of shareholders or policyholders of a company shall be held at the place within Canada provided for in the by-laws of the company or, in the absence of any such provision, at the place within Canada that the directors determine.
Unless the by-laws provide otherwise, any person who is entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders or policyholders may participate in the meeting by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting if the company makes one available. A person who is participating in a meeting by one of those means is deemed for the purposes of this Act to be present at the meeting.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the manner of and conditions for participating in a meeting by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
Calling Meetings
The directors of a company
shall subsequently call an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders, which meeting must be held not later than six months after the end of each financial year; and
may at any time call a special meeting of shareholders or policyholders.
Despite subsection (1), the company may apply to the court for an order extending the time for calling an annual meeting.
The company shall give notice of the application to the Superintendent before any hearing concerning the application and shall provide the Superintendent with a copy of any order that is issued.
The Superintendent is entitled to appear and be heard in person or by counsel at any hearing concerning the application.
Record Dates
The directors may in advance fix a record date, that is within the prescribed period, for the determination of
shareholders who are entitled to receive payment of a dividend;
shareholders or policyholders who are entitled to participate in a liquidation distribution;
shareholders
who are entitled to receive notice of a meeting of shareholders or a meeting of shareholders and policyholders,
who are entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders, or
for any other purpose;
policyholders who are entitled to
receive notice of a meeting of policyholders or a meeting of shareholders and policyholders, or
vote at a meeting of policyholders or at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders; or
policyholders for any other purpose except
the right to receive payment of a policy dividend or bonus,
any purpose where the determination of policyholders is governed by contract, and
the right to receive benefits in respect of the conversion of a mutual company into a company with common shares.
If no record date is fixed,
the record date for the determination of shareholders who are entitled to receive notice of a meeting of shareholders or a meeting of shareholders and policyholders is
at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which the notice is given, or
if no notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held; and
the record date for the determination of shareholders for any other purpose, other than to establish a shareholder’s right to vote, is at the close of business on the day on which the directors pass a resolution in respect of that purpose.
If no record date is fixed,
the record date for the determination of policyholders who are entitled to receive notice of a meeting of policyholders or a meeting of shareholders and policyholders is
at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which the notice is given, or
if no notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held;
the record date for the determination of policyholders entitled to vote at a meeting is the day on which the meeting is held; and
the record date for the determination of policyholders for any other purpose is at the close of business on the day on which the directors pass a resolution in respect of that purpose.
If a record date is fixed and unless notice of the record date is waived in writing by every holder of a share of the class or series affected whose name is set out in the securities register at the close of business on the day on which the directors fix the record date, notice of the record date shall be given within the prescribed period by
advertisement in a newspaper in general circulation in the place where the company’s head office is situated and in each place in Canada where the company has a transfer agent or where a transfer of its shares may be recorded; and
written notice to each stock exchange in Canada on which the company’s shares are listed for trading.
Notices of Meetings
Notice of the time and place of a meeting of a company’s shareholders or policyholders shall be sent within the prescribed period to
each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting;
each policyholder entitled to vote at the meeting if any of the following business is to be dealt with:
authorizing the company to apply to the Minister for approval of a mutualization proposal or amalgamation agreement,
confirming a by-law changing the rights of policyholders to vote at meetings or the province in which the head office of the company is situated, or
approving an agreement setting out the terms and means of effecting the transfer of all or substantially all of the company’s policies or the reinsurance of all or substantially all of the company’s policies;
each director;
the auditor of the company;
the actuary of the company; and
the Superintendent.
In the case of a company that is not a distributing company and does not have any policyholders entitled to vote, notice may be sent within any shorter period specified in its by-laws.
A converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies shall set out in the notice of a meeting the number of eligible votes, as defined under subsection 164.08(1), that may be cast at the meeting as of the record date for determining the shareholders or policyholders entitled to receive the notice of meeting or, if there are to be separate votes of shareholders or policyholders at the meeting, the number of eligible votes, as defined in that subsection, in respect of each separate vote to be held at the meeting.
A company is not required under subsection (1) to send to a person notice of a meeting if the person waives notice of the meeting. That waiver may be in any manner.
A person who attends a meeting of shareholders or policyholders is deemed to have waived notice of the meeting, except where the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
One practice requires the company to send the notice to each policyholder entitled to vote at the meeting. If that practice is adopted, each of those policyholders is entitled to notice under paragraph (1)(b).
The other practice requires the company, at the time of the application for or issuance of a policy that gives the policyholder the right to vote at meetings of the shareholders and policyholders of the company, and after that time at least once every three years,
to advise the policyholder of the policyholder’s right to attend and to vote in person or by proxy at those meetings; and
to provide the policyholder with a form on which the policyholder may indicate whether the policyholder wants to receive notices of those meetings.
If a company chooses the practice under subsection (1.5), each policyholder entitled to vote at a meeting is entitled to notice under paragraph (1)(b) if, within three years before the record date fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(d)(i) or determined under paragraph 142(3)(a), they complete and return to the company the form referred to in paragraph (1.5)(b) indicating that they want to receive notice or they indicate to the satisfaction of the company that they want to receive notice.
The Minister may exempt a company from the application of paragraph (1)(c) with respect to business consisting of the approval of an amalgamation agreement, having regard to the size of the company and of the companies or bodies corporate with which it proposes to amalgamate.
In addition to the notice required under subsection (1),
where any class of shares of a company is publicly traded on a recognized stock exchange in Canada, notice of the time and place of the meeting of shareholders shall be published once a week for at least four consecutive weeks before the date of the meeting in a newspaper in the place where the head office of the company is situated and in each place in Canada where the company has a transfer agent or where a transfer of the company’s shares may be recorded; or
notice of the time and place of the meeting of policyholders of the company and, where a company follows the practice under subsection (1.5), information on the means by which any policyholder can receive the notice required under subsection (1), shall be published once a week for at least four consecutive weeks before the date of the meeting in a newspaper in the place where the head office of the company is situated and in each region of Canada in which more than one per cent of the total number of policyholders entitled to vote at the meeting reside.
Notice of a meeting is not required to be sent to shareholders who are not registered on the records of the company or the company’s transfer agent on the record date fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(c)(i) or determined under paragraph 142(2)(a).
Notice of a meeting at which business referred to in paragraph (1)(c) is to be dealt with is not required to be sent to policyholders who become policyholders after the record date fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(d)(i) or determined under paragraph 142(3)(a).
Failure to receive a notice of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders does not deprive a shareholder or policyholder of the right to vote at the meeting.
If a meeting of shareholders or policyholders is adjourned for less than thirty days, it is not necessary, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, to give notice of the adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the earliest meeting that is adjourned.
If a meeting of shareholders or policyholders is adjourned by one or more adjournments for a total of thirty days or more, notice of the continuation of the meeting shall be given as for an original meeting but, unless the meeting is adjourned by one or more adjournments for a total of more than ninety days, subsection 164.03(1) does not apply.
All matters dealt with at a special meeting of shareholders or policyholders or at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders are deemed to be special business, except that special business does not include consideration of
the financial statements;
the auditor’s report;
the actuary’s report;
the election of directors;
the remuneration of directors and reappointment of the incumbent auditor; or
the description of the roles of the actuary and the auditor in the preparation and audit of the financial statements.
Notice of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders at which special business is to be transacted must
state the nature of the special business in sufficient detail to permit a shareholder or policyholder to form a reasoned judgment thereon;
contain the text of any special resolution to be submitted to the meeting; and
state, where a management proxy circular is sent to shareholders concurrently with the notice, that a policyholder is entitled on request to receive a copy of the management proxy circular.
The Superintendent may exempt a company from the application of paragraph (2)(b) in relation to policyholders, on condition that, instead of sending the policyholders the text of a special resolution to be submitted to a meeting, the company send the policyholders a summary of the text.
[Repealed]
Shareholder and Policyholder Proposals
submit to the company notice of any matter that they propose to raise at the meeting (in this section and section 148 referred to as a “proposal”); and
discuss at the meeting any matter in respect of which they would have been entitled to submit a proposal.
To be eligible to submit a proposal a person shall
for at least the prescribed period be the registered holder or beneficial owner of at least the prescribed number of the company’s outstanding shares;
have the support of persons who, in the aggregate and including or not including the person who submits the proposal, have for at least the prescribed period been the registered holders or beneficial owners of at least the prescribed number of the company’s outstanding shares; or
be a policyholder entitled to vote at an annual meeting of the company’s shareholders and policyholders.
A proposal submitted by a registered holder or beneficial owner is to be accompanied by the following information:
the name and address of the person submitting the proposal and the names and addresses of their supporters, if any; and
the number of shares held or owned by the person and their supporters, if any, and the date that the shares were acquired.
If the company requests within the prescribed period that a person provide proof that they are eligible to submit a proposal, the person shall within the prescribed period provide proof that they meet the requirements of subsection (1.1).
A company shall attach any proposal of a shareholder or policyholder submitted for consideration at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders to the notice of the meeting.
At the request of the person who submits a proposal, the company shall attach to the notice of the meeting the person’s statement in support of the proposal and their name and address. The statement and proposal together are not to exceed the prescribed maximum number of words.
A proposal may include nominations for the election of directors if it is signed by
in the case of nominations for the directors to be elected by shareholders, one or more registered holders or beneficial owners of shares representing in the aggregate not less than 5% of the shares of the company or 5% of the shares of a class of its shares entitled to vote at the meeting at which the proposal is to be presented; and
in the case of nominations for the directors to be elected by policyholders, the lesser of 250 policyholders and 1% of the policyholders who are entitled to vote at the meeting.
the proposal is not submitted to the company at least the prescribed number of days before the anniversary date of the notice of meeting that was sent to shareholders and policyholders in respect of the previous annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders;
it clearly appears that the primary purpose of the proposal is to enforce a personal claim or redress a personal grievance against the company or its directors, officers or security holders;
it clearly appears that the proposal does not relate in a significant way to the business or affairs of the company;
the person submitting the proposal failed within the prescribed period before the company receives their proposal to present, in person or by proxy, at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders a proposal that at their request had been attached to a notice of meeting;
substantially the same proposal was set out in or attached to a dissident’s proxy circular or attached to a notice of meeting relating to, and was presented to shareholders or policyholders at, a meeting of shareholders or policyholders held within the prescribed period before the receipt of the proposal and did not receive the prescribed minimum amount of support at the meeting;
in the case of a proposal submitted by a policyholder that relates to business that is referred to in paragraph 143(1)(c), the proposal is not signed by at least five hundred policyholders entitled to vote at the meeting to which the proposal is to be presented, or one per cent of the total number of those policyholders, whichever is lesser;
in the case of any other proposal submitted by a policyholder, the proposal is not signed by at least one hundred policyholders entitled to vote at the meeting to which the proposal is to be presented;
in the case of a proposal submitted by a policyholder, the proposal
relates to the management of the ordinary business and affairs of the company, or
would, if implemented, result in a change in the character or direction of the company that would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the company to meet the reasonable expectations of the company’s participating policyholders as to the net cost of their insurance; or
[Repealed]
in the case of a proposal submitted by a policyholder or a shareholder of a mutual company, the proposal would result in the mutual company being converted into a company with common shares.
If a person who submits a proposal fails to continue to hold or own shares in accordance with paragraph (1.1)(a) or, as the case may be, does not continue to have the support of persons who are in the aggregate the registered holders or beneficial owners of the prescribed number of shares in accordance with paragraph (1.1)(b) until the end of the meeting, the company is not required to attach any proposal submitted by that person to a notice of meeting for any meeting held within the prescribed period after the day of the meeting.
If a company refuses to attach a proposal to a notice of a meeting, it shall in writing notify the person submitting the proposal of its intention not to attach the proposal to the notice of the meeting and of the reasons for the refusal. It shall notify the person within the prescribed period after either the day on which it receives the proposal or, if it has requested proof under subsection 147(1.4), the day on which it receives the proof.
On the application of a person submitting a proposal who claims to be aggrieved by a company’s refusal under subsection (1), a court may restrain the holding of the meeting at which the proposal is sought to be presented and make any further order that it thinks fit.
A company or any person claiming to be aggrieved by a proposal may apply to a court for an order permitting the company not to attach the proposal to the notice of the meeting, and the court, if it is satisfied that subsection 147(5) applies, may make such order as it thinks fit.
Shareholder and Policyholder Lists
A company shall prepare an alphabetical list
of shareholders entitled to receive notice of a meeting showing the number of shares held by each shareholder
if a record date is fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(c)(i), no later than 10 days after that date, and
if no record date is fixed, on the record date determined under paragraph 142(2)(a); and
of policyholders entitled to vote at a meeting
if a record date is fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(d)(ii), no later than the day on which the meeting is held, and
if no record date is fixed, on the record date determined under paragraph 142(3)(b).
The company shall prepare an alphabetical list of shareholders entitled to vote as of the record date showing the number of shares held by each shareholder
if a record date is fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(c)(ii), no later than 10 days after that date; and
if no record date is fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(c)(ii), no later than 10 days after a record date is fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(c)(i) or no later than the record date determined under paragraph 142(2)(a), as the case may be.
[Repealed]
A policyholder whose name appears on a list prepared under paragraph (1)(b) is entitled to vote at the meeting to which the list relates.
A shareholder or policyholder may examine the list of shareholders
during usual business hours at the head office of the company or at the place where its central securities register is maintained; and
at the meeting of shareholders for which the list was prepared.
A shareholder or policyholder of a company may, at the meeting of policyholders for which the list referred to in subsection (1) was prepared, require the company to verify from that list whether a person identified both by name and by some other distinguishing feature is entitled to vote at that meeting.
Quorum
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a quorum of shareholders is present at a meeting of shareholders if the holders of a majority of the shares who are entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or represented by proxyholders.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a quorum of policyholders is present at a meeting of policyholders if at least five hundred policyholders who are entitled to vote at the meeting, or one per cent of the total number of those policyholders, whichever is lesser, are present in person or represented by proxyholders.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a quorum of shareholders and policyholders is present at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders if the holders of a majority of the shares and at least five hundred policyholders, or one per cent of the total number of policyholders, whichever is lesser, who are entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or represented by proxyholders.
If a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders, the shareholders or policyholders present may, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, proceed with the business of the meeting, notwithstanding that a quorum is not present throughout the meeting.
If a quorum is not present at the opening of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders, the shareholders or policyholders present may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place but may not transact any other business.
If a company has only one shareholder, or only one holder of any class or series of shares, the shareholder present in person or represented by a proxyholder constitutes a meeting of shareholders or a meeting of shareholders of that class or series.
Voting
Subject to section 164.08, if a share of a company entitles the holder of the share to vote at a meeting of shareholders or shareholders and policyholders, that share entitles the shareholder to one vote at the meeting.
Subject to subsection 149(3), the holder of one or more participating policies issued by a company is entitled to attend a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders of the company and is entitled to one vote at that meeting.
Notwithstanding subsection (1) but subject to subsection 149(3), the holder of a participating policy that was issued by a former-Act company before June 1, 1992 is entitled to more than one vote, or to a fraction of a vote, at a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders of the company in accordance with the terms of the policy or the provisions of the incorporating instrument or the by-laws of the company that had not been repealed and had not otherwise ceased to have effect before that date.
Subject to subsection 149(3), the holder of one or more policies, other than participating policies, issued by a company is entitled to attend a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders of the company, and is entitled to one vote at that meeting, where
the terms of one or more of those policies entitle the policyholder to vote at the meeting; or
the by-laws of the company entitle the policyholder to vote at the meeting.
Notwithstanding subsection (1) but subject to subsection 149(3), the holder of a policy, other than a participating policy, that was issued by a former-Act company before June 1, 1992 is entitled to more than one vote, or to a fraction of a vote, at a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders of the company in accordance with the terms of the policy or the provisions of the incorporating instrument or the by-laws of the company that had not been repealed and had not otherwise ceased to have effect before that date.
is entitled to one vote as the holder of one or more participating policies and to another vote as the holder of one or more policies, other than participating policies, referred to in that subsection where this Act provides for participating policyholders to vote separately from other policyholders who are entitled to vote, or for those other policyholders to vote separately from participating policyholders;
is not otherwise entitled to more than one vote at a meeting of policyholders; and
is not otherwise entitled to more than one vote at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders, unless the holder is also a shareholder, in which case the holder is entitled to one vote as a policyholder and is also entitled to vote his or her shares.
If an entity is a shareholder or policyholder of a company, the company shall recognize any natural person authorized by a resolution of the directors or governing body or similar authority of the entity to represent it at meetings of shareholders or policyholders of the company.
A natural person authorized under subsection (1) to represent an entity may exercise on behalf of the entity all the powers the entity could exercise if the entity were a natural person who was a shareholder or policyholder.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, if two or more persons hold shares or policies jointly, one of those holders present at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders may in the absence of the others vote the shares or policies, but if two or more of those persons who are present in person or represented by proxyholder vote, they shall vote as one on the shares or policies jointly held by them.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, voting at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders shall take place by show of hands except when a ballot is demanded by a shareholder, policyholder or proxyholder entitled to vote at the meeting.
A shareholder, policyholder or proxyholder may demand a ballot either before or after any vote by show of hands.
Despite subsection (1) and unless the by-laws provide otherwise, any vote referred to in that subsection may be held entirely by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility if the company makes one available.
Unless the by-laws provide otherwise, any person who is participating in a meeting of shareholders or policyholders under subsection 140(2) and entitled to vote at that meeting may vote by means of the telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that the company has made available for that purpose.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the manner of and conditions for voting at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility.
Resolution in lieu of Meeting
a resolution in writing signed by all the shareholders and policyholders entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the shareholders or policyholders; and
a resolution in writing dealing with all matters required by this Act to be dealt with at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders, and signed by all the shareholders and policyholders entitled to vote at that meeting, satisfies all the requirements of this Act relating to meetings of shareholders or policyholders.
A copy of every resolution referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept with the minutes of the meetings of shareholders or policyholders.
Unless a ballot is demanded, an entry in the minutes of a meeting that the chairperson declared a resolution to be carried or defeated is in the absence of evidence to the contrary proof of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
Requisitioned Meetings
Shareholders who together hold not less than 5 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of a company that carry the right to vote at a meeting sought to be held may requisition the directors to call a meeting of shareholders or shareholders and policyholders for the purposes stated in the requisition.
At least five hundred policyholders entitled to vote at a meeting sought to be held, or one per cent of the total number of those policyholders, whichever is greater, may requisition the directors to call a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders for the purposes stated in the requisition.
must state the business to be transacted at the meeting and must be sent to each director and to the head office of the company; and
may consist of several documents of like form, each signed by one or more shareholders or policyholders.
a record date has been fixed under subparagraph 142(1)(c)(i) or (d)(i) and notice of it has been given under subsection 142(4);
the directors have called a meeting of shareholders or policyholders and have given notice thereof under section 143; or
A meeting called under this section shall be called as nearly as possible in the manner in which meetings are to be called pursuant to the by-laws and this Act.
Unless the shareholders or policyholders otherwise resolve at a meeting called under subsection (5), the company shall reimburse the shareholders or policyholders for any expenses reasonably incurred by them in requisitioning, calling and holding the meeting.
Powers of the Court
A court may, on the application of a director, a shareholder or policyholder who is entitled to vote or the Superintendent, order a meeting to be called, held or conducted in the manner that the court directs if
it is impracticable to call the meeting within the time or in the manner in which it is to be called;
it is impracticable to conduct the meeting in the manner required by this Act or the by-laws; or
the court thinks that the meeting ought to be called, held or conducted within the time or in the manner that it directs for any other reason.
[Repealed]
Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), a court may order that the quorum required by the by-laws or this Act be varied or dispensed with at a meeting called, held and conducted pursuant to this section.
A meeting called, held and conducted pursuant to this section is for all purposes a meeting of shareholders or policyholders of the company duly called, held and conducted.
A company or a shareholder, policyholder or director of a company may apply to a court to resolve any dispute in respect of the election or appointment of a director or an auditor of the company.
On an application under subsection (1), a court may make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order restraining a director or auditor whose election or appointment is challenged from acting pending determination of the dispute;
an order declaring the result of the disputed election or appointment;
an order requiring a new election or appointment, and including in the order directions for the management of the business and affairs of the company until a new election is held or the new appointment is made; and
an order determining the voting rights of shareholders, persons claiming to own shares, policyholders and persons claiming to be policyholders.
The Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of an application referred to in subsection (1).
Pooling Agreements
A written agreement between two or more shareholders or policyholders may provide that in exercising voting rights the shares or policies held by them will be voted as provided in the agreement.
Proxies
The definitions in this section apply in this Division.
intermediary means a person who holds a security on behalf of another person who is not the registered holder of the security, and includes
a securities broker or dealer required to be registered to trade or deal in securities under the laws of any jurisdiction;
a securities depositary;
a financial institution;
in relation to a clearing agency, a securities dealer, trust company, association within the meaning of section 2 of the Cooperative Credit Associations Act, bank or other person, including another clearing agency, on whose behalf the clearing agency or its nominee holds securities of an issuer;
a trustee or administrator of a self-administered retirement savings plan, retirement income fund or education savings plan or another similar self-administered savings or investment plan registered under the Income Tax Act;
registrant[Repealed, 2005, c. 54, s. 239]
solicitation
includes
a request for a proxy whether or not accompanied by or included in a form of proxy,
a request to execute or not to execute or, in Quebec, to sign or not to sign a form of proxy or to revoke a proxy,
the sending of a form of proxy or other communication to a shareholder or policyholder under circumstances reasonably calculated to result in the procurement, withholding or revocation of a proxy, and
the sending of a form of proxy to a shareholder or policyholder under section 164.03; but
does not include
the sending of a form of proxy in response to an unsolicited request made by or on behalf of a shareholder or policyholder,
the performance of administrative acts or professional services on behalf of a person soliciting a proxy,
the sending by an intermediary of the documents referred to in subsection 164.06(1),
a solicitation by a person in respect of shares of which they are the beneficial owner,
a prescribed public announcement by a shareholder or policyholder of how they intend to vote and the reasons for that decision,
a communication for the purposes of obtaining the support of persons in accordance with paragraph 147(1.1)(b), or
a communication, other than a solicitation by or on behalf of the management of a company, that is made to shareholders or policyholders in the prescribed circumstances. (sollicitation)
solicitation by or on behalf of the management of a company means a solicitation by any person pursuant to a resolution or instruction of, or with the acquiescence of, the directors or a committee of the directors of the company. (sollicitation effectuée par la direction d’une société ou pour son compte)
A shareholder or policyholder who is entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders may, by executing a form of proxy, appoint a proxyholder or one or more alternate proxyholders, who are not required to be shareholders or policyholders, to attend and act at the meeting in the manner and to the extent authorized by the proxy and with the authority conferred by the proxy.
A form of proxy shall be executed by a shareholder or policyholder or by a shareholder’s or policyholder’s attorney authorized in writing to do so.
No appointment of a proxyholder provides authority for the proxyholder to act in respect of the appointment of an auditor or the election of a director unless a nominee proposed in good faith for the appointment or election is named in the form of proxy, a management proxy circular, a dissident’s proxy circular or a proposal under subsection 147(1).
A form of proxy must indicate, in bold-face type, that the shareholder or policyholder by whom or on whose behalf it is executed may appoint a proxyholder, other than a person designated in the form of proxy, to attend and act on the shareholder’s or policyholder’s behalf at a meeting to which the proxy relates, and must contain instructions as to the manner in which the shareholder or policyholder may do so.
A proxy is valid only at the meeting in respect of which it is given or at a continuation of the meeting after an adjournment.
A shareholder or policyholder may revoke a proxy
by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or policyholder or by the shareholder’s or policyholder’s attorney authorized in writing to do so
at the head office of the company at any time up to and including the last business day before the day of a meeting, or a continuation of a meeting after an adjournment, at which the proxy is to be used, or
with the chairperson of the meeting on the day of the meeting or a continuation of the meeting after an adjournment; or
in any other manner permitted by law.
The directors may specify, in a notice calling a meeting of shareholders or policyholders or a continuation of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders after an adjournment, a time before which executed forms of proxy to be used at the meeting or the continued meeting must be deposited with the company or its transfer agent.
The time specified for the deposit of forms of proxy may not precede the meeting or the continued meeting by more than
forty-eight hours, excluding Saturdays and holidays, in the case of forms of proxy executed by shareholders; and
ten days, in the case of forms of proxy executed by policyholders.
Subject to subsections (2) and 144(2), the management of a company shall, concurrently with sending notice of a meeting of shareholders and policyholders, send a form of proxy that is in accordance with the regulations to each shareholder entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to each policyholder entitled to receive notice of the meeting under section 143.
The management of a company is not required to send a form of proxy to shareholders under subsection (1) if the company
is not a distributing company; and
has 50 or fewer shareholders who are entitled to vote at a meeting, two or more joint holders of a share being counted as one shareholder.
sends forms of proxy referred to in that subsection to all policyholders who are entitled to vote at the meeting but not entitled to receive notice of the meeting under that section; and
at the same time sends to each of the policyholders referred to in paragraph (a) a notice of the meeting as if those policyholders were persons entitled under that subsection to notice of the meeting.
For the purposes of this Act other than this section, if notices of a meeting are sent to policyholders under paragraph (3)(b), those policyholders are deemed to have been entitled under paragraph 143(1)(b) to receive notice of the meeting.
A person shall not solicit proxies unless a proxy circular that is in accordance with the regulations is sent to the auditor of the company, to each shareholder or policyholder whose proxy is solicited and, in the case set out in paragraph (b), to the company as follows:
in the case of solicitation by or on behalf of the management of a company, a management proxy circular, either as an appendix to or as a separate document accompanying the notice of the meeting; and
in the case of any other solicitation, a dissident’s proxy circular stating the purposes of the solicitation.
Despite subsection (1), a person may solicit proxies, other than by or on behalf of the management of the company, without sending a dissident’s proxy circular, if the total number of shareholders and policyholders whose proxies are solicited is 15 or fewer, with two or more joint holders being counted as one shareholder.
Despite subsection (1), a person may solicit proxies, other than by or on behalf of the management of the company, without sending a dissident’s proxy circular if the solicitation is, in the prescribed circumstances, conveyed by public broadcast, speech or publication.
A person who sends a management proxy circular or dissident’s proxy circular shall concurrently send to the Superintendent a copy of it together with the form of proxy, any other documents for use in connection with the meeting and, in the case of a management proxy circular, a copy of the notice of meeting.
The Superintendent shall publish in a publication generally available to the public, a notice of a decision made by the Superintendent granting an exemption under subsection (3).
A person who solicits a proxy and is appointed proxyholder shall attend in person or cause an alternate proxyholder to attend every meeting in respect of which the proxy is valid, and the proxyholder or alternate proxyholder shall comply with the directions of the shareholder or policyholder who executed the form of proxy.
A proxyholder or an alternate proxyholder has the same rights as the appointing shareholder or policyholder to speak at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders in respect of any matter, to vote by way of ballot at the meeting and, except where a proxyholder or an alternate proxyholder has conflicting instructions from more than one shareholder or policyholder, to vote at the meeting in respect of any matter by way of a show of hands.
Despite subsections (1) and (2) and unless a shareholder, policyholder or proxyholder demands a ballot, if the chairperson of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders declares to the meeting that, if a ballot were conducted, the total number of votes represented at the meeting by proxy required to be voted against what, to the knowledge of the chairperson, would be the decision of the meeting on a matter or group of matters is less than 5% of all the votes that might be cast by shareholders or policyholders, in person or by proxy,
the chairperson may conduct the vote in respect of that matter or group of matters by way of a show of hands; and
a proxyholder or alternate proxyholder may vote in respect of that matter or group of matters by way of a show of hands.
Shares of a company that are registered in the name of an intermediary or an intermediary’s nominee and not beneficially owned by the intermediary may not be voted unless the intermediary sends to the beneficial owner
a copy of the notice of the meeting, annual statement, management proxy circular and dissident’s proxy circular and any other documents, other than the form of proxy, that were sent to shareholders by or on behalf of any person for use in connection with the meeting; and
a written request for voting instructions except if the intermediary has already received written voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
The intermediary shall send the documents referred to in subsection (1) without delay after they receive the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a).
An intermediary or a proxyholder appointed by them may not vote shares that the intermediary does not beneficially own and that are registered in the name of the intermediary or their nominee unless the intermediary or proxyholder, as the case may be, receives written voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
A person by or on behalf of whom a solicitation is made shall on request and without delay provide the intermediary, at the person’s expense, with the necessary number of copies of the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a).
The intermediary shall vote or appoint a proxyholder to vote in accordance with any written voting instructions received from the beneficial owner.
If a beneficial owner so requests and provides an intermediary with appropriate documentation, the intermediary shall appoint the beneficial owner or a nominee of the beneficial owner as proxyholder.
Nothing in this Division gives an intermediary the right to vote shares that they are otherwise prohibited from voting.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the powers that may be granted by a shareholder or a policyholder in a form of proxy;
respecting proxy circulars and forms of proxy, including the form and content of those documents; and
If a form of proxy, management proxy circular or dissident’s proxy circular contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact that is required to be contained in it or that is necessary to make a statement contained in it not misleading in light of the circumstances in which the statement is made, an interested person or the Superintendent may apply to a court and the court may make any order it thinks fit including
an order restraining the solicitation or the holding of the meeting, or restraining any person from implementing or acting on a resolution passed at the meeting, to which the form of proxy, management proxy circular or dissident’s proxy circular relates;
an order requiring correction of any form of proxy or proxy circular and a further solicitation; and
an order adjourning the meeting.
Where a person other than the Superintendent is an applicant under subsection (1), the applicant shall give to the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent is entitled to appear and to be heard in person or by counsel.
Restrictions on Voting
In this section, eligible votes means the total number of votes that may be cast by or on behalf of shareholders and policyholders on a vote of shareholders or shareholders and policyholders or a vote of holders of a class or series of shares, as the case may be, in respect of any particular matter, calculated without regard to subsection (2).
At a meeting of shareholders and policyholders of a company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or of a company to which subsection 407(5) applies, no person and no entity controlled by any person may, in respect of any vote of shareholders or shareholders and policyholders or holders of any class or series of shares of the company, cast votes in respect of any shares beneficially owned by the person or the entity that are, in aggregate, more than 20 per cent of the eligible votes that may be cast in respect of that vote.
No person who is a proxyholder for a person or for an entity controlled by a person may cast votes to which the proxy relates that the person or entity may not cast by reason of subsection (2).
any entity that is controlled by a company or an insurance holding company referred to in paragraph (a).
If, with respect to any company, a person contravenes subsection (2) or (3), the Minister may, by order, direct the shareholder of the shares to which the contravention relates or any person controlled by that shareholder to dispose of any number of shares of the company beneficially owned by any of those persons that the Minister specifies in the order, within the time specified in the order and in the proportion, if any, as between the shareholder and the persons controlled by that shareholder that is specified in the order.
If the Minister makes an order under subsection (7), the person to whom the order relates may not, in person or by proxy, exercise any voting rights that are attached to shares of the company beneficially owned by the person.
Subsection (8) ceases to apply in respect of a person when the shares to which the order relates have been disposed of.
For the purpose of this section, a person is entitled to rely on the number of eligible votes set out in a notice of a meeting under subsection 143(1.01).
For the purpose of this section, the Minister may, with respect to a particular company, designate two or more persons who are parties to an agreement, commitment or understanding referred to in section 9 to be a single person.
Directors and Officers
Duties
Subject to this Act, the directors of a company shall manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the company.
Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the directors of a company shall
establish a conduct review committee to perform the duties referred to in subsection 204(3);
establish procedures to resolve conflicts of interest, including techniques for the identification of potential conflict situations and for restricting the use of confidential information;
designate a committee of the board of directors to monitor the procedures referred to in paragraph (c);
in the case of a company that issues participating policies, establish, before issuing any participating policies or, in the case of a former-Act company, within six months after the coming into force of this Part, a policy for determining the dividends and bonuses to be paid to the participating policyholders;
establish a policy respecting the management of each of the participating accounts maintained under section 456,
if the company has participating policyholders on the day on which this paragraph comes into force, within six months after that day, and
in any other case, before issuing a participating policy;
establish criteria for changes made by the company to the premium or charge for insurance, amount of insurance or surrender value in respect of its adjustable policies,
if the company has adjustable policyholders on the day on which this paragraph comes into force, within six months after that day, and
in any other case, before issuing an adjustable policy;
establish procedures to provide disclosure of information to customers of the company that is required to be disclosed by this Act and for dealing with complaints as required by section 486;
designate a committee of the board of directors to monitor the procedures referred to in paragraph (f) and satisfy itself that they are being adhered to by the company;
establish investment and lending policies, standards and procedures in accordance with section 492; and
in the case of a former-Act company, appoint the actuary of the company forthwith after the coming into force of this Part.
Paragraphs (2)(a) and (b) do not apply to the directors of a company where
there are no policyholders who are entitled to vote; and
the audit committee or the conduct review committee of the Canadian financial institution referred to in paragraph (a) performs for and on behalf of the company all the functions that would otherwise be required to be performed by the audit committee or conduct review committee of the company under this Act.
The company’s actuary shall report to the directors in writing on the fairness to participating policyholders of any policy to be established or amended under paragraph (2)(e) and report at least once during each financial year on its continuing fairness. In the case of a policy established before the day on which this subsection comes into force, the actuary shall within six months after that day report on its fairness to participating policyholders and report at least once during each financial year on its continuing fairness.
The company’s actuary shall report to the directors in writing on the fairness to participating policyholders of any policy to be established or amended under paragraph (2)(e.1) and report at least once during each financial year on its continuing fairness.
The company’s actuary shall report to the directors in writing on the fairness to adjustable policyholders of the criteria to be established or amended under paragraph (2)(e.2) and report at least once during each financial year on their continuing fairness.
The company shall, within 30 days after a policy is established or amended under paragraph (2)(e) or (e.1) or criteria are established or amended under paragraph (2)(e.2), send a copy to the Superintendent.
The company shall on request and free of charge send a copy of a policy established or amended under paragraph (2)(e) or (e.1) to a shareholder or participating policyholder and on payment of a reasonable fee to any other person.
The company shall on request and free of charge send a copy of the criteria referred to in paragraph (2)(e.2) to an adjustable policyholder and on payment of a reasonable fee to any other person.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the content of the policies established under paragraphs (2)(e) and (e.1) and of the criteria established under paragraph (2)(e.2).
Every director and officer of a company in exercising any of the powers of a director or an officer and discharging any of the duties of a director or an officer shall
act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company; and
exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
Every director, officer and employee of a company shall comply with this Act, the regulations, the company’s incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the company.
No provision in any contract, in any resolution or in the by-laws of a company relieves any director, officer or employee of the company from the duty to act in accordance with this Act and the regulations or relieves a director, officer or employee from liability for a breach thereof.
Qualification and Number — Directors
A company shall have at least seven directors.
At least one half of the directors of a company that is a subsidiary of a foreign institution or of a prescribed holding body corporate of a foreign institution and a majority of the directors of any other company must be, at the time of each director’s election or appointment, resident Canadians.
The following persons are disqualified from being directors of a company:
a person who is less than eighteen years of age;
a person who is of unsound mind and has been so found by a court in Canada or elsewhere;
a person who has the status of a bankrupt;
a person who is not a natural person;
a person who is an officer, director or full time employee of an entity that is prohibited by subsection 164.08(8) or section 418 or 430 from exercising voting rights attached to shares of the company or whose voting rights attached to the shares are suspended under section 432.1 or subsection 1016.3(4);
a person who is an officer, director, employee or agent of — or any other person acting on behalf of — an eligible agent within the meaning of section 406.1;
[Repealed]
a minister of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in right of a province;
a person who is an agent or employee of the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof; and
a person who is an insurance agent or broker of the company.
A shareholder of a company is disqualified from being a policyholders’ director of the company.
[Repealed]
A director of a company is not required to hold shares of or a policy issued by the company.
The Governor in Council may make regulations specifying the circumstances under which a natural person is affiliated with a company for the purposes of this Act.
Notwithstanding section 170, the Superintendent may determine that a particular director is affiliated with a company for the purposes of this Act if, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the director has a significant or sufficient commercial, business or financial relationship with the company or with an affiliate of the company to the extent that the relationship can be construed as being material to the director and can reasonably be expected to affect the exercise of the director’s best judgment.
A determination by the Superintendent under subsection (1)
becomes effective on the day of the next annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders unless a notice in writing by the Superintendent revoking the determination is received by the company prior to that day; and
ceases to be in effect on the day of the next annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders after a notice in writing by the Superintendent revoking the determination is received by the company.
At the election of directors at each annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders of a company and at all times until the day of the next annual meeting no more than two thirds of the directors may be persons affiliated with the company.
Subsection (1) does not apply where
all the voting shares of a company, other than directors’ qualifying shares, if any, are beneficially owned by a Canadian financial institution incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament; and
there are no policyholders who are entitled to vote.
For the purposes of subsection (1), whether or not a person is affiliated with a company shall be determined as of the day the notice of the annual meeting is sent to shareholders and policyholders pursuant to section 143 and that determination becomes effective on the day of that meeting, and a person shall be deemed to continue to be affiliated or unaffiliated, as the case may be, until the next annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders.
No more than 15 per cent of the directors of a company may, at each director’s election or appointment, be employees of the company or a subsidiary of the company, except that up to four persons who are employees of the company or a subsidiary of the company may be directors of the company if those directors constitute not more than one half of the directors of the company.
Election and Tenure — Directors
Subject to subsection 167(1) and sections 176 and 238, the directors of a company that has common shares and policyholders who are entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders shall by by-law determine the number of directors, or the minimum and maximum number of directors, who are to be elected by the shareholders and the number, or the minimum and maximum number, who are to be elected by the policyholders.
A by-law made pursuant to subsection (1) that provides for a minimum and maximum number of directors may provide that the number of directors, shareholders’ directors or policyholders’ directors to be elected at any annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders be such number as is fixed by the directors prior to the annual meeting.
If a company has common shares and policyholders who are entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders, the number of shareholders’ directors and the number of policyholders’ directors, whether determined by by-law or fixed by the directors, must each be at least one third of the total number of directors.
Where the shareholders of a mutual company are entitled to elect one or more directors of the company, not more than one third of the directors may be elected by the shareholders.
In making by-laws for the purposes of subsection (2), the directors shall designate every member of the board as being either a shareholders’ director or a policyholders’ director.
The election or appointment of a person as a director is subject to the following conditions:
the person was present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place and did not refuse to hold office as a director; or
the person was not present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place but
consented in writing to hold office as a director before the election or appointment or within 10 days after it, or
acted as a director after the election or appointment.
Except where this Act or the by-laws of a company provide for cumulative voting, the company may, by by-law, provide that the directors be elected for terms of one, two or three years.
Where this Act or the by-laws of a company provide for cumulative voting to elect the shareholders’ directors, the company may, by by-law, provide that the policyholders’ directors be elected for terms of one, two or three years.
A director elected for a term of one, two or three years holds office until the close of the first, second or third annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders, as the case may be, following the election of the director.
A director who is not elected for an expressly stated term of office ceases to hold office at the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders following the election of the director.
It is not necessary that all directors elected at a meeting of shareholders or policyholders hold office for the same term.
If a by-law of a company provides that the directors be elected for a term of two or three years, it may also provide that the term of office of each director be for the whole of that term, or that, as nearly as may be, one half of the directors retire each year if the term is two years, and that one third of the directors retire each year if the term is three years.
Where a director of a company is elected or appointed for a term of more than one year, the company shall comply with subsections 167(2) and 171(1), section 172 and subsection 173(4) at each annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders during the director’s term of office as if that director were elected or appointed on that date.
Subsection (7) does not apply in respect of a former-Act company until the day of the third annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders after the coming into force of this section.
Except where this Act or the by-laws of a company provide for cumulative voting, the persons, to the number authorized to be elected, who receive the greatest number of votes at an election of directors of a company shall be the directors thereof.
A shareholder of a company that has common shares and policyholders who are entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders
is not entitled to vote for the policyholders’ directors if the shareholder is not a policyholder; and
is not entitled to vote any shares for the policyholders’ directors.
The holder of a policy issued by a company that has common shares and policyholders who are entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders
is not entitled to vote for the shareholders’ directors if the policyholder is not a shareholder; and
is not entitled to vote as a policyholder for the shareholders’ directors.
If, at any election of directors referred to in subsection (1), two or more persons receive an equal number of votes and there are not sufficient vacancies remaining to enable all the persons receiving an equal number of votes to be elected, the directors who receive a greater number of votes or the majority of them shall, in order to complete the full number of directors, determine which of the persons so receiving an equal number of votes are to be elected.
Where this Act or the by-laws provide for cumulative voting,
there shall be a stated number determined by by-law, and not a minimum and maximum number, of directors, in the case of a company that has no policyholders who are entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders, or of shareholders’ directors, in the case of a company that has such policyholders;
each shareholder entitled to vote at an election of directors to be elected by cumulative voting has the right to cast a number of votes equal to the number of votes attached to the shares held by the shareholder multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by cumulative voting, and the shareholder may cast all such votes in favour of one candidate or distribute them among the candidates in any manner;
a separate vote shall be taken with respect to each candidate nominated for a position that is to be filled by cumulative voting unless a resolution is passed unanimously permitting two or more persons to be elected by a single vote;
if a shareholder has voted for more than one candidate without specifying the distribution of the votes among the candidates, the shareholder is deemed to have distributed the votes equally among the candidates for whom the shareholder voted;
if the number of candidates nominated exceeds the number of positions to be filled, the candidates who receive the least number of votes shall be eliminated until the number of candidates remaining equals the number of positions to be filled;
each director elected by cumulative voting ceases to hold office at the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders following the director’s election;
a director elected by cumulative voting may be removed from office only if the number of votes cast in favour of a motion to remove the director is greater than the product of the number of directors required by the by-laws to be elected by cumulative voting and the number of votes cast against the motion; and
the number of directors required by the by-laws to be elected by cumulative voting may be decreased only if the number of votes cast in favour of a motion to decrease the number of directors is greater than the product of the number of directors required by the by-laws to be elected by cumulative voting and the number of votes cast against the motion.
Where the aggregate of the voting shares beneficially owned by a person and any entities controlled by the person carries more than 10 per cent of the voting rights attached to all the outstanding voting shares of a company, the directors to be elected by shareholders shall be elected by cumulative voting.
Subsection (2) does not apply where all the voting shares of the company that are outstanding, other than directors’ qualifying shares, if any, are beneficially owned by
one person;
one person and one or more entities controlled by that person; or
one or more entities controlled by the same person.
Where this Act or the by-laws of a company provide for cumulative voting, the shareholders of the company shall,
at the first annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders held not earlier than ninety days following the date that cumulative voting is required under subsection (2) or provided for in the by-laws, and
at each succeeding annual meeting,
elect the stated number of directors to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders following their election.
Nothing in this Act precludes the holders of any class or series of shares of a company from having an exclusive right to elect one or more directors.
A director who has completed a term of office is, if otherwise qualified, eligible for re-election.
Incomplete Elections and Director Vacancies
If, immediately after the time of any purported election or appointment of directors, the board of directors would fail to comply with subsection 167(2) or 171(1), section 172 or subsection 173(4) or (4.1), the purported election or appointment of all persons purported to be elected or appointed at that time is void unless the directors, within forty-five days after the discovery of the non-compliance, develop a plan, approved by the Superintendent, to rectify the non-compliance.
Where, at the close of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders of a company, the shareholders or policyholders have failed to elect the number or minimum number of directors required by this Act or the by-laws of a company, the purported election of directors at the meeting
is valid if the directors purported to be elected and those incumbent directors, if any, whose terms did not expire at the close of the meeting, together constitute a quorum; or
is void if the directors purported to be elected and those incumbent directors, if any, whose terms did not expire at the close of the meeting, together do not constitute a quorum.
[Repealed]
where paragraph 178(2)(a) applies, the directors referred to in that paragraph; or
Notwithstanding subsections 174(3) and (4) and paragraphs 176(1)(f) and 180(1)(a), where a plan to rectify the non-compliance referred to in subsection 178(1) has not been approved by the Superintendent by the end of the forty-five day period referred to in that subsection, the board of directors shall, until their successors are elected or appointed, consist solely of the persons who were the incumbent directors immediately before the meeting at which the purported election or appointment referred to in that subsection occurred.
Where subsection (1) or (2) applies, the board of directors referred to in that subsection shall without delay call a special meeting of shareholders or policyholders to fill the vacancies, where paragraph 178(2)(a) applies, or elect a new board of directors, where subsection 178(1) or paragraph 178(2)(b) applies.
Where the directors fail to call a special meeting required by subsection (3), the meeting may be called by any shareholder or policyholder entitled to vote.
A director ceases to hold office
at the close of the annual meeting at which the director’s term of office expires;
when the director dies or resigns;
when the director is removed under section 181; or
The resignation of a director of a company becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the company by the director or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Subject to paragraph 176(1)(g) and this section, the shareholders or policyholders of a company may by resolution at a special meeting remove any director or all the directors from office.
A shareholders’ director may be removed only by a resolution of the shareholders at a meeting of shareholders or shareholders and policyholders.
A policyholders’ director may be removed only by a resolution of the policyholders at a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders.
Where the holders of any class or series of shares of a company have the exclusive right to elect one or more directors, a director so elected may be removed only by a resolution at a meeting of the shareholders of that class or series.
A director who
resigns,
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders called for the purpose of removing the director from office, or
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of directors or shareholders or policyholders at which another person is to be appointed or elected to fill the office of director, whether because of the director’s resignation or removal or because the director’s term of office has expired or is about to expire,
is entitled to submit to the company a written statement giving the reasons for the resignation or the reasons why the director opposes any proposed action or resolution.
Where a director resigns as a result of a disagreement with the other directors or the officers of a company, the director shall submit to the company and the Superintendent a written statement setting out the nature of the disagreement.
A company shall forthwith on receipt of a director’s statement referred to in subsection 182(1) relating to a matter referred to in paragraph 182(1)(b) or (c), or a director’s statement referred to in subsection 182(2), send a copy thereof to each shareholder and policyholder entitled to receive a notice of meetings under paragraph 143(1)(a) or (b) and to the Superintendent, unless the statement is attached to a notice of a meeting.
No company or person acting on its behalf incurs any liability by reason only of circulating a director’s statement in compliance with subsection (1).
The by-laws of a company may provide that a vacancy among the directors is to be filled only by vote of
the shareholders or policyholders;
the shareholders, if the vacancy occurs among the shareholders’ directors;
the policyholders, if the vacancy occurs among the policyholders’ directors; or
the holders of any class or series of shares having an exclusive right to elect one or more directors if the vacancy occurs among the directors elected by the holders of that class or series.
Despite section 192 but subject to subsection (2) and sections 184, 186 and 187, a quorum of directors may fill a vacancy among the directors except a vacancy resulting from a change in the by-laws by which the number or the minimum or maximum number of directors is increased or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors provided for in the by-laws.
Notwithstanding sections 184 and 192, where by reason of a vacancy the number of directors or the composition of the board of directors fails to meet any of the requirements of section 167, subsection 171(1), section 172 and subsection 173(4), the directors who, in the absence of any by-law, would be empowered to fill that vacancy shall do so forthwith.
the remaining shareholders’ directors or policyholders’ directors, as the case may be, may fill the vacancy except one resulting from an increase in the number or the minimum or maximum number — or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number — of shareholders’ directors or policyholders’ directors provided for in the by-laws;
if there are no such remaining directors and paragraph (b) does not apply, any shareholder or policyholder entitled to vote may call a meeting of shareholders or policyholders for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
the remaining directors elected by the holders of that class or series of shares may fill the vacancy except one resulting from an increase in the number or the minimum or maximum number of directors for that class or series or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors provided for in the by-laws for that class or series;
if there are no such remaining directors and paragraph (b) does not apply, any holder of shares of that class or series may call a meeting of the holders thereof for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy holds office for the unexpired term of the director’s predecessor in office.
Notwithstanding subsection 171(3), the affiliation of a person to be elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall be determined as at the date of the person’s election or appointment and that person shall be deemed to continue to be affiliated or unaffiliated, as the case may be, until the next annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders.
Shareholders’ directors may appoint one or more additional directors as shareholders’ directors, and policyholders’ directors may appoint one or more additional directors as policyholders’ directors, where the by-laws of the company allow them to do so and the by-laws determine the minimum and maximum numbers of shareholders’ directors and policyholders’ directors.
A director appointed under subsection (1) holds office for a term expiring not later than the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders or policyholders of the company.
The total number of directors appointed under subsection (1) may not exceed one third of the number of directors elected at the previous annual meeting of shareholders or policyholders of the company.
Meetings of the Board
The directors shall meet at least four times during each financial year.
The directors may meet at any place unless the by-laws provide otherwise.
The notice for the meetings must be given as required by the by-laws.
A notice of a meeting of directors shall specify each matter referred to in section 207 that is to be dealt with at the meeting but, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, need not otherwise specify the purpose of or the business to be transacted at the meeting.
A director may in any manner waive notice of a meeting of directors and the attendance of a director at a meeting of directors is a waiver of notice of that meeting except where the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
Notice of an adjourned meeting of directors is not required to be given if the time and place of the adjourned meeting was announced at the original meeting.
The number of directors constituting a quorum at any meeting of directors or a committee of directors shall be
a majority of the minimum number of directors required by this Act for the board of directors or a committee of directors; or
such greater number of directors than the number calculated pursuant to paragraph (a) as may be established by the by-laws of the company.
A director who is present at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors but is not, in accordance with subsection 212(1), present at any particular time during the meeting is considered to be present for the purposes of this section.
The directors of a company shall not transact business at a meeting of directors unless
in the case of a company that is the subsidiary of a foreign institution, at least one half of the directors present are resident Canadians; and
in the case of any other company, a majority of the directors present are resident Canadians.
Despite subsection (1), the directors of a company may transact business at a meeting of directors without the required proportion of directors who are resident Canadians if
a director who is a resident Canadian unable to be present approves, in writing or by telephonic, electronic or other communications facilities, the business transacted at the meeting; and
there would have been present the required proportion of directors who are resident Canadians had that director been present at the meeting.
The directors of a company shall not transact business at a meeting of directors unless at least one of the directors who is not affiliated with the company is present.
Despite subsection (1), the directors of a company may transact business at a meeting of directors if a director who is not affiliated with the company and who is not able to be present approves, in writing or by telephonic, electronic or other communications facilities, the business transacted at the meeting.
Subsection (1) does not apply if all the voting shares of the company, other than directors’ qualifying shares, if any, are beneficially owned by a Canadian financial institution incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament.
Subject to the by-laws of a company, a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors may be held by means of such telephonic, electronic or other communications facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
A director participating in a meeting by any means referred to in subsection (1) is deemed for the purposes of this Act to be present at that meeting.
A resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of directors is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of directors.
A copy of the resolution referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept with the minutes of the proceedings of the directors.
A resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of a committee of directors, other than a resolution of the audit committee in carrying out its duties under subsection 203(3) or a resolution of the conduct review committee in carrying out its duties under subsection 204(3), is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of that committee.
A copy of the resolution referred to in subsection (3) shall be kept with the minutes of the proceedings of that committee.
Unless a ballot is demanded, an entry in the minutes of a meeting that the chairperson declared a resolution to be carried or defeated is in the absence of evidence to the contrary proof of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
A director of a company who is present at a meeting of directors or a committee of directors is deemed to have consented to any resolution passed or action taken at that meeting unless
the director requests that the director’s dissent be entered or the director’s dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting;
the director sends a written dissent to the secretary of the meeting before the meeting is adjourned; or
the director sends the director’s dissent by registered mail or delivers it to the head office of the company immediately after the meeting is adjourned.
A director of a company who votes for or consents to a resolution is not entitled to dissent under subsection (1).
A director of a company who is not present at a meeting at which a resolution is passed or action taken is deemed to have consented thereto unless, within seven days after the director becomes aware of the resolution, the director
causes the director’s dissent to be placed with the minutes of the meeting; or
sends the director’s dissent by registered mail or delivers it to the head office of the company.
A company shall keep a record of the attendance at each meeting of directors and each committee meeting of directors.
A company shall attach to the notice of each annual meeting it sends to its shareholders and policyholders a statement showing, in respect of the financial year immediately preceding the meeting, the total number of directors’ meetings and directors’ committee meetings held during the financial year and the number of those meetings attended by each director.
Where in the opinion of the Superintendent it is necessary, the Superintendent may, by notice in writing, require a company to hold a meeting of directors of the company to consider the matters set out in the notice.
The Superintendent may attend and be heard at a meeting referred to in subsection (1).
By-laws
Unless this Act otherwise provides, the directors of a company may by resolution make, amend or repeal any by-law that regulates the business or affairs of the company.
The directors shall submit a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, that is made under subsection (1) to the shareholders and policyholders at the next meeting of shareholders and policyholders, and the shareholders and policyholders may, by resolution, confirm or amend the by-law, amendment or repeal.
If a by-law made, amended or repealed under subsection (1) deals with the quorum of policyholders at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders, the policyholders who are entitled to vote on a resolution to confirm or amend the by-law, amendment or repeal are entitled to vote on it separately from the shareholders.
Unless this Act otherwise provides, a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, is effective from the date of the resolution of the directors under subsection (1) until it is confirmed, confirmed as amended or rejected by the shareholders and policyholders under subsection (2) or (2.1) or until it ceases to be effective under subsection (4) and, where the by-law is confirmed, or confirmed as amended, it continues in effect in the form in which it was so confirmed.
If a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, is rejected by the shareholders and policyholders, or is not submitted to the shareholders and policyholders by the directors as required under subsection (2), the by-law, amendment or repeal ceases to be effective from the date of its rejection or the date of the next meeting of shareholders and policyholders, as the case may be, and no subsequent resolution of the directors to make, amend or repeal a by-law having substantially the same purpose or effect is effective until it is confirmed, or confirmed as amended, by the shareholders and policyholders.
Subject to section 200, where a by-law of a former-Act company is in effect on the coming into force of this section, the by-law continues in effect until amended or repealed, unless it is contrary to a provision of this Act.
A by-law made by the directors of a company under section 23 of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, as that section read immediately before the coming into force of this section, and not confirmed at a general or annual meeting of the company in accordance with section 24 of that Act on or before the coming into force of this section, continues to have effect, unless it is contrary to the provisions of this Act, until the first meeting of the shareholders and policyholders following the coming into force of this section.
A by-law referred to in subsection (2) shall be submitted to the shareholders and policyholders at the first meeting of the shareholders and policyholders following the coming into force of this section.
Where the remuneration of directors of a former-Act company was, immediately prior to the coming into force of this section, fixed by a resolution of the shareholders or policyholders of the company that was passed pursuant to subsection 135(1) of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, that resolution continues to have effect, unless it is contrary to the provisions of this Act, until the first meeting of the shareholders and policyholders following the coming into force of this section.
Where the remuneration of directors of a former-Act company was, immediately prior to the coming into force of this section, fixed by a resolution of the directors, that resolution continues to have effect, unless it is contrary to the provisions of this Act, until the first meeting of the shareholders and policyholders following the coming into force of this section.
Any matter provided for in the incorporating instrument of a former-Act company on the coming into force of this section, or of a body corporate continued as a company under this Act at the time of continuance that, under this Act, would be provided for in the by-laws of a company is deemed to be provided for in the by-laws of the company.
Committees of the Board
The directors of a company may appoint from their number, in addition to the committees referred to in subsection 165(2), such other committees as they deem necessary and, subject to section 207, delegate to those committees such powers of the directors, and assign to those committees such duties, as the directors consider appropriate.
The audit committee of a company shall consist of at least three directors.
A majority of the members of the audit committee must consist of directors who are not persons affiliated with the company and none of the members of the audit committee may be officers or employees of the company or a subsidiary of the company.
The audit committee of a company shall
review the annual statement of the company before the annual statement is approved by the directors;
review such returns of the company as the Superintendent may specify;
require the management of the company to implement and maintain appropriate internal control procedures;
review, evaluate and approve those procedures;
review such investments and transactions that could adversely affect the well-being of the company as the auditor or any officer of the company may bring to the attention of the committee;
meet with the auditor to discuss the annual statement and the returns and transactions referred to in this subsection;
meet with the actuary of the company to discuss the parts of the annual statement and the annual return filed under section 665 prepared by the actuary; and
meet with the chief internal auditor of the company, or the officer or employee of the company acting in a similar capacity, and with management of the company, to discuss the effectiveness of the internal control procedures established for the company.
In the case of the annual statement and returns of a company that under this Act must be approved by the directors of the company, the audit committee of the company shall report thereon to the directors before the approval is given.
The audit committee of a company may call a meeting of the directors of the company to consider any matter of concern to the committee.
The conduct review committee of a company shall consist of at least three directors.
A majority of the members of the conduct review committee of a company must consist of directors who are not persons affiliated with the company and none of the members of the conduct review committee may be officers or employees of the company or a subsidiary of the company.
The conduct review committee of a company shall
require the management of the company to establish procedures for complying with Part XI;
review those procedures and their effectiveness in ensuring that the company is complying with Part XI;
if an insurance holding company or a bank holding company that is widely held has a significant interest in any class of shares of the company,
establish policies for entering into transactions referred to in subsection 528.1(1), and
review transactions referred to in subsection 528.3(1); and
review the practices of the company to ensure that any transactions with related parties of the company that may have a material effect on the stability or solvency of the company are identified.
A company shall report to the Superintendent on the mandate and responsibilities of the conduct review committee and the procedures referred to in paragraph (3)(a).
After each meeting of the conduct review committee of a company, the committee shall report to the directors of the company on matters reviewed by the committee.
Within ninety days after the end of each financial year, the directors of a company shall report to the Superintendent on what the conduct review committee did during the year in carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (3).
Directors and Officers — Authority
The directors of a company shall appoint from their number a chief executive officer who must be ordinarily resident in Canada and, subject to section 207, may delegate to that officer any of the powers of the directors.
The directors of a company may, subject to the by-laws, designate the offices of the company, appoint officers thereto, specify the duties of those officers and delegate to them powers, subject to section 207, to manage the business and affairs of the company.
Subject to section 172, a director of a company may be appointed to any office of the company.
Two or more offices of a company may be held by the same person.
The directors of a company may not delegate any of the following powers, namely, the power to
submit to the shareholders or policyholders a question or matter requiring the approval of the shareholders or policyholders;
fill a vacancy among the directors, on a committee of directors or in the office of auditor or actuary, or appoint additional directors;
issue or cause to be issued securities, including an issue of shares of a series that is authorized in accordance with section 66, except in accordance with any authorization made by the directors;
declare a dividend on shares or a policy dividend, bonus or other benefit payable to policyholders, other than a dividend on a group policy that is a participating policy;
authorize the redemption or other acquisition by the company pursuant to section 75 of shares issued by the company;
authorize the payment of a commission on a share issue;
approve a management proxy circular;
except as provided in this Act, approve the annual statement of the company and any other financial statements issued by the company; or
adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.
Subject to this section and the by-laws, the directors of a company may fix the remuneration of the directors, officers and employees of the company.
No remuneration shall be paid to a director as director until a by-law fixing the aggregate of all amounts that may be paid to all directors in respect of directors’ remuneration during a fixed period of time has been confirmed by special resolution.
An act of a director or an officer of a company is valid notwithstanding a defect in the director’s qualification or an irregularity in the director’s election or in the appointment of the director or officer.
An act of the board of directors of a company is valid notwithstanding a defect in the composition of the board or an irregularity in the election of the board or in the appointment of a member of the board.
A director of a company is entitled to attend and to be heard at every meeting of shareholders or policyholders.
Conflicts of Interest
A director or officer of a company shall disclose to the company, in writing or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of directors or a meeting of a committee of directors, the nature and extent of any interest they have in a material contract or material transaction with the company, whether entered into or proposed, if they
are a party to the contract or transaction;
are a director or officer of a party to the contract or transaction or a person acting in a similar capacity; or
have a material interest in a party to the contract or transaction.
The disclosure shall be made in the case of a director
at the meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, at which the proposed contract or transaction is first considered;
if at the time of the meeting referred to in paragraph (a) the director was not interested in the proposed contract or transaction, at the first one after they become interested in it;
if the director becomes interested after a contract or transaction is entered into, at the first one after they become interested; or
if a person who is interested in a contract or transaction becomes a director, at the first one after they become a director.
The disclosure shall be made in the case of an officer who is not a director
immediately after they become aware that the contract, transaction, proposed contract or proposed transaction is to be considered or has been considered at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors;
if they become interested after the contract or transaction is entered into, immediately after they become interested; or
if a person who is interested in a contract or transaction becomes an officer, immediately after they become an officer.
If the material contract or material transaction, whether entered into or proposed, is one that in the ordinary course of the company’s business would not require approval by the directors, shareholders or policyholders, the director or officer shall disclose to the company, in writing or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors, the nature and extent of their interest immediately after they become aware of the contract or transaction.
A director who is required to make a disclosure under subsection 211(1) shall not be present at any meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, while the contract or transaction is being considered or vote on any resolution to approve it unless the contract or transaction
relates primarily to their remuneration as a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, an entity controlled by the company or an entity in which the company has a substantial investment;
is with an affiliate of the company.
Any director who knowingly contravenes subsection (1) ceases to hold office as director and is not eligible, for a period of five years after the date on which the contravention occurred, for election or appointment as a director of any financial institution that is incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament.
An act of the board of directors of a company or of a committee of the board of directors is not invalid because a person acting as a director had ceased under subsection (2) to hold office as a director.
For the purposes of subsection 211(1), a general notice to the directors declaring that a director or officer is to be regarded as interested for any of the following reasons in a contract or transaction entered into with a party is a sufficient declaration of interest in relation to any contract or transaction with that party:
the director or officer has a material interest in the party; or
there has been a material change in the nature of the director’s or officer’s interest in the party.
A policyholder who is entitled to vote or a shareholder may examine the portions of any minutes of meetings of directors or committees of directors that contain disclosures under subsection 211(1), or the portions of any other documents that contain those disclosures, during the usual business hours of the company.
A contract or transaction for which disclosure is required under subsection 211(1) is not invalid and a director or officer is not accountable to the company or its shareholders or policyholders for any profit realized from it by reason only of the director’s or officer’s interest in the contract or transaction or the fact that the director was present or was counted to determine whether a quorum existed at the meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, that considered it if
the directors approved the contract or transaction; and
the contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the company at the time that it was approved.
Even if the conditions set out in subsection (1) are not met, a director or officer acting honestly and in good faith is not accountable to the company or its shareholders or policyholders for any profit realized from a contract or transaction for which disclosure was required and the contract or transaction is not invalid by reason only of the director’s or officer’s interest in it if
the contract or transaction is approved or confirmed by special resolution at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders;
disclosure of the interest was made to the shareholders and to the policyholders entitled to vote in a manner sufficient to indicate its nature before the contract or transaction was approved or confirmed; and
the contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the company at the time that it was approved or confirmed.
If a director or officer of a company fails to comply with any of sections 211 to 214, a court, on application of the company or any of its policyholders entitled to vote or its shareholders, may set aside the contract or transaction on any terms that the court thinks fit and may require the director or officer to account to the company for any profit or gain realized on it.
Liability, Exculpation and Indemnification
Directors of a company who vote for or consent to a resolution of the directors authorizing the issue of a share contrary to subsection 69(1) or the issue of subordinated indebtedness contrary to section 84 for a consideration other than money are jointly and severally, or solidarily, liable to the company to make good any amount by which the consideration received is less than the fair equivalent of the money that the company would have received if the share or subordinated indebtedness had been issued for money on the date of the resolution.
Directors of a company who vote for or consent to a resolution of the directors authorizing any of the following are jointly and severally, or solidarily, liable to restore to the company any amounts so distributed or paid and not otherwise recovered by the company and any amounts in relation to any loss suffered by the company:
a redemption or purchase of shares contrary to section 75;
a reduction of capital contrary to section 79;
a payment of a dividend contrary to section 83;
a payment of an indemnity contrary to section 221; or
any transaction contrary to Part XI.
A director who has satisfied a judgment in relation to the director’s liability under section 216 is entitled to contribution from the other directors who voted for or consented to the unlawful act on which the judgment was founded.
A director who is liable under section 216 is entitled to apply to a court for an order compelling a shareholder or other person to pay or deliver to the director
an amount equal to the value of the loss suffered by the company as a result of any transaction contrary to Part XI.
Where an application is made to a court under subsection (2), the court may, where it is satisfied that it is equitable to do so,
order a company to return or issue shares to a person from whom the company has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired shares; or
make any further order it thinks fit.
An action to enforce a liability imposed by section 216 may not be commenced after two years from the date of the resolution authorizing the action complained of.
A director is not liable under subsection (1) unless
the company has been sued for the debt within six months after it has become due and execution has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part;
the company has commenced liquidation and dissolution proceedings or has been dissolved and a claim for the debt has been proven within six months after the earlier of the date of commencement of the liquidation and dissolution proceedings and the date of dissolution; or
a winding-up order has been issued in respect of the company under the Winding-up and Restructuring Act and a claim for the debt has been allowed or proven within six months after the issue of the winding-up order.
A director is not liable under subsection (1) unless the director is sued for a debt referred to in that subsection while a director or within two years after the director has ceased to be a director.
Where execution referred to in paragraph (2)(a) has issued, the amount recoverable from a director is the amount remaining unsatisfied after execution.
Where a director of a company pays a debt referred to in subsection (1) that is proven in liquidation and dissolution or winding-up proceedings, the director is entitled to any preference that the employee would have been entitled to and, where a judgment has been obtained, the director is entitled to an assignment of the judgment.
A director of a company who has satisfied a claim under this section is entitled to a contribution from the other directors of the company who are liable for the claim.
A director, officer or employee of a company is not liable under section 216 or 219 or subsection 539(1) and has fulfilled their duty under subsection 166(2) if they exercised the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in comparable circumstances, including reliance in good faith on
financial statements of the company that were represented to them by an officer of the company or in a written report of the auditor of the company fairly to reflect the financial condition of the company; or
a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by them.
A director or officer of a company has fulfilled their duty under subsection 166(1) if they relied in good faith on
financial statements of the company that were represented to them by an officer of the company or in a written report of the auditor of the company fairly to reflect the financial condition of the company; or
a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by them.
A company may indemnify a director or officer of the company, a former director or officer of the company or another person who acts or acted, at the company’s request, as a director or officer of or in a similar capacity for another entity against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by them in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which they are involved because of that association with the company or other entity.
A company may not indemnify a person under subsection (1) unless
the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of, as the case may be, the company or the other entity for which they acted at the company’s request as a director or officer or in a similar capacity; and
in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, the person had reasonable grounds for believing that their conduct was lawful.
A company may with the approval of a court indemnify a person referred to in subsection (1) or advance amounts to them under subsection (2) — in respect of an action by or on behalf of the company or other entity to procure a judgment in its favour to which the person is made a party because of the association referred to in subsection (1) with the company or other entity — against all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with that action if they fulfil the conditions set out in subsection (3).
Despite subsection (1), a person referred to in that subsection is entitled to be indemnified by the company in respect of all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defence of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding to which the person is subject because of the association referred to in subsection (1) with the company or other entity described in that subsection if the person
was not judged by the court or other competent authority to have committed any fault or omitted to do anything that they ought to have done; and
fulfils the conditions set out in subsection (3).
A company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person referred to in section 221 against any liability incurred by the person
in the capacity of a director or an officer of the company, except where the liability relates to a failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company; or
in the capacity of a director or officer of another entity or while acting in a similar capacity for another entity, if they act or acted in that capacity at the company’s request, except if the liability relates to a failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the entity.
A company or a person referred to in section 221 may apply to a court for an order approving an indemnity under that section and the court may so order and make any further order it thinks fit.
An applicant under subsection (1) shall give the Superintendent written notice of the application and the Superintendent is entitled to appear and to be heard at the hearing of the application in person or by counsel.
On an application under subsection (1), the court may order notice to be given to any interested person and that person is entitled to appear and to be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
Fundamental Changes
Amendments — Letters Patent
On the application of a company or society duly authorized by special resolution, the Minister may approve a proposal to add, change or remove any provision that is permitted by this Act to be set out in the incorporating instrument of the company or society.
On receipt of an application referred to in section 224, the Minister may issue letters patent to effect the proposal.
Letters patent issued pursuant to subsection (1) become effective on the day stated in the letters patent.
Mutualization
On the application of a company that has common shares but does not have securities that are not convertible into common shares until after, or options or rights to acquire those shares that are not exercisable until after, the time of the application, the Minister may approve a proposal to convert the company into a mutual company by the purchase, or other acquisition, for the purpose of cancellation of those shares, securities, options and rights.
mutualization proposal means a proposal referred to in subsection (1). (proposition de mutualisation)
Every mutualization proposal shall set out the terms and means of effecting the conversion, and, in particular,
the manner in which all issued and outstanding shares of the company, other than shares that may be issued by a mutual company, are to be purchased or otherwise acquired for the purpose of cancellation;
the price to be paid for those shares;
the nature of the consideration to be paid for those shares;
the amount of any dividends to be paid to the holders of those shares after their purchase or other acquisition;
the period within which the company intends to purchase or otherwise acquire those shares;
the anticipated date when the company will become a mutual company; and
the proposed by-laws of the converted company.
The mutualization proposal shall also contain such other information and evidence as the Minister may require.
The directors of a company that makes a mutualization proposal shall, before applying to the Minister for approval of the proposal, submit it for approval to a meeting of the shareholders and policyholders entitled to vote and, subject to subsection (3), to the holders of each class or series of shares.
Each share of a company that makes a mutualization proposal carries the right to vote in respect of the proposal whether or not it otherwise carries the right to vote.
The holders of shares of a class or series of shares of a company that makes a mutualization proposal are entitled to vote separately as a class or series in respect of the proposal.
Policyholders who are entitled to vote are entitled to vote separately from shareholders in respect of a mutualization proposal.
A company shall, within three months after the approval of a mutualization proposal in accordance with section 228, apply to the Minister for approval of the proposal.
In determining whether to approve a mutualization proposal, the Minister shall consider all matters that the Minister considers relevant and may not approve the proposal unless satisfied that
the proposal was approved by the shareholders and policyholders pursuant to section 228;
the stated capital of the company has ceased to be an important factor in safeguarding the interests of the policyholders of the company, having regard to the quality and amount of the assets of the company, the surplus of the company relative to its liabilities, the nature of the business carried on by the company and any other considerations deemed by the Minister to be relevant;
the price fixed by the directors for the purchase or other acquisition of the common shares of the company under the proposal is fair and reasonable in the circumstances; and
the proposal is in the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
Where the Minister approves a mutualization proposal made by a company,
the company may not issue any shares other than a share that may be issued by a mutual company;
the company may solicit offers from the holders of the shares of the company that are to be purchased or otherwise acquired to effect the conversion of the company but shall not purchase or otherwise acquire those shares until the approval of the Superintendent under section 234 is obtained; and
any change in the proposal must be approved by the shareholders and policyholders and by the Minister.
A company shall prepare and maintain a register recording the offers for sale of shares under the terms of a mutualization proposal in the order in which those offers are received by the company, showing, in respect of each offer,
the date of receipt by the company of the offer;
the name and address of the shareholder making the offer;
the number of shares so offered by the shareholder making the offer;
the price at which each of the shares so offered may be purchased or otherwise acquired;
the date of purchase, if any, of each of the shares so offered and the number of shares purchased; and
the date of withdrawal, if any, of the offer and the number of shares affected by the withdrawal.
A company that holds binding offers from the holders of at least ninety per cent of each class of shares for the purchase or other acquisition of those shares pursuant to a mutualization proposal shall apply to the Superintendent for approval of the purchase or other acquisition of the shares.
The Superintendent shall approve the purchase or other acquisition of shares pursuant to a mutualization proposal if the Superintendent is satisfied that
the stated capital of the shares has, in the opinion of the Superintendent, ceased to be an important factor in safeguarding the interests of the policyholders of the company, having regard to the quality and amount of the assets of the company, the surplus of the company relative to its liabilities, the nature of the business carried on by the company and any other considerations deemed by the Superintendent to be relevant.
Where the Superintendent approves the purchase or other acquisition of shares of a company pursuant to a mutualization proposal, the company
shall, within the period set out in the mutualization proposal, purchase or otherwise acquire the shares for the purchase or other acquisition of which pursuant to the proposal the company holds binding offers; and
may acquire the remaining shares in accordance with Division X, which applies in respect of that acquisition with such modifications as the circumstances require, as if each reference in that Division to
the “offeree company” or the “offeror” were a reference to the “company”,
a “dissenting offeree” were a reference to a holder of a share of the company who has not offered to sell his or her share under the terms of the mutualization proposal,
an “offeree who accepted the take-over bid” were a reference to a holder of a share of the company who has offered to sell his or her share under the terms of the mutualization proposal, and
the “date of the take-over bid” or the “date of termination of the take-over bid” were a reference to the date on which the Superintendent approves the purchase or other acquisition of the shares of the company pursuant to a mutualization proposal.
Notwithstanding anything in this Act, a company may, with the approval of the Superintendent, pay for shares purchased or otherwise acquired pursuant to a mutualization proposal by
making a promissory note that is, or issuing debt securities that are, payable at a fixed or determinable future time not later than ten years after the date of its making or their issue; or
issuing shares that a mutual company may issue.
Where a company purchases or otherwise acquires all of its common shares pursuant to a mutualization proposal,
the company shall cancel those shares; and
the directors of the company shall apply to the Minister for the issue of letters patent to effect the conversion of the company into a mutual company.
On receipt of an application referred to in subsection (1), the Minister shall issue letters patent to effect the conversion of the company into a mutual company.
Letters patent issued pursuant to subsection (2) become effective on the day stated in the letters patent.
Conversion into Company with Common Shares
conversion proposal means a proposal to convert a mutual company into a company with common shares. (proposition de transformation)
converting company has the meaning given to that expression by the regulations. (société en transformation)
eligible policyholder has the meaning given to that expression by the regulations. (souscripteur admissible)
letters patent of conversion means letters patent issued under paragraph 237(1)(b). (lettres patentes de transformation)
On the application of a mutual company made in accordance with the regulations, the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Superintendent,
approve a conversion proposal; and
issue letters patent of conversion to effect the conversion proposal.
Before an application is made under subsection (1), the directors of the company must call a special meeting of eligible policyholders to obtain
approval of the conversion proposal;
confirmation of any by-law or of any amendment to or repeal of a by-law that is necessary to implement the conversion proposal; and
authorization to make the application.
A company shall, in respect of a special meeting,
send, not less than 45 days and not more than 75 days before the meeting, to each eligible policyholder a notice of the time and place of the meeting, describing the conversion proposal in sufficient detail to permit a policyholder to form a reasoned judgment about the terms of the proposal and its impact on both policyholders and the company, together with the prescribed information in respect of the conversion proposal; and
prepare, not less than 45 days before the meeting, a list, which may be in electronic form, of all eligible policyholders.
Subsection 149(5) applies, with any modifications that the circumstances require, in respect of the list of eligible policyholders.
Only eligible policyholders are entitled to notice of and to vote at a special meeting.
Any approval, confirmation or authorization referred to in subsection (1.1) must be given by special resolution of the eligible policyholders.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the application referred to in subsection (1), including the form of the application and the information to be contained in the application, and authorizing the Superintendent to require additional information in order to make a recommendation;
respecting the process that precedes the calling of a special meeting under subsection (1.1), including the development of a conversion proposal, and respecting the calling of that meeting;
respecting the conversion proposal, including the information to be contained in the conversion proposal, and authorizing the Superintendent to approve the measures to be taken by the converting company in respect of any proposed amendment to the conversion proposal;
respecting the value of a converting company for the purposes of the regulations and authorizing the Superintendent to specify a day at which the value shall be estimated by the converting company;
concerning the fair and equitable treatment of policyholders under a conversion proposal;
governing the ownership of shares issued by a mutual company that has been converted into a company with common shares, including limiting the circumstances in which the Minister may give approval under subsection 407(1);
respecting the authorization by the Superintendent of the sending of a notice of a special meeting referred to in subsection (1.1), including
prescribing the information to be submitted by the converting company in support of an authorization,
authorizing the Superintendent to consider information in addition to that referred to in subparagraph (i), and
authorizing the Superintendent to require that information, in addition to the prescribed information referred to in paragraph (1.2)(a), be sent with a notice;
authorizing the Superintendent to
require the converting company to hold one or more information sessions for eligible policyholders and to take other measures to assist eligible policyholders in forming a reasoned judgment on the conversion proposal, and
set the rules under which the information sessions must be held;
respecting restrictions on any fee, compensation or other consideration that may be paid, in respect of the conversion of a mutual company into a company with common shares, to any director, officer or employee of the company or to any entity with which a director, officer or employee of the company is associated;
prohibiting, during the period set out in the regulations, the issuance or provision of shares, share options or rights to acquire shares, of a company that has been converted from a mutual company into a company with common shares to
any director, officer or employee of the company, or
any person who was a director, officer or employee of the company during the year preceding the effective date of conversion of the company; and
generally, respecting the conversion of a mutual company into a company with common shares.
Regulations made under paragraph (2)(a.01) may provide for court intervention in the process referred to in that paragraph, including the circumstances in which the court is to be seized of any matter in relation to that process, and may govern the court’s powers and procedures in that regard. They may also govern authorizations by the Superintendent in respect of notices to be sent in the context of that process.
A regulation made under subsection (2) may provide that the Superintendent may, on such terms and conditions as the Superintendent considers appropriate, exempt a company from prescribed requirements of that regulation.
The Minister may, on such terms and conditions as the Minister considers appropriate, exempt a company from any requirement of this Act or the regulations if
the company is a mutual company applying for the approval of a proposal to convert the company into a company with common shares; and
the Minister is of the opinion that the company is, or is about to be, in financial difficulty and that the exemption would help to facilitate an improvement in the financial condition of the company.
Letters patent of conversion become effective on the day stated in the letters patent of conversion, and on that day
the company ceases to be a mutual company; and
the policyholders of the company cease to have any rights with respect to or any interest in the company as a mutual company.
For the purposes of subsection 69(1) and section 70, shares issued by a company under a conversion proposal are deemed to be fully paid for in money and the amount of consideration received by the company for those shares is deemed to be equal to the book value of the company immediately after the effective date of its conversion, determined in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4) and calculated without taking into account any amounts remaining at that time in the participating accounts that the company maintains under section 456.
A mutual company shall not take any action or series of actions directed toward the distribution of all or part of its property to its policyholders or shareholders or the provision of any other benefit to its policyholders or shareholders, other than as provided in subsections 237(1) to (1.2), until a conversion proposal has been approved by the Minister under subsection 237(1).
Nothing in subsection (1) prevents
the directors of the company from declaring a dividend on shares or a policy dividend, bonus or other benefit payable to policyholders in the ordinary course of business; or
the company from paying or otherwise satisfying a dividend, bonus or other benefit referred to in paragraph (a).
This section does not apply to a company that is insolvent within the meaning of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act.
Amendments — By-laws
change the maximum number, if any, of shares of any class that the company is authorized to issue;
create new classes of shares;
change the designation of any or all of the company’s shares, and add, change or remove any rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions, including rights to accrued dividends, in respect of any or all of the company’s shares, whether issued or unissued;
change the shares of any class or series, whether issued or unissued, into a different number of shares of the same class or series or into the same or a different number of shares of other classes or series;
divide a class of shares, whether issued or unissued, into series and fix the maximum number of shares, if any, in each series and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto;
authorize the directors to divide any class of unissued shares into series and fix the maximum number of shares, if any, in each series and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto;
authorize the directors to change the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to unissued shares of any series;
change the rights of policyholders to vote at meetings of shareholders or policyholders, subject to subsection 153(1);
change the name of the company;
change the province in which the head office of the company is situated.
The directors shall submit a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, that is made under subsection (1) to the shareholders and policyholders entitled to vote, and the shareholders and policyholders may, by special resolution, confirm, amend or reject the by-law, amendment or repeal.
The by-laws of a company may provide that each participating share, as defined in section 83.01, of a mutual company carries the right to vote on a proposed addition or amendment to the by-laws to do anything referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (h), (j) and (k). Where that right is provided for in the by-laws, each of those shares carries that right even if they do not otherwise carry the right to vote.
The holders of shares who are entitled under subsection (2.1) to vote on a proposed addition or amendment referred to in that subsection are entitled to vote on it separately from policyholders.
A by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, made under subsection (1) is not effective until it is confirmed or confirmed as amended by the shareholders and policyholders under subsection (2) and, in the case of a by-law respecting a change to the name of the company, approved by the Superintendent.
If the name of a company or the province in Canada in which the head office of the company is situated is changed under this section, the Superintendent may issue letters patent to amend the company’s incorporating instrument accordingly.
Letters patent issued under subsection (4) become effective on the day stated in the letters patent.
increase or decrease any maximum number of authorized shares of that class, or increase any maximum number of authorized shares of a class having rights or privileges equal or superior to the shares of that class;
effect an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of all or part of the shares of that class;
add, change or remove the rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached to the shares of that class and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
remove or change prejudicially rights to accrued dividends or rights to cumulative dividends,
add, remove or change prejudicially redemption rights,
reduce or remove a dividend preference or a liquidation preference, or
add, remove or change prejudicially conversion privileges, options, voting, transfer or pre-emptive rights, or rights to acquire securities of the company, or sinking fund provisions;
increase the rights or privileges of any class of shares having rights or privileges equal or superior to the shares of that class;
create a new class of shares equal or superior to the shares of that class;
make any class of shares having rights or privileges inferior to the shares of that class equal or superior to the shares of that class; or
effect an exchange or create a right of exchange of all or part of the shares of another class into the shares of that class.
The holders of a series of shares of a class are entitled to vote separately as a series under subsection (1) if that series is affected by an addition or amendment to the by-laws in a manner different from other shares of the same class.
Participating policyholders are entitled to vote separately on a proposal to amend the by-laws to add to, change or remove the rights of policyholders, other than participating policyholders, to vote at meetings of shareholders or policyholders.
Policyholders who are entitled to vote, other than participating policyholders, are entitled to vote separately on a proposal to amend the by-laws to add to, change or remove the rights of policyholders, other than participating policyholders, to vote at meetings of shareholders or policyholders.
The holders of a class of non-participating policies who are entitled to vote are entitled to vote separately as a class if the right to vote attached to policies of that class is added to, changed or removed by an addition or amendment to the by-laws in a manner different from the right to vote attached to other non-participating policies.
A proposed addition or amendment to the by-laws referred to in subsection 239(1) is adopted when the holders of the shares of each class or series entitled to vote separately thereon as a class or series and the policyholders have approved the addition or amendment by a special resolution.
A proposed addition or amendment to the by-laws referred to in section 240 is adopted when the participating policyholders, the non-participating policyholders who are entitled to vote and the holders of each class of non-participating policies entitled to vote separately thereon as a class and the shareholders have approved the addition or amendment by a special resolution.
Where a special resolution referred to in subsection 238(2) so states, the directors may, without further approval of the shareholders or policyholders, revoke the special resolution.
Subject to subsection (2), a director or a shareholder or policyholder who is entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders of a company may, in accordance with sections 147 and 148, make a proposal to make an application referred to in section 224 or to make, amend or repeal the by-laws referred to in subsection 238(1) of the company.
Notice of a meeting of shareholders or policyholders at which a proposal to amend the incorporating instrument or to make, amend or repeal the by-laws of a company to effect any of the changes referred to in subsection 238(1) is to be considered must set out the proposal.
No amendment to the incorporating instrument or by-laws of a company affects an existing cause of action or claim or liability to prosecution in favour of or against the company or its directors or officers, or any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which the company or any of its directors or officers are a party.
Amalgamation
On the joint application of two or more bodies corporate, incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament, including companies and insurance holding companies but not including federal credit unions, the Minister may issue letters patent amalgamating and continuing the applicants as one mutual company.
On the joint application of two or more bodies corporate incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament, including companies — other than mutual companies — and insurance holding companies but not including federal credit unions, the Minister may issue letters patent amalgamating and continuing the applicants as one company.
On the joint application of two or more societies, the Minister may issue letters patent amalgamating and continuing the applicants as one society.
Each applicant proposing to amalgamate shall enter into an amalgamation agreement.
the name of the amalgamated company and the province in which its head office is to be situated;
whether the amalgamated company is to be a mutual company or a company with common shares;
the name and place of ordinary residence of each proposed director of the amalgamated company;
the manner in which any shares of each applicant are to be converted into shares or other securities of the amalgamated company;
if any shares of an applicant are not to be converted into shares or other securities of the amalgamated company, the amount of money or securities that the holders of those shares are to receive in addition to or in lieu of shares or other securities of the amalgamated company;
the manner of payment of money in lieu of the issue of fractional shares of the amalgamated company or of any other body corporate that are to be issued in the amalgamation;
the proposed by-laws of the amalgamated company;
details of any other matter necessary to perfect the amalgamation and to provide for the subsequent management and operation of the amalgamated company; and
the proposed effective date of the amalgamation.
Every amalgamation agreement for an amalgamation to which subsection 245(3) applies shall set out the terms and means of effecting the amalgamation and, in particular,
the name of the amalgamated society and the province in which its head office is to be situated;
the name and place of ordinary residence of each proposed director of the amalgamated society;
the proposed by-laws of the amalgamated society;
details of any other matter necessary to perfect the amalgamation and to provide for the subsequent management and operation of the amalgamated society; and
the proposed effective date of the amalgamation.
If shares of one of the applicants are held by or on behalf of another of the applicants, other than shares held in the capacity of a personal representative or by way of security, the amalgamation agreement must provide for the cancellation of those shares when the amalgamation becomes effective without any repayment of capital in respect thereof, and no provision shall be made in the agreement for the conversion of those shares into shares of the amalgamated company.
An amalgamation agreement must be submitted to the Superintendent for approval and any approval of the agreement under subsection 248(5) by the shareholders, policyholders or members of an applicant is invalid unless, before the date of the approval, the Superintendent has approved the agreement in writing.
An amalgamation agreement submitted to the Superintendent for approval must be accompanied by the report of an independent actuary on the agreement.
The directors of each applicant shall submit an amalgamation agreement for approval
to a meeting of the shareholders and policyholders entitled to vote of the applicant company of which they are directors and to the holders of each class or series of shares;
to a meeting of the shareholders of the body corporate of which they are directors and to the holders of each class or series of shares; or
to a meeting of the members of the applicant society of which they are directors.
Each share of an applicant carries the right to vote in respect of an amalgamation agreement whether or not it otherwise carries the right to vote.
The holders of shares of a class or series of shares of each applicant are entitled to vote separately as a class or series in respect of an amalgamation agreement if the agreement contains a provision that, if it were contained in a proposed amendment to the by-laws or incorporating instrument of the applicant, would entitle those holders to vote separately as a class or series.
Policyholders who are entitled to vote are entitled to vote separately from shareholders in respect of an amalgamation agreement.
the shareholders and the policyholders who are entitled to vote of each applicant company;
the shareholders of each applicant body corporate; and
the members of each applicant society.
An amalgamation agreement may provide that, at any time before the issue of letters patent of amalgamation, the agreement may be terminated by the directors of an applicant even though the agreement has been approved by the shareholders, policyholders or members of all or any of the applicant companies, bodies corporate or societies.
are incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament,
are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the company, and
do not have any participating policyholders
if
the amalgamation is approved by a resolution of the directors of the company and of each amalgamating subsidiary, and
the resolutions provide that
the shares of each amalgamating subsidiary will be cancelled without any repayment of capital in respect thereof,
the letters patent of amalgamation and the by-laws of the amalgamated company will be the same as the incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the amalgamating company that is the holding body corporate, and
no securities will be issued by the amalgamated company in connection with the amalgamation.
Two or more bodies corporate that
are incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament,
are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the same holding body corporate, and
do not have any participating policyholders
at least one of the applicants is a company,
the amalgamation is approved by a resolution of the directors of each of the applicants, and
the resolutions provide that
the shares of all applicants, except those of one of the applicants that is a company, will be cancelled without any repayment of capital in respect thereof,
the letters patent of amalgamation and the by-laws of the amalgamated company will be the same as the incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the amalgamating company whose shares are not cancelled, and
the stated capital of the amalgamating companies and bodies corporate whose shares are cancelled will be added to the stated capital of the amalgamating company whose shares are not cancelled.
Subject to subsection (2), unless an amalgamation agreement is terminated in accordance with subsection 248(6), the applicants shall, within three months after the approval of the agreement in accordance with subsection 248(5) or the approval of the directors in accordance with subsection 249(1) or (2), jointly apply to the Minister for letters patent of amalgamation continuing the applicants as one company or society.
No application for the issue of letters patent under subsection (1) may be made unless
notice of intention to make such an application has been published at least once a week for a period of four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where the head office of each applicant is situated; and
the application is supported by satisfactory evidence that the applicants have complied with the requirements of this Part relating to amalgamations.
Before issuing letters patent of amalgamation continuing the applicants as one company or society, the Minister shall take into account all matters that the Minister considers relevant to the application, including
the sources of continuing financial support for the amalgamated company or society;
the soundness and feasibility of the plans of the applicants for the future conduct and development of the business of the amalgamated company or society;
the business record and experience of the applicants;
the reputation of the applicants for being operated in a manner that is consistent with the standards of good character and integrity;
whether the amalgamated company or society will be operated responsibly by persons with the competence and experience suitable for involvement in the operation of a financial institution;
the impact of any integration of the operations and businesses of the applicants on the conduct of those operations and businesses;
if one of the applicants is a converted company in respect of which the Minister has issued an order under subsection 407(8) or a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(11) applied at any time, or a body corporate that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), such a company, the opinion of the Superintendent regarding the extent to which the proposed corporate structure of the amalgamated company and its affiliates may affect the supervision and regulation of the amalgamated company, having regard to
the nature and extent of the proposed financial services activities to be carried out by the amalgamated company and its affiliates, and
the nature and degree of supervision and regulation applying to the proposed financial services activities to be carried out by the affiliates of the amalgamated company; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
The Minister may not, before January 1, 2002, issue letters patent under section 251 amalgamating a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) or (11) applies, a company to which subsection 407(5) or (12) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) or (13) applies with any other body corporate.
If one of the applicants for letters patent of amalgamation is a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies, or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies, the Minister may not issue the letters patent of amalgamation unless the amalgamated company is
widely held; or
If one of the applicants for letters patent of amalgamation is a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies, a company to which subsection 407(5) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies and the letters patent of amalgamation are issued, the amalgamated company is deemed to be a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies, as the case may be.
Where an application has been made to the Minister in accordance with section 250, the Minister may issue letters patent of amalgamation continuing the applicants as one company or society.
Where letters patent are issued pursuant to this section, section 28 applies with such modifications as the circumstances require in respect of the issue of the letters patent.
The Superintendent shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette notice of the issuance of letters patent pursuant to subsection (1).
If a company or society, or any director, officer, employee or agent of a company or society, is contravening or has failed to comply with any term or condition made in respect of the issuance of letters patent of amalgamation, the Minister may, in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, apply to a court for an order directing the company or society, or the director, officer, employee or agent, to comply with the term or condition, cease the contravention or do any thing that is required to be done, and on the application the court may so order and make any other order it thinks fit.
An appeal from an order of a court under this section lies in the same manner as, and to the same court to which, an appeal may be taken from any other order of the court.
On the day provided for in the letters patent issued under section 251
the amalgamation of the applicants and their continuance as one company or society becomes effective;
the property of each applicant continues to be the property of the amalgamated company or society;
the amalgamated company or society continues to be liable for the obligations of each applicant;
any existing cause of action, claim or liability to prosecution is unaffected;
any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding pending by or against an applicant may be continued to be prosecuted by or against the amalgamated company or society;
any conviction against, or ruling, order or judgment in favour of or against, an applicant may be enforced by or against the amalgamated company or society;
if any director or officer of an applicant continues as a director or officer of the amalgamated company, any disclosure by that director or officer of a material interest in any contract made to the applicant shall be deemed to be disclosure to the amalgamated company; and
the letters patent of amalgamation are the incorporating instrument of the amalgamated company or society.
Any deemed disclosure under paragraph (1)(g) shall be recorded in the minutes of the first meeting of directors of the amalgamated company.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or the regulations, the Minister may, by order, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, grant to a company or society in respect of which letters patent were issued under subsection 251(1) permission to
engage in a business activity specified in the order that the company or society would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to engage in and that one or more of the amalgamating bodies corporate was engaging in at the time application for the letters patent was made;
continue to have issued and outstanding debt obligations the issue of which is not authorized by this Act if the debt obligations were outstanding at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
[Repealed]
hold assets that the company or society would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to hold, if the assets were held by one or more of the amalgamating bodies corporate at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
acquire and hold assets that the company or society would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to acquire or hold, if one or more of the amalgamating bodies corporate were obliged, at the time the application for the letters patent was made, to acquire those assets; and
maintain outside Canada any records or registers required by this Act to be maintained in Canada.
The permission granted under subsection (1) shall be expressed to be granted for a period specified in the order not exceeding
with respect to any matter described in paragraph (1)(a), thirty days after the date of issue of the letters patent or, where the activity is conducted pursuant to an agreement existing on the date of issue of the letters patent, the expiration of the agreement;
with respect to any matter described in paragraph (1)(b), ten years; and
with respect to any matter described in any of paragraphs (1)(d) to (f), two years.
Subject to subsection (4), the Minister, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, may by order renew a permission granted by order under subsection (1) with respect to any matter described in any of paragraphs (1)(b) to (e) for any further period or periods that the Minister considers necessary.
The Minister shall not grant to a company or society any permission
with respect to matters described in paragraph (1)(b), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the date of the approval for the company or society to commence and carry on business, unless the Minister is satisfied on the basis of evidence on oath provided by an officer of the company or society that the company or society will not be able at law to redeem at the end of the ten years the outstanding debt obligations to which the permission relates; and
with respect to matters described in paragraphs (1)(d) and (e), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the date of issue of the letters patent.
Transfer of Business and Reinsurance
Except in accordance with this section or an order made under subsection 678.5(1), a company or society shall not
cause itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against all or any portion of the risks undertaken under its policies; or
sell all or substantially all of its assets.
[Repealed]
A company or society may, with the approval of the Minister,
cause itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against all or substantially all of the risks undertaken under its policies, by one or more of the following entities:
a company or society,
a foreign company that, in Canada, reinsures those risks,
a body corporate incorporated or formed by or under the laws of a province, if the Superintendent has entered into satisfactory arrangements concerning the reinsurance with either or both of the body corporate and the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of the body corporate, or
an entity that is authorized to reinsure those risks, if the risks were undertaken outside Canada by the company or society; or
sell all or substantially all of its assets.
A company or society may, with the approval of the Superintendent, cause itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against less than substantially all of the risks undertaken under its policies, by one or more of the following entities:
a company or society;
a foreign company that, in Canada, reinsures those risks;
a body corporate incorporated or formed by or under the laws of a province, if the Superintendent has entered into satisfactory arrangements concerning the reinsurance with either or both of the body corporate and the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of the body corporate; or
an entity that is authorized to reinsure those risks, if the risks were undertaken outside Canada by the company or society.
The approval of the Minister or Superintendent is not required for a prescribed transaction or a transaction in a prescribed class of transactions.
The company or society must, at least 30 days before it applies for the Minister’s or Superintendent’s approval, publish a notice in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where the head office of the company or society is situated stating the day on or after which it will apply.
Where a company or society publishes a notice referred to in subsection (3), the Superintendent may direct the company or society to provide its shareholders, policyholders and members with such information as the Superintendent may require.
An application for approval under paragraph (2)(a) must, if the Superintendent so requires, be accompanied by the report of an independent actuary on the proposed reinsurance agreement.
If a company or society publishes a notice referred to in subsection (3), it must make the agreement for the transaction that the Minister or Superintendent is asked to approve available at its head office for the inspection of its shareholders, policyholders and members for at least 30 days after the publication of the notice and must provide a copy of the agreement to any shareholder, policyholder or member who requests one by writing to the head office of the company or society.
[Repealed]
A company or society proposing to transfer all or substantially all of its policies, to cause itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against all or substantially all of the risks undertaken under its policies, or to sell all or substantially all of its assets shall submit the proposal for approval to a meeting of the shareholders and policyholders who are entitled to vote, or to a meeting of members, and, subject to subsection (3), to the holders of each class or series of shares.
A company or society proposing to transfer all or substantially all of its policies must give notice of the proposal to the Superintendent.
After receiving the notice, the Superintendent may direct the company or society to provide its shareholders, policyholders and members with any information that the Superintendent may require.
Each share of the company carries the right to vote in respect of the proposal whether or not the share otherwise carries the right to vote.
The holders of shares of a class or series of shares of the company are entitled to vote separately as a class or series in respect of the proposal if the shares of the class or series are affected by the proposed transaction in a manner different from the shares of another class or series.
Policyholders who are entitled to vote are entitled to vote separately from shareholders in respect of the proposal.
Where a special resolution under subsection (5) approving a proposed transaction so states, the directors of a company or society may, subject to the rights of third parties, abandon the transaction without further approval of the shareholders, policyholders or members.
Except in the case of a transaction to transfer all or substantially all of a company’s or society’s policies, the company or society shall, within three months after the approval of the transaction in accordance with subsection (5), apply to the Minister for approval of the transaction, unless the transaction is abandoned in accordance with subsection (6).
This section does not apply if the transfer or reinsurance is made under an order made under subsection 678.5(1).
[Repealed]
Head Office and Corporate Records
A company shall at all times have a head office in the province specified in its incorporating instrument or by-laws.
The directors of a company may change the address of the head office within the province specified in the incorporating instrument or by-laws.
A company shall send to the Superintendent, within fifteen days after any change of address of its head office, a notice of the change of address.
A company shall prepare and maintain records containing
its incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the company and all amendments thereto;
minutes of meetings and resolutions of shareholders or policyholders;
In addition to the records described in subsection (1), a company shall prepare and maintain adequate
corporate accounting records;
records containing minutes of meetings and resolutions of the directors and any committee thereof; and
records showing, for each customer of, or claimant under a policy issued by, the company, the amount owing to the company and the nature of the liabilities of the company to the customer or claimant.
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) and subsection (2),
in the case of a body corporate continued as a company under this Act, records includes similar records required by law to be maintained by the body corporate before it was so continued;
in the case of a body corporate amalgamated and continued as a company under this Act, records includes similar records required by law to be maintained by the body corporate before it was so amalgamated; and
in the case of a former-Act company, records includes similar records required by law to be maintained by the company before the coming into force of this section.
The records described in section 261 shall be kept at the head office of the company or at such other place in Canada as the directors think fit.
Where any of the records described in section 261 are not kept at the head office of a company, the company shall notify the Superintendent of the place where the records are kept.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of records of an office of the company outside Canada or in respect of customers of such an office.
A company’s shareholders, policyholders entitled to vote and creditors and their personal representatives may examine the records referred to in subsection 261(1) during the usual business hours of the company and may take extracts from them free of charge or have copies of them made on payment of a reasonable fee. If the company is a distributing company, any other person may on payment of a reasonable fee examine those records during the usual business hours of the company and take extracts from them or have copies of them made.
A company may make the information contained in records referred to in subsection 261(1) available to persons by any system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing the records in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
Every shareholder of a company is entitled, on request made not more often than once in each calendar year, to receive free of charge one copy of the by-laws of the company.
Every policyholder of a company who is entitled to vote at a meeting of policyholders or shareholders and policyholders of the company is entitled, on request made not more often than once in each calendar year, to receive free of charge one copy of the by-laws of the company.
A person who is entitled to a basic list of shareholders of a company (in this section referred to as the “applicant”) may request the company to furnish the applicant with a basic list within ten days after receipt by the company of the affidavit referred to in subsection (2) and, on payment of a reasonable fee by the applicant, the company shall comply with the request.
A request under subsection (1) must be accompanied by an affidavit containing
the name and address of the applicant,
the name and address for service of the entity, if the applicant is an entity, and
and, if the applicant is an entity, the affidavit shall be made by a director or an officer of the entity, or any person acting in a similar capacity.
A company’s shareholders, policyholders entitled to vote and creditors and their personal representatives are — or if the company is a distributing company, any person is — entitled to a basic list of shareholders of the company.
A basic list of shareholders of a company consists of a list of shareholders that is made up to a date not more than ten days before the receipt of the affidavit referred to in subsection (2) and that sets out
the names of the shareholders of the company;
the number of shares owned by each shareholder; and
the address of each shareholder as shown in the records of the company.
A person requiring a company to supply a basic list of shareholders may, if the person states in the accompanying affidavit that supplemental lists are required, request the company or its agent, on payment of a reasonable fee, to provide supplemental lists of shareholders setting out any changes from the basic list in the names and addresses of the shareholders and the number of shares owned by each shareholder for each business day following the date to which the basic list is made up.
A company or its agent shall provide a supplemental list of shareholders required under subsection (5)
within ten days following the date the basic list is provided, where the information relates to changes that took place prior to that date; and
within ten days following the day to which the supplemental list relates, where the information relates to changes that took place on or after the date the basic list was provided.
A person requiring a company to supply a basic list or a supplemental list of shareholders may also require the company to include in that list the name and address of any known holder of an option or right to acquire shares of the company.
A list of shareholders obtained under section 263 shall not be used by any person except in connection with
an effort to influence the voting of shareholders of the company;
an offer to acquire shares of the company; or
any other matter relating to the affairs of the company.
A register or other record required or authorized by this Act to be prepared and maintained by a company
may be in a bound or loose-leaf form or in a photographic film form; or
may be entered or recorded by any system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing any required information in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
Registers and records maintained in one form may be converted to any other form.
A company and its agents shall take reasonable precautions to
prevent loss or destruction of,
prevent falsification of entries in,
facilitate detection and correction of inaccuracies in, and
ensure that unauthorized persons do not have access to or use of information in,
the registers and records required or authorized by this Act to be prepared and maintained.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that it is incompatible with the fulfilment of the Superintendent’s responsibilities under this Act for a company to maintain, in another country, copies of records referred to in section 261 or of its central securities register or for a company to process, in another country, information or data relating to the preparation and maintenance of those records or of its central securities register — or if the Superintendent is advised by the Minister that, in the opinion of the Minister, it is not in the national interest for a company to do any of those activities in another country — the Superintendent shall direct the company to not maintain those copies, or to not process the information or data, as the case may be, in that other country or to maintain those copies or to process the information or data only in Canada.
Where a company referred to in subsection 262(3.1) or 274(3) maintains records referred to in section 261 or the central securities register at a place outside Canada, the Superintendent may, in the case referred to in paragraph (a), and shall, in the case referred to in paragraph (b), by order, direct the company to maintain a copy of those records or register at any place in Canada as the directors think fit
if the Superintendent is of the opinion that he or she does not have immediate, direct, complete and ongoing access to those records or register; or
if the Superintendent is advised by the Minister that the Minister is of the opinion that it is not in the national interest for the company not to maintain a copy of those records or register in Canada.
A company shall retain
the records of the company referred to in subsection 261(1);
the central securities register referred to in subsection 271(1).
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the records, papers and documents to be retained by a company, including the length of time those records, papers and documents are to be retained, and what constitutes immediate, direct, complete and ongoing access, for the purpose of paragraph 268(1.1)(a).
Securities Registers
A company shall maintain a central securities register in which it shall record the securities, within the meaning of section 85, issued by it in registered form, showing in respect of each class or series of securities
the names, alphabetically arranged, and latest known addresses of the persons who are security holders, and the names and latest known addresses of the persons who have been security holders;
the number of securities held by each security holder; and
the date and particulars of the issue and transfer of each security.
For the purposes of subsection (1), central securities register includes similar registers required by law to be maintained by a former-Act company or by a body corporate continued, or amalgamated and continued, as a company under this Act before the continuance, amalgamation or coming into force of this section, as the case may be.
A company’s shareholders, policyholders entitled to vote and creditors and their personal representatives may examine the central securities register during the usual business hours of the company and may take extracts from it free of charge or have copies of it made on payment of a reasonable fee. If the company is a distributing company, any other person may on payment of a reasonable fee examine the central securities register during the usual business hours of the company and take extracts from it or have copies of it made.
The company may make the information contained in the central securities register available by any mechanical or electronic data processing system or other information storage device that is capable of reproducing it in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
A person who wishes to examine the central securities register, take extracts from it or have copies of it made shall provide the company with an affidavit containing their name and address — or if they are an entity, the name and address for service of the entity — and with an undertaking that the information contained in the register will not be used except in the same way as a list of shareholders may be used under section 265. In the case of an entity, the affidavit is to be sworn by a director or officer of the entity or a person acting in a similar capacity.
A person who wishes to examine a central securities register, take extracts from it or have copies of it made may on payment of a reasonable fee, if they state in the accompanying affidavit that supplementary information is required, request the company or its agent to provide supplementary information setting out any changes made to the register.
A company or its agent shall provide the supplementary information within
10 days after the day on which the central securities register is examined if the changes take place before that day; and
10 days after the day to which the supplementary information relates if the changes take place on or after the day on which the central securities register is examined.
A company may establish as many branch securities registers as it considers necessary.
A company may appoint an agent to maintain its central securities register and each of its branch securities registers.
The central securities register of a company shall be maintained by the company at its head office or at any other place in Canada designated by the directors of the company.
A branch securities register of a company may be kept at any place in or outside Canada designated by the directors of the company.
Registration of the issue or transfer of a security in the central securities register or in a branch securities register is complete and valid registration for all purposes.
A branch securities register shall only contain particulars of the securities issued or transferred at the branch for which that register is established.
Particulars of each issue or transfer of a security registered in a branch securities register of a company shall also be kept in the central securities register of the company.
A company, its agent or a trustee within the meaning of section 317 is not required to produce
a cancelled security certificate in registered form or an instrument referred to in subsection 73(1) that is cancelled or a like cancelled instrument in registered form after six years from the date of its cancellation;
a cancelled security certificate in bearer form or an instrument referred to in subsection 73(1) that is cancelled or a like cancelled instrument in bearer form after the date of its cancellation; or
an instrument referred to in subsection 73(1) or a like instrument, irrespective of its form, after the date of its expiration.
Corporate Name and Seal
A company shall set out its name in legible characters in all contracts, premium notices, applications for policies, policies, negotiable instruments and other documents evidencing rights or obligations with respect to other parties that are issued or made by or on behalf of the company.
A company may adopt a corporate seal and change one that it adopted.
A document executed on behalf of a company is not invalid merely because a corporate seal is not affixed to it.
[Repealed, 1997, c. 15, s. 230]
Insiders
Interpretation
In this Division,
affiliate means a body corporate that is affiliated with another body corporate within the meaning of subsection 6(2); (groupe)
business combination means an acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of one body corporate by another, an amalgamation of two or more bodies corporate or any similar reorganization between two or more bodies corporate; (regroupement d’entreprises)
call means an option, transferable by delivery, to demand delivery of a specified number or amount of shares at a fixed price within a specified time but does not include an option or right to acquire shares of the body corporate that granted the option or right to acquire; (option d’achat)
distributing company[Repealed, 2005, c. 54, s. 270]
insider[Repealed, 2005, c. 54, s. 270]
officer, in relation to a company, means
an officer as defined in paragraph (a) of the definition officer in section 2, or
any natural person who performs functions for the company similar to those performed by a person referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition officer in section 2; (dirigeant d’une société)
put means an option, transferable by delivery, to deliver a specified number or amount of shares at a fixed price within a specified time; (option de vente)
[Repealed]
Insider Reporting
An insider shall submit an insider report in accordance with the regulations.
On application by an insider, the Superintendent may in writing and on any terms that the Superintendent thinks fit exempt the insider from any of the requirements of section 289. The exemption may be given retroactive effect and the Superintendent shall publish the particulars of the exemption and the reasons for it in a periodical available to the public.
[Repealed]
respecting the form and content of an insider report; and
respecting the submission or publication of an insider report.
[Repealed]
Insider Trading
In this section, insider means with respect to a distributing company
a director or officer of the company;
a director or officer of a subsidiary of the company;
a director or officer of a body corporate that enters into a business combination with the company; or
a person employed or retained by the company.
No insider may knowingly sell, directly or indirectly, a security of a distributing company or of any of the distributing company’s affiliates if the insider does not own or has not fully paid for the security.
Despite subsection (2), an insider may sell a security that they do not own if they own another security that is convertible into the security that was sold or they own an option or right to acquire the security that was sold, and if within 10 days after the sale they
exercise the conversion privilege, option or right and deliver the security so acquired to the purchaser; or
transfer the convertible security, option or right to the purchaser.
No insider may knowingly, directly or indirectly, buy or sell a call or put in respect of a security of a company or of any of the company’s affiliates.
Civil remedies
the company;
an affiliate of the company;
a person who beneficially owns directly or indirectly, or who exercises control or direction over or has a combination of ownership, control and direction in respect of, shares of the company carrying more than the prescribed percentage of the voting rights attached to all of the company’s outstanding shares not including shares held by the person as underwriter while those shares are in the course of a distribution to the public;
a person, other than a person described in paragraph (f), who is employed or retained by the company or by a person described in paragraph (f);
a person who engages in or proposes to engage in any business or professional activity with or on behalf of the company;
a prescribed person.
For the purposes of this section, each of the following is deemed to be a security of a company:
a put, call, option or other right or obligation to purchase or sell a security of the company; and
a security of another entity, the market price of which varies materially with the market price of the securities of the company.
For the purposes of this section and subsection 294.1(1), a person who proposes to make a take-over bid as defined in the regulations for securities of a company or to enter into a business combination with a company is an insider of the company with respect to material confidential information obtained from the company.
An insider of a person referred to in subsection (3), or the person’s affiliate or associate, is an insider of the company referred to in that subsection. Paragraphs (1)(b) to (i) apply in making this determination except that references to “company” are to be read as references to “person described in subsection (3)”.
In subsection (4), associate means with respect to a person
a body corporate that the person directly or indirectly controls, determined without regard to paragraph 3(1)(d), or of which they beneficially own shares or securities currently convertible into shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights under all circumstances or by reason of the occurrence of an event that has occurred and is continuing or a currently exercisable option or right to purchase the shares or convertible securities;
a partner of the person acting on behalf of the partnership of which they are partners;
a trust or estate in which the person has a substantial beneficial interest or in respect of which they serve as a trustee or a liquidator of the succession or in a similar capacity;
a spouse or common-law partner of the person;
a child of the person or of their spouse or common-law partner; or
if that relative has the same residence as the person, a relative of the person or of their spouse or common-law partner.
An insider of a company who purchases or sells a security of the company with knowledge of confidential information that if it were generally known might reasonably be expected to materially affect the value of any of the securities of the company is liable to compensate the seller or purchaser of the security, as the case may be, for any loss suffered by them as a result of the purchase or sale unless the insider establishes that
the insider reasonably believed that the information had been generally disclosed;
the information was known or ought reasonably to have been known by the seller or purchaser; or
the purchase or sale of the security took place in the prescribed circumstances.
The insider is accountable to the company for any benefit or advantage received or receivable by the insider as a result of a purchase or sale described in subsection (5), unless they establish the circumstances described in paragraph (6)(a).
An insider of a company who discloses confidential information with respect to the company that has not been generally disclosed and that if it were generally known might reasonably be expected to materially affect the value of any of the securities of the company is liable to compensate any person who subsequently sells securities of the company to or purchases them from any person who received the information unless the insider establishes that
the insider reasonably believed that the information had been generally disclosed;
the information was known or ought reasonably to have been known by the person who alleges that they suffered the loss;
The insider is accountable to the company for any benefit or advantage received or receivable by them as a result of a disclosure of information as described in subsection (1) unless they establish the circumstances described in paragraph (1)(a), (c) or (d).
if the plaintiff is a purchaser, the price that they paid for the security less the average market price of the security over the 20 trading days immediately following general disclosure of the information; and
if the plaintiff is a seller, the average market price of the security over the 20 trading days immediately following general disclosure of the information, less the price that they received for the security.
Prospectus
No person including a company shall distribute securities of a company except in accordance with the regulations made under subsection (2).
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the distribution of securities of a company, including
respecting the information that is to be disclosed by a company before the distribution of any of its securities, including the information that is to be included in a prospectus;
respecting the manner of disclosure and the form of the information that is to be disclosed; and
exempting any class of distribution of securities from the application of subsection (1).
On application by a company or any person proposing to make a distribution, the Superintendent may, by order, exempt that distribution from the application of any regulations made under subsection 296(2) if the Superintendent is satisfied that the company has disclosed or is about to disclose, in compliance with the laws of the relevant jurisdiction, information relating to the distribution that in form and content substantially complies with the requirements of those regulations.
An order under subsection (1) may contain any conditions or limitations that the Superintendent deems appropriate.
Going-private Transactions and Squeeze-out Transactions
A company may carry out a going-private transaction if it complies with any applicable provincial securities laws.
No company may carry out a squeeze-out transaction unless, in addition to any approval by holders of shares required by or under this Act or the company’s by-laws, the transaction is approved by ordinary resolution of the holders of each class of shares affected by the transaction, voting separately, whether or not the shares otherwise carry the right to vote. However, the following do not have the right to vote on the resolution:
affiliates of the company; and
holders of shares that following the squeeze-out transaction would be entitled to consideration of greater value or to superior rights or privileges than those available to other holders of shares of the same class.
A holder of shares of a company may dissent if the company resolves to carry out a going-private transaction or squeeze-out transaction that affects those shares.
In addition to any other right that the shareholder may have, but subject to subsection (25), a shareholder who complies with this section is, when the action approved by the resolution from which the shareholder dissents becomes effective, entitled to be paid by the company the fair value of the shares in respect of which the shareholder dissents, determined as of the close of business on the day before the resolution was adopted by the policyholders entitled to vote and the shareholders.
A dissenting shareholder may claim under this section only with respect to all of the shares of a class held on behalf of any one beneficial owner and registered in the name of the dissenting shareholder.
A dissenting shareholder shall send to the company, at or before any meeting of shareholders and policyholders at which a resolution referred to in subsection (2) is to be voted on by the policyholders entitled to vote and the shareholders, a written objection to the resolution unless the company did not give notice to the shareholder of the purpose of the meeting and their right to dissent.
The company shall within 10 days after the day on which the policyholders entitled to vote and the shareholders adopt the resolution send to each shareholder who sent an objection under subsection (4) notice that the resolution was adopted. If it is necessary for the Minister or Superintendent to approve the transaction within the meaning of subsection 1016(1) before it becomes effective, the company shall send notice within 10 days after the approval. Notice is not required to be sent to a shareholder who voted for the resolution or one who has withdrawn their objection.
A dissenting shareholder shall within 20 days after receiving the notice referred to in subsection (5) — or, if they do not receive it, within 20 days after learning that the resolution was adopted by the policyholders entitled to vote and the shareholders — send to the company a written notice containing
their name and address;
the number and class of shares in respect of which they dissent; and
a demand for payment of the fair value of those shares.
A dissenting shareholder shall within 30 days after sending a notice under subsection (6) send the certificates representing the shares in respect of which they dissent to the company or its transfer agent.
A dissenting shareholder who fails to comply with subsection (7) has no right to make a claim under this section.
A company or its transfer agent shall endorse on any share certificate received in accordance with subsection (7) a notice that the holder is a dissenting shareholder under this section and shall without delay return the share certificates to the dissenting shareholder.
On sending a notice under subsection (6), a dissenting shareholder ceases to have any rights as a shareholder other than to be paid the fair value of their shares as determined under this section. However, the shareholder’s rights are reinstated as of the date the notice was sent if
the shareholder withdraws the notice before the company makes an offer under subsection (11);
the company fails to make an offer in accordance with subsection (11) and the shareholder withdraws the notice; or
the directors revoke under section 242 the special resolution that was made in respect of the going-private transaction or squeeze-out transaction.
A company shall, no later than seven days after the later of the day on which the action approved by the resolution from which the shareholder dissents becomes effective and the day on which the company received the notice referred to in subsection (6), send to each dissenting shareholder who sent a notice
a written offer to pay for their shares in an amount considered by the directors of the company to be the fair value, accompanied by a statement showing how the fair value was determined; or
if subsection (25) applies, a notice that it is unable to lawfully pay dissenting shareholders for their shares.
Every offer made under subsection (11) for shares of the same class or series is to be on the same terms.
Subject to subsection (25), a company shall pay for the shares of a dissenting shareholder within 10 days after the day on which an offer made under subsection (11) is accepted, but the offer lapses if the company does not receive an acceptance within 30 days after the day on which the offer is made.
If a company fails to make an offer under subsection (11) or if a dissenting shareholder fails to accept an offer, the company may, within 50 days after the day on which the action approved by the resolution from which the shareholder dissents becomes effective or within any further period that a court may allow, apply to the court to fix a fair value for the shares of any dissenting shareholder.
If a company fails to apply to a court under subsection (14), a dissenting shareholder may apply to a court for the same purpose within a further period of 20 days or within any further period that the court may allow.
all dissenting shareholders whose shares have not been purchased by the company are to be joined as parties and are bound by the decision of the court;
the company shall notify each of them of the date, place and consequences of the application and their right to appear and be heard in person or by counsel; and
the company shall notify the Superintendent of the date and place of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel.
The court may appoint one or more appraisers to assist the court to fix a fair value for the shares of the dissenting shareholders.
The final order of the court is to be rendered against the company in favour of each dissenting shareholder for the value of the shares as fixed by the court.
The court may allow a reasonable rate of interest on the amount payable to each dissenting shareholder from the date the action approved by the resolution from which the shareholder dissents becomes effective until the date of payment.
withdraw their notice of dissent, in which case the company is deemed to consent to the withdrawal and the shareholder is reinstated to their full rights as a shareholder; or
retain their status as a claimant against the company, to be paid as soon as the company is able to lawfully pay them or, in a liquidation, to be ranked subordinate to the rights of the company’s creditors but in priority to its shareholders.
A company may not make a payment to a dissenting shareholder under this section if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is or the payment would cause the company to be in contravention of a regulation referred to in subsection 515(1) or (2) or 516(1) or (2) or of an order made under subsection 515(3) or 516(4).
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
Compulsory Acquisitions
In this Division,
affiliate means a body corporate that is affiliated with another body corporate within the meaning of subsection 6(2); (groupe)
associate of the offeror means
a body corporate that an offeror, directly or indirectly, controls, determined without regard to paragraph 3(1)(d), or of which an offeror beneficially owns shares or securities currently convertible into shares carrying more than 10 per cent of the voting rights under all circumstances or by reason of the occurrence of an event that has occurred and is continuing, or a currently exercisable option or right to purchase the shares or the convertible securities,
a partner of the offeror acting on behalf of the partnership of which they are partners,
a trust or estate in which the offeror has a substantial beneficial interest or in respect of which they serve as a trustee or a liquidator of the succession or in a similar capacity,
a spouse or common-law partner of the offeror,
a child of the offeror or of the offeror’s spouse or common-law partner, or
a relative of the offeror or of the offeror’s spouse or common-law partner, if that relative has the same residence as the offeror; (associé du pollicitant)
dissenting offeree means a holder of a share who does not accept a take-over bid or a subsequent holder of the share who acquires it from the first-mentioned holder; (pollicité opposant)
exempt offer[Repealed, 2005, c. 54, s. 273]
offeree means a person to whom a take-over bid is made; (pollicité)
offeree company means a company the shares of which are the object of a take-over bid; (société pollicitée)
offeror means a person, other than an agent, who makes a take-over bid, and includes two or more persons who, directly or indirectly,
make take-over bids jointly or in concert, or
intend to exercise jointly or in concert voting rights attached to shares for which a take-over bid is made; (pollicitant)
take-over bid means an offer made by an offeror at approximately the same time to all of the shareholders of a distributing company to acquire all of the shares of a class of issued shares, and includes an offer by a distributing company to repurchase all of the shares of a class. (offre d’achat visant à la mainmise)
A take-over bid is deemed to be dated as of the date on which it is sent.
If, within one hundred and twenty days after the date of a take-over bid, the bid is accepted by the holders of not less than 90 per cent of the shares of any class of shares to which the take-over bid relates, other than shares held at the date of the take-over bid by or on behalf of the offeror or an affiliate or associate of the offeror, the offeror is entitled, on complying with this Division, to acquire the shares held by the dissenting offerees.
An offeror may acquire shares held by a dissenting offeree by sending by registered mail within sixty days after the date of termination of the take-over bid and in any event within one hundred and eighty days after the date of the take-over bid, an offeror’s notice to each dissenting offeree and to the Superintendent stating that
offerees holding not less than 90 per cent of the shares of any class of shares to which the take-over bid relates, other than shares held at the date of the take-over bid by or on behalf of the offeror or an affiliate or associate of the offeror, have accepted the take-over bid;
the offeror is bound to take up and pay for or has taken up and paid for the shares of the offerees who accepted the take-over bid;
a dissenting offeree is required to elect
to transfer the dissenting offeree’s shares to the offeror on the same terms on which the offeror acquired the shares from the offerees who accepted the take-over bid, or
a dissenting offeree who does not notify the offeror in accordance with paragraph 310(b) is deemed to have elected to transfer the shares to the offeror on the same terms on which the offeror acquired the shares from the offerees who accepted the take-over bid; and
a dissenting offeree must send the dissenting offeree’s shares to which the take-over bid relates to the offeree company within twenty days after the dissenting offeree receives the offeror’s notice.
A dissenting offeree to whom a notice is sent under subsection 309(1) shall within 20 days after receiving the notice
send to the offeree company the share certificates representing the shares to which the take-over bid relates; and
A dissenting offeree who does not notify the offeror in accordance with paragraph 310(b) is deemed to have elected to transfer the shares to the offeror on the same terms as those on which the offeror acquired shares from the offerees who accepted the take-over bid.
Within 20 days after the offeror sends a notice under subsection 309(1), the offeror shall pay the money, or transfer the other consideration, to the offeree company that the offeror would have had to pay or transfer to a dissenting offeree if the dissenting offeree had elected to transfer their shares in accordance with paragraph 310(b).
An offeree company is deemed to hold in a fiduciary capacity for the dissenting offerees the money or other consideration it receives under subsection (1).
An offeree company shall deposit the money received under subsection (1) in a separate account in a deposit-taking financial institution in Canada and the offeree company shall place any other consideration in the custody of a deposit-taking financial institution in Canada.
A company that is making a take-over bid to repurchase all of the shares of a class is deemed to hold in a fiduciary capacity for the dissenting shareholders the money that it would have had to pay, and the other consideration that it would have had to transfer, to a dissenting offeree if the dissenting offeree had elected to transfer their shares in accordance with paragraph 310(b). The company shall within 20 days after a notice is sent under subsection 309(1) deposit the money in a separate account in a deposit-taking financial institution in Canada and place any other consideration in the custody of a deposit-taking financial institution in Canada.
Within thirty days after an offeror sends an offeror’s notice under subsection 309(1), the offeree company shall
if the payment or transfer required by subsection 311(1) is made, issue to the offeror a share certificate in respect of the shares that were held by the dissenting offerees;
if the payment or transfer required by subsection 311(1) is made and the money or other consideration is deposited as required by subsections 311(2) and (3) or by section 311.1, send to each dissenting offeree who has not sent share certificates as required under paragraph 310(a) a notice stating that
their shares have been cancelled,
the offeree company or its designated person holds in a fiduciary capacity for that offeree the money or other consideration to which they are entitled as payment for or in exchange for the shares, and
If a dissenting offeree has elected to demand payment of the fair value of their shares under paragraph 310(b), the offeror may, within 20 days after it has paid the money or transferred the other consideration under subsection 311(1), apply to a court to fix the fair value of the shares of that dissenting offeree.
If an offeror fails to apply to a court under subsection (1), a dissenting offeree may apply to a court for the same purpose within a further period of twenty days.
all dissenting offerees who have made elections to demand payment under paragraph 310(b) and whose shares have not been acquired by the offeror shall be joined as parties and are bound by the decision of the court; and
the offeror shall notify each affected dissenting offeree of the date, place and consequences of the application and of the dissenting offeree’s right to appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
A court may in its discretion appoint one or more appraisers to assist the court in fixing a fair value for the shares of a dissenting offeree.
The final order of a court shall be made against the offeror in favour of each dissenting offeree and for the amount for each dissenting offeree’s shares as fixed by the court.
order that the money or other consideration is to be held in trust by a person other than the offeree company;
allow a reasonable rate of interest on the amount payable to each dissenting offeree from the date the dissenting offeree sends the share certificates required under section 310 until the date of payment; or
order that any money payable to a shareholder who cannot be found be paid to the Receiver General.
If at any time a person establishes an entitlement to any moneys paid to the Receiver General under this section, the Receiver General shall pay an equivalent amount to that person out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Where no application is made to a court under subsection 313(2) within the period set out in that subsection, a dissenting offeree is deemed to have elected to transfer the dissenting offeree’s shares to the offeror on the same terms on which the offeror acquired the shares from the offerees who accepted the take-over bid.
If a shareholder who holds shares of an offeree company does not receive the notice referred to in subsection 309(1), the shareholder may require the offeror to acquire the shares
within 90 days after the date of termination of the take-over bid; or
if the shareholder did not receive an offer under the take-over bid, within 90 days after the later of
the date of termination of the take-over bid, and
the day on which the shareholder learned of the take-over bid.
If the shareholder requires the offeror to acquire shares, the offeror shall acquire them on the same terms as those on which the offeror acquires shares from offerees who accept the take-over bid.
Trust Indentures
In this Division,
event of default means, in relation to a trust indenture, an event specified in the trust indenture on the occurrence of which the principal, interest and other moneys payable thereunder become or may be declared to be payable before maturity, but the event is not an event of default until all the conditions set out in the trust indenture in connection with the giving of notice of the event have been satisfied or the period of time for giving the notice has elapsed; (cas de défaut)
issuer means a company that has issued, is about to issue or is in the process of issuing subordinated indebtedness; (émetteur)
trustee means any person appointed as trustee under the terms of a trust indenture to which a company is a party, and includes any successor trustee; (fiduciaire)
trust indenture means any deed, indenture or other instrument, including any supplement or amendment thereto, made by a company under which the company issues subordinated indebtedness and in which a person is appointed as trustee for the holders of the subordinated indebtedness issued thereunder. (acte de fiducie)
This Division applies in respect of a trust indenture if the subordinated indebtedness issued or to be issued under the trust indenture is part of a distribution to the public.
The Superintendent may, in writing, exempt a trust indenture from the application of this Division if, in the Superintendent’s opinion, the trust indenture and the subordinated indebtedness are subject to a law of a province or other jurisdiction, other than Canada, that is substantially equivalent to the provisions of this Act relating to trust indentures.
No person shall be appointed as trustee if at the time of the appointment there is a material conflict of interest between the person’s role as trustee and any other role of the person.
A trustee shall, within ninety days after the trustee becomes aware that a material conflict of interest exists,
eliminate the conflict of interest; or
resign from office.
A trust indenture and any subordinated indebtedness issued thereunder are valid notwithstanding a material conflict of interest of the trustee.
A trustee, or at least one of the trustees if more than one is appointed, must be
a trust company pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Trust and Loan Companies Act; or
a body corporate that is incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province and authorized to carry on business as a trustee.
A holder of subordinated indebtedness issued under a trust indenture may, on payment to the trustee of a reasonable fee and on delivery of a statutory declaration to the trustee, require the trustee to provide, within fifteen days after the delivery to the trustee of the statutory declaration, a list setting out
the names and addresses of the registered holders of the outstanding subordinated indebtedness,
the principal amount of outstanding subordinated indebtedness owned by each such holder, and
the aggregate principal amount of subordinated indebtedness outstanding
as shown on the records maintained by the trustee on the day the statutory declaration is delivered to that trustee.
On the demand of a trustee, the issuer of subordinated indebtedness shall provide the trustee with the information required to enable the trustee to comply with subsection (1).
Where the person requiring the trustee to provide a list under subsection (1) is an entity, the statutory declaration required under that subsection shall be made by a director or an officer of the entity or a person acting in a similar capacity.
The statutory declaration required under subsection (1) must state
the name and address of the person requiring the trustee to provide the list and, if the person is an entity, the address for service thereof; and
that the list will not be used except as permitted by subsection (5).
No person shall use a list obtained under this section except in connection with
an effort to influence the voting of the holders of subordinated indebtedness;
an offer to acquire subordinated indebtedness; or
any other matter relating to the subordinated indebtedness or the affairs of the issuer or guarantor thereof.
An issuer or a guarantor of subordinated indebtedness issued or to be issued under a trust indenture shall, before undertaking
the issue, certification and delivery of subordinated indebtedness under the trust indenture, or
the satisfaction and discharge of the trust indenture,
provide the trustee with evidence of compliance with the conditions in the trust indenture in respect thereof.
On the demand of a trustee, the issuer or guarantor of subordinated indebtedness issued or to be issued under a trust indenture shall provide the trustee with evidence of compliance with the conditions in the trust indenture by the issuer or guarantor in respect of any act to be done by the trustee at the request of the issuer or guarantor.
an opinion of legal counsel that the conditions of the trust indenture requiring review by legal counsel have been complied with, if the trust indenture requires compliance with conditions that are subject to review by legal counsel; and
an opinion or report of the auditors of the issuer or guarantor, or such other accountant as the trustee selects, that the conditions of the trust indenture have been complied with, if the trust indenture requires compliance with conditions that are subject to review by auditors.
The evidence of compliance referred to in subsection (3) shall include a statement by the person giving the evidence
describing the nature and scope of the examination or investigation on which the person based the certificate, statement or opinion; and
declaring that the person has made such examination or investigation as the person believes necessary to enable the statements to be made or the opinions contained or expressed therein to be given.
On the request of a trustee, the issuer or guarantor of subordinated indebtedness issued under a trust indenture shall provide the trustee with evidence in such form as the trustee requires of compliance with any condition thereof relating to any action required or permitted to be taken by the issuer or guarantor under the trust indenture.
At least once in each twelve month period beginning on the date of the trust indenture and at any other time on the demand of a trustee, the issuer or guarantor of subordinated indebtedness issued under a trust indenture shall provide the trustee with a certificate stating that the issuer or guarantor has complied with all requirements contained in the trust indenture that, if not complied with, would, with the giving of notice, lapse of time or otherwise, constitute an event of default, or, if there has been failure to so comply, giving particulars thereof.
A trustee shall, within thirty days after the trustee becomes aware of the occurrence thereof, give to the holders of subordinated indebtedness issued under a trust indenture notice of every event of default arising under the trust indenture and continuing at the time the notice is given, unless the trustee believes on reasonable grounds that it is in the best interests of the holders of the subordinated indebtedness to withhold the notice and so informs the issuer and guarantor in writing.
In exercising a trustee’s powers and discharging a trustee’s duties, the trustee shall
act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the holders of the subordinated indebtedness issued under the trust indenture; and
exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent trustee.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), a trustee is not liable if the trustee relies in good faith on statements contained in a statutory declaration, certificate, opinion or report that complies with this Act or the trust indenture.
No term of a trust indenture or of any agreement between a trustee and the holders of subordinated indebtedness issued thereunder or between the trustee and the issuer or guarantor operates to relieve a trustee from the duties imposed on the trustee by sections 320, 324 and 327 and subsection 328(1).
Financial Statements
The financial year of a company ends, at the election of the company in its by-laws, on the expiration of the thirty-first day of October or the thirty-first day of December in each year.
Where a company has, after the first day of July in any year, obtained an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business, the first financial year of the company ends, at the election of the company in its by-laws, on the expiration of the thirty-first day of October or the thirty-first day of December in the next calendar year.
The directors of a company shall place before the shareholders and policyholders at every annual meeting
a comparative annual financial statement relating separately to
the financial year immediately preceding the meeting, and
the financial year, if any, immediately preceding the financial year referred to in subparagraph (i);
the report of the auditor of the company;
the report of the actuary of the company;
a description of the roles of the actuary of the company and the auditor of the company in the preparation and audit of the annual statement; and
any further information respecting the financial position of the company and the results of its operations required by the by-laws of the company to be placed before the shareholders and policyholders at the annual meeting.
With respect to each of the financial years to which it relates, the annual statement of a company must contain the prescribed statements and any information that is in the opinion of the directors necessary to present fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection (4), the financial position of the company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates and the results of the operations and changes in the financial position of the company for that financial year.
A company shall include with its annual statement
a list of the subsidiaries of the company, other than subsidiaries that are not required to be listed by the regulations and subsidiaries acquired pursuant to section 499 or pursuant to a realization of security in accordance with section 500 and which the company would not otherwise be permitted to hold, showing, with respect to each subsidiary,
its name and the address of its head or principal office,
the book value of the aggregate of any shares of the subsidiary beneficially owned by the company and by other subsidiaries of the company, and
the percentage of the voting rights attached to all the outstanding voting shares of the subsidiary that is carried by the aggregate of any voting shares of the subsidiary beneficially owned by the company and by other subsidiaries of the company; and
such other information as may be prescribed in such form as may be prescribed.
The financial statements referred to in subsection (1), paragraph (3)(b) and subsection 333(1) shall, except as otherwise specified by the Superintendent, be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the primary source of which is the Handbook of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. A reference in any provision of this Act to the accounting principles referred to in this subsection shall be construed as a reference to those generally accepted accounting principles with any specifications so made.
[Repealed]
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting subsidiaries that are not required to be listed for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b).
The directors of a company shall approve the annual statement and their approval shall be evidenced by the signature or a printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced facsimile of the signature of
the chief executive officer or, in the event of that officer’s absence or inability to act, any other officer of the company authorized by the directors to sign in the stead of the chief executive officer; and
one director, if the signature required by paragraph (a) is that of a director, or two directors if the signature required by that paragraph is that of an officer who is not a director.
A company shall not publish copies of an annual statement unless it is approved and signed in accordance with subsection (1).
A company shall keep at its head office a copy of the current financial statements of each subsidiary of the company.
Subject to this section, the shareholders of a company, the policyholders of a company who are entitled to vote and their personal representatives may, on request therefor, examine the statements referred to in subsection (1) during the usual business hours of the company and may take extracts therefrom free of charge.
A company may refuse to permit an examination under subsection (2) by any person.
Within fifteen days after a refusal under subsection (3), the company shall apply to a court for an order barring the right of the person concerned to make an examination under subsection (2) and the court shall either order the company to permit the examination or, if it is satisfied that the examination would be detrimental to the company or to any other body corporate the financial statements of which would be subject to examination, bar the right and make any further order it thinks fit.
A company shall, no later than 21 days before the date of each annual meeting or before the signing of a resolution under paragraph 158(1)(b) in lieu of the annual meeting and unless that time period is waived by the shareholder or policyholder, send
to each shareholder a copy of the documents referred to in paragraphs 331(1)(a) and (b) to (e) and subsection 331(3) and, on request, the document referred to in paragraph 331(1)(a.1); and
A company is not required to comply with subsection (1) with respect to shareholders or policyholders who have informed the company, in writing, that they do not wish to receive the annual statement.
Where a company is required to comply with subsection (1) and the company does not comply with that subsection, the annual meeting at which the annual statement is to be considered shall be adjourned until that subsection has been complied with.
Auditors
Interpretation
In this Division,
firm of accountants means a partnership, the members of which are accountants engaged in the practice of accounting, or a body corporate that is incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province and engaged in the practice of accounting; (cabinet de comptables)
member, in relation to a firm of accountants, means
an accountant who is a partner in a partnership, the members of which are accountants engaged in the practice of accounting, or
an accountant who is an employee of a firm of accountants. (membre)
Appointment
The shareholders and policyholders of a company shall, by ordinary resolution at the first meeting of shareholders and policyholders and at each succeeding annual meeting, appoint an auditor to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting.
The remuneration of an auditor may be fixed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders and policyholders but, if not so fixed, shall be fixed by the directors.
Qualifications
A natural person or firm of accountants is qualified to be an auditor of a company if
in the case of a natural person, the person is an accountant who
is a member in good standing of an institute or association of accountants incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province,
has at least five years experience at a senior level in performing audits of a financial institution,
is ordinarily resident in Canada, and
is independent of the company; and
in the case of a firm of accountants, the member of the firm jointly designated by the firm and the company to conduct the audit of the company on behalf of the firm is qualified in accordance with paragraph (a).
For the purposes of subsection (1),
independence is a question of fact; and
a person is deemed not to be independent of a company if that person, a business partner of that person or a firm of accountants of which that person is a member
is a business partner, director, officer or employee of the company or of any affiliate of the company or is a business partner of any director, officer or employee of the company or of any affiliate of the company,
beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a material interest in the shares of the company or of any affiliate of the company, or
has been a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or receiver and manager of any affiliate of the company within the two years immediately preceding the person’s proposed appointment as auditor of the company, other than an affiliate that is a subsidiary of the company acquired pursuant to section 499 or through a realization of security pursuant to section 500.
For the purposes of subsection (2),
in the case of the appointment of a natural person as the auditor of a company, a business partner of the person includes a shareholder of the business partner; and
in the case of the appointment of a firm of accountants as the auditor of a company, a business partner of a member of the firm includes another member of the firm and a shareholder of the firm or of a business partner of the member.
Within fifteen days after the appointment of a firm of accountants as auditor of a company, the company and the firm of accountants shall jointly designate a member of the firm who meets the qualifications described in subsection (1) to conduct the audit of the company on behalf of the firm and the company shall forthwith notify the Superintendent in writing of the designation.
Where for any reason a member of a firm of accountants designated pursuant to subsection (3) ceases to conduct the audit of the company, the company and the firm of accountants may jointly designate another member of the same firm of accountants who meets the qualifications described in subsection (1) to conduct the audit of the company and the company shall forthwith notify the Superintendent in writing of the designation.
In any case where subsection (4) applies and a designation is not made pursuant to that subsection within thirty days after the designated member ceases to conduct the audit of the company, there shall be deemed to be a vacancy in the office of auditor of the company.
An auditor who ceases to be qualified under section 338 shall resign forthwith after the auditor, where the auditor is a natural person, or any member of the firm of accountants, where the auditor is a firm of accountants, becomes aware that the auditor or the firm has ceased to be so qualified.
Any interested person may apply to a court for an order declaring that an auditor of a company has ceased to be qualified under section 338 and declaring the office of auditor to be vacant.
Vacancies
The shareholders and policyholders of a company may, by ordinary resolution at a special meeting, revoke the appointment of an auditor.
The Superintendent may at any time revoke the appointment of an auditor made under subsection (3) or 337(1) or section 342 by notice in writing signed by the Superintendent and sent by registered mail to the auditor and to the company addressed to the usual place of business of the auditor and the company.
An auditor of a company ceases to hold office when
the auditor resigns;
the auditor, where the auditor is a natural person, dies; or
the appointment of the auditor is revoked by the shareholders and policyholders or the Superintendent.
The resignation of an auditor becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the company or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Subject to subsection 340(3), where a vacancy occurs in the office of auditor of a company, the directors shall forthwith fill the vacancy, and the auditor so appointed holds office for the unexpired term of office of the predecessor of that auditor.
Where the directors fail to fill a vacancy in accordance with subsection (1), the Superintendent may fill the vacancy and the auditor so appointed holds office for the unexpired term of office of the predecessor of that auditor.
Where the Superintendent has, pursuant to subsection (2), appointed a firm of accountants to fill a vacancy, the Superintendent shall designate the member of the firm who is to conduct the audit of the company on behalf of the firm.
The auditor of a company is entitled to receive notice of every meeting of shareholders or policyholders and, at the expense of the company, to attend and be heard at those meetings on matters relating to the duties of the auditor.
If a director, a shareholder of a company, whether or not the shareholder is entitled to vote at the meeting, or a policyholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting gives written notice, not less than ten days before a meeting of shareholders or policyholders, to an auditor or former auditor of the company that the director, shareholder or policyholder wishes the auditor’s attendance at the meeting, the auditor or former auditor shall attend the meeting at the expense of the company and answer questions relating to the auditor’s or former auditor’s duties as auditor.
A director, shareholder or policyholder who gives notice under subsection (2) shall send concurrently a copy of the notice to the company and the company shall forthwith send a copy thereof to the Superintendent.
The Superintendent may attend and be heard at any meeting referred to in subsection (2).
An auditor of a company who
resigns,
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of shareholders and policyholders called for the purpose of revoking the appointment of the auditor, or
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of directors or shareholders and policyholders at which another person is to be appointed in the auditor’s stead, whether because of the auditor’s resignation or revocation of appointment or because the auditor’s term of office has expired or is about to expire,
shall submit to the company and the Superintendent a written statement giving the reasons for the resignation or the reasons why the auditor opposes any proposed action.
In the case of a proposed replacement of an auditor whether because of removal or the expiry of their term, the company shall make a statement of the reasons for the proposed replacement and the proposed replacement auditor may make a statement in which they comment on those reasons.
The company shall send a copy of the statements referred to in subsections (1) and (1.1) without delay to every shareholder entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders, to every policyholder entitled under paragraph 143(1)(b) to receive notice of an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders and to the Superintendent.
Where an auditor of a company has resigned or the appointment of an auditor has been revoked, no person or firm shall accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as auditor of the company until the person or firm has requested and received from the other auditor a written statement of the circumstances and reasons why the other auditor resigned or why, in the other auditor’s opinion, the other auditor’s appointment was revoked.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person or firm may accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as auditor of a company if, within fifteen days after a request under that subsection is made, no reply from the other auditor is received.
Examinations and Reports
The auditor of a company shall make such examination as the auditor considers necessary to enable the auditor to report on the annual statement and on other financial statements required by this Act to be placed before the shareholders and policyholders, except such annual statements or parts thereof as relate to the period referred to in subparagraph 331(1)(a)(ii).
The auditor’s examination referred to in subsection (1) shall, except as otherwise specified by the Superintendent, be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the primary source of which is the Handbook of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.
An auditor of a company may, in conducting the examination referred to in subsection (1), use the valuation by the actuary of the company, or by any other actuary, of
the actuarial and other policy liabilities of the company as at the end of a financial year; and
the increase in the actuarial liabilities of the company for a financial year.
A valuation by an actuary other than the actuary of the company may be used only if it was done in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice and with any changes that may have been determined by the Superintendent and by following any additional directions that may have been made by the Superintendent.
On the request of the auditor of a company, the present or former directors, officers, employees or representatives of the company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
permit access to such records, assets and security held by the company or any entity in which the company has a substantial investment, and
provide such information and explanations
as are, in the opinion of the auditor, necessary to enable the auditor to perform the duties of auditor of the company.
On the request of the auditor of a company, the directors of the company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
obtain from the present or former directors, officers, employees and representatives of any entity in which the company has a substantial investment the information and explanations that such persons are reasonably able to provide and that are, in the opinion of the auditor, necessary to enable the auditor to perform the duties of auditor of the company; and
provide the auditor with the information and explanations so obtained.
The Superintendent may, in writing, require that the auditor of a company report to the Superintendent on the extent of the auditor’s procedures in the examination of the annual statement and may, in writing, require that the auditor enlarge or extend the scope of that examination or direct that any other particular procedure be performed in any particular case, and the auditor shall comply with any such requirement of the Superintendent and report to the Superintendent thereon.
The Superintendent may, in writing, require that the auditor of a company make a particular examination relating to the adequacy of the procedures adopted by the company for the safety of its creditors, shareholders and policyholders, or any other examination as, in the Superintendent’s opinion, the public interest may require, and report to the Superintendent thereon.
The Superintendent may direct that a special audit of a company be made if, in the opinion of the Superintendent, it is so required and may appoint for that purpose an accountant or a firm of accountants qualified pursuant to subsection 338(1) to be an auditor of the company.
The auditor shall, not less than twenty-one days before the date of the annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders of the company, make a report in writing to them on the annual statement.
In each report required under subsection (1), the auditor shall state whether, in the auditor’s opinion, the annual statement presents fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), the financial position of the company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates and the results of the operations and changes in the financial position of the company for that financial year.
In each report referred to in subsection (2), the auditor shall include such remarks as the auditor considers necessary when
the examination has not been made in accordance with the auditing standards referred to in subsection 346(2);
the annual statement has not been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the preceding financial year; or
the annual statement does not present fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), the financial position of the company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates or the results of the operations or changes in the financial position of the company for that financial year.
The auditor of a company shall, if required by the shareholders and policyholders, audit and report to them on any financial statement submitted to them by the directors, and the report shall state whether, in the auditor’s opinion, the financial statement presents fairly the information required by the shareholders and policyholders.
A report of the auditor made under subsection (1) shall be attached to the financial statement to which it relates and a copy of the statement and report shall be sent by the directors to every shareholder, to every policyholder who is entitled pursuant to paragraph 143(1)(b) to receive notice of an annual meeting of shareholders and policyholders and to the Superintendent.
It is the duty of the auditor of a company to report in writing to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the company any transactions or conditions that have come to the auditor’s attention affecting the well-being of the company that in the auditor’s opinion are not satisfactory and require rectification and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the auditor shall, as occasion requires, make a report to those officers in respect of
transactions of the company that have come to the auditor’s attention and that in the auditor’s opinion have not been within the powers of the company, and
in the case of a life company, loans owing to the company by any person the aggregate amount of which exceeds 0.5 per cent of the regulatory capital of the company and in respect of which, in the auditor’s opinion, loss to the company is likely to occur,
but when a report required under paragraph (b) has been made in respect of loans to any person, it is not necessary to report again in respect of loans to that person unless, in the opinion of the auditor, the amount of the loss likely to occur has increased.
Where the auditor of a company makes a report under subsection (1),
the auditor shall transmit the report, in writing, to the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and the actuary of the company;
the report shall be presented to the first meeting of the directors following its receipt;
the report shall be incorporated in the minutes of that meeting; and
the auditor shall, at the time of transmitting the report to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, provide the audit committee of the company and the Superintendent with a copy.
A company shall take all necessary steps to ensure that its auditor is duly appointed as the auditor of each of its subsidiaries.
Subsection (1) applies in the case of a subsidiary that carries on its operations in a country other than Canada unless the laws of that country do not permit the appointment of the auditor of the company as the auditor of that subsidiary.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of any particular subsidiary where the company, after having consulted its auditor, is of the opinion that the total assets of the subsidiary are not a material part of the total assets of the company.
The auditor of a company is entitled to receive notice of every meeting of the audit committee and the conduct review committee of the company and, at the expense of the company, to attend and be heard at that meeting.
If so requested by a member of the audit committee, the auditor shall attend every meeting of the audit committee held during the member’s term of office.
The auditor of a company or a member of the audit committee may call a meeting of the audit committee.
The chief internal auditor of a company or any officer or employee of the company acting in a similar capacity shall, at the request of the auditor of the company and on receipt of reasonable notice, meet with the auditor.
A director or an officer of a company shall forthwith notify the audit committee and the auditor of the company of any error or misstatement of which the director or officer becomes aware in an annual statement or other financial statement on which the auditor or any former auditor has reported.
If the auditor or a former auditor of a company is notified or becomes aware of an error or misstatement in an annual statement or other financial statement on which the auditor reported and in the auditor’s opinion the error or misstatement is material, the auditor or former auditor shall inform each director of the company accordingly.
Where under subsection (2) the auditor or a former auditor of a company informs the directors of an error or misstatement in an annual statement or other financial statement, the directors shall
prepare and issue a revised annual statement or financial statement; or
otherwise inform the shareholders and policyholders referred to in subsection 334(1) and the Superintendent of the error or misstatement.
Qualified Privilege
Any oral or written statement or report made under this Act by the auditor or a former auditor of a company has qualified privilege.
Actuaries
Appointment
A company shall, forthwith after the appointment of the actuary of the company, notify the Superintendent in writing of the appointment.
[Repealed]
The chief executive officer or chief operating officer or a person performing like functions may not be appointed or hold the position of actuary of a company unless authorized in writing by the Superintendent.
An authorization under subsection (1) ceases to be in effect on the day specified therein but not later than the day that is six months after it is issued, and a person appointed or holding the position of actuary pursuant to the authorization shall not hold that position after that day.
The chief financial officer or a person performing like functions may not be appointed as or hold the position of actuary of a company unless
the audit committee of the company has provided the Superintendent with a written statement indicating that it is satisfied that the duties of both positions in the company will be adequately performed and that the actuarial duties will be performed in an independent manner; and
the appointment or holding of the position is authorized by the Superintendent.
An authorization under paragraph (1)(b) may contain limitations and conditions, including a limitation on the time during which the person referred to in the authorization may hold the position of actuary of the company.
A person holding the position of actuary pursuant to an authorization under paragraph (1)(b) shall not hold that position after the time limit referred to in subsection (2).
Vacancies
The directors of a company may revoke the appointment of the actuary of the company.
A company shall, forthwith after the revocation of the appointment of the actuary of the company, notify the Superintendent in writing of the revocation.
A person ceases to hold office as the actuary of a company when
the person resigns as actuary of the company;
the person ceases to be an actuary;
the person dies; or
the appointment of the person as actuary of the company is revoked by the directors of the company.
The resignation of an actuary becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the company or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Where a vacancy occurs in the office of actuary of a company, the directors shall forthwith notify the Superintendent of and fill the vacancy.
An actuary of a company who resigns or whose appointment is revoked shall submit to the directors of the company and the Superintendent a written statement of the circumstances and reasons why the actuary resigned or why, in the actuary’s opinion, the actuary’s appointment was revoked.
Where an actuary of a company resigns or the appointment of an actuary of a company is revoked, no person shall accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as actuary of the company before requesting and receiving from the other actuary the written statement referred to in section 363.
A person may accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as actuary of a company if no reply is received from the other actuary within fifteen days after a request under subsection (1) is made.
Valuations and Reports
The actuary of a company shall value
the actuarial and other policy liabilities of the company as at the end of a financial year; and
any other matter specified in any direction that may be made by the Superintendent.
The actuary’s valuation shall be in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice with such changes as may be determined by the Superintendent and any additional directions that may be made by the Superintendent.
The expenses incurred in carrying out a valuation under subsection (1) are payable by the company on being approved in writing by the Superintendent.
On the request of the actuary of a company, the present or former directors, officers, employees or representatives of the company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
permit access to such records held by the company, and
provide such information and explanations
as are, in the opinion of the actuary, necessary to enable the actuary to perform the duties of actuary of the company.
A person who in good faith makes an oral or written communication under subsection (1) shall not be liable in any civil action arising from having made the communication.
The actuary of a company shall, not less than twenty-one days before the date of the annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders of the company, make a report in the prescribed form to them on the valuation made under section 365 and on any other matter that is prescribed.
The actuary of a company shall meet either with the directors of the company or, where the directors so choose, with the audit committee of the company at least once during each financial year in order to report, in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice and any direction that may be made by the Superintendent, on the financial position of the company and, where so specified in such a direction, the expected future financial condition of the company.
The actuary of a company shall report in writing to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the company any matters that have come to the actuary’s attention in the course of carrying out the actuary’s duties and that in the actuary’s opinion have material adverse effects on the financial condition of the company and require rectification.
An actuary of a company who makes a report under subsection (1) shall forthwith provide a copy of it to the directors of the company.
Where, in the opinion of the actuary of the company, suitable action is not being taken to rectify the matters referred to in subsection (1), the actuary shall forthwith send a copy of the report to the Superintendent and advise the directors that the actuary has done so.
Qualified Privilege
Any oral or written statement or report made under this Act by the actuary or former actuary of a company has qualified privilege.
Remedial Actions
Subject to subsection (2), a complainant or the Superintendent may apply to a court for leave to bring an action under this Act in the name and on behalf of a company or any of its subsidiaries, or to intervene in an action under this Act to which the company or a subsidiary of the company is a party, for the purpose of prosecuting, defending or discontinuing the action on behalf of the company or the subsidiary.
No action may be brought and no intervention in an action may be made under subsection (1) by a complainant unless the court is satisfied that
the complainant has, not less than 14 days before bringing the application or as otherwise ordered by the court, given notice to the directors of the company or the company’s subsidiary of the complainant’s intention to apply to the court under subsection (1) if the directors of the company or the company’s subsidiary do not bring, diligently prosecute or defend or discontinue the action;
the complainant is acting in good faith; and
it appears to be in the interests of the company or the subsidiary that the action be brought, prosecuted, defended or discontinued.
A complainant under subsection (1) shall give the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
In connection with an action brought or intervened in under subsection 371(1), the court may at any time make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order authorizing the Superintendent, the complainant or any other person to control the conduct of the action;
an order giving directions for the conduct of the action;
an order directing that any amount adjudged payable by a defendant in the action be paid, in whole or in part, directly to former and present security holders or policyholders of the company who are entitled to participate in its profits or of the subsidiary instead of to the company or to the subsidiary; and
an order requiring the company or the subsidiary to pay reasonable legal fees incurred by the Superintendent or the complainant in connection with the action.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), the court may not make any order in relation to any matter that would, under this Act, require the approval of the Minister or the Superintendent.
An application made or an action brought or intervened in under this Division need not be stayed or dismissed by reason only that it is shown that an alleged breach of a right or duty owed to the company or its subsidiary has been or might be approved by the shareholders or policyholders of the company or subsidiary or both, but evidence of approval by the shareholders or policyholders may be taken into account by the court in making an order under section 372.
An application made or an action brought or intervened in under this Division shall not be stayed, discontinued, settled or dismissed for want of prosecution without the approval of the court given on such terms as the court thinks fit and, if the court determines that the interests of any complainant might be substantially affected by any stay, discontinuance, settlement or dismissal, the court may order any party to the application or action to give notice to the complainant.
In an application made or an action brought or intervened in under this Division, the court may at any time order the company or its subsidiary to pay to the complainant interim costs, including legal fees and disbursements, but the complainant may be held accountable by the court for those interim costs on final disposition of the application or action.
If the name of a person is alleged to be or to have been wrongly entered or retained in, or wrongly deleted or omitted from, the securities register or any other record of a company, the company, a security holder of the company or any aggrieved person may apply to a court for an order that the securities register or record be rectified.
An applicant under this section shall give the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
In connection with an application under this section, the court may make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order requiring the securities register or other record of the company to be rectified;
an order restraining a company from calling or holding a meeting of shareholders or policyholders or paying a dividend to shareholders before the rectification;
an order determining the right of a party to the proceedings to have the party’s name entered or retained in, or deleted or omitted from, the securities register or records of the company, whether the issue arises between two or more security holders or alleged security holders, or between the company and any security holder or alleged security holder; and
an order compensating a party who has incurred a loss.
Liquidation and Dissolution
Interpretation
In this Division, court means a court having jurisdiction in the place where the company has its head office.
Application
This Division does not apply to a company that is insolvent within the meaning of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act.
Any proceedings taken under this Division to dissolve or to liquidate and dissolve a company shall be stayed if the company is at any time found to be insolvent within the meaning of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act.
This Division does not apply to companies that
are mutual companies; or
have participating policyholders or policyholders who are entitled to vote at annual meetings of shareholders and policyholders.
A liquidator appointed under this Part to wind up the business of a company shall provide the Superintendent with such information relating to the business and affairs of the company in such form as the Superintendent requires.
Simple Liquidation
A company that has no property and no liabilities may, if authorized by a special resolution of the shareholders or, if there are no shareholders, by a resolution of all the directors, apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the company.
Where the Minister has received an application under subsection (1) and is satisfied that all the circumstances so warrant, the Minister may issue letters patent dissolving the company.
A company in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (2) ceases to exist on the day stated in the letters patent.
The voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a company, other than a company referred to in subsection 380(1),
may be proposed by its directors; or
A notice of any meeting of shareholders at which the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a company is to be proposed shall set out the terms of the proposal.
Where the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a company is proposed, the company may apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the company if authorized by a special resolution of the shareholders or, where the company has issued more than one class of shares, by special resolution of each class of shareholders whether or not those shareholders are otherwise entitled to vote.
If the Minister is satisfied on the basis of an application made under section 382 that the circumstances warrant the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a company, the Minister may, by order, approve the application.
Where the Minister has approved an application made pursuant to section 382 with respect to a company, the company shall not carry on business except to the extent necessary to complete its voluntary liquidation.
Where the Minister has approved an application made pursuant to section 382 with respect to a company, the company shall
cause notice of the approval to be sent to each known claimant, except policyholders, against and creditor of the company;
publish notice of the approval once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the company transacted any business within the preceding twelve months;
proceed to collect its property, dispose of property that is not to be distributed in kind to its shareholders, discharge or provide for all its obligations and do all other acts required to liquidate its business; and
[Repealed]
A company in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (1) is dissolved and ceases to exist on the day stated in the letters patent.
Court-supervised Liquidation
The Superintendent or any interested person may, at any time during the liquidation of a company, apply to a court for an order for the continuance of the voluntary liquidation under the supervision of the court in accordance with this section and sections 386 to 398 and on such application the court may so order and make any further order it thinks fit.
An application under subsection (1) to a court to supervise a voluntary liquidation shall state the reasons, verified by an affidavit of the applicant, why the court should supervise the liquidation.
Where a person, other than the Superintendent, makes an application under subsection (1), the person shall give the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
When a court makes an order under subsection 385(1), the liquidation of the company shall continue under the supervision of the court.
The supervision of the liquidation of a company by the court pursuant to an order made under subsection 385(1) commences on the day the order is made.
In connection with the liquidation and dissolution of a company, the court may, where it is satisfied that the company is able to pay or adequately provide for the discharge of all its obligations and to make satisfactory arrangements for the protection of its policyholders, make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order to liquidate;
an order appointing a liquidator, with or without security, fixing a liquidator’s remuneration and replacing a liquidator;
an order appointing inspectors or referees, specifying their powers, fixing their remuneration and replacing inspectors or referees;
an order determining the notice to be given to any interested person, or dispensing with notice to any person;
an order determining the validity of any claims made against the company;
an order, at any stage of the proceedings, restraining the directors and officers of the company from
exercising any of their powers, or
collecting or receiving any debt or other property of the company, and from paying out or transferring any property of the company, except as permitted by the court;
an order determining and enforcing the duty or liability of any present or former director, officer, shareholder or policyholder
to the company, or
for an obligation of the company;
an order approving the payment, satisfaction or compromise of claims against the company and the retention of assets for that purpose, and determining the adequacy of provisions for the payment, discharge or transfer of any obligation of the company, whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent;
with the concurrence of the Superintendent, an order providing for the disposal or destruction of the documents, records or registers of the company;
on the application of a creditor, an inspector or the liquidator, an order giving directions on any matter arising in the liquidation;
after notice has been given to all interested parties, an order relieving the liquidator from any omission or default on such terms as the court thinks fit and confirming any act of the liquidator;
an order disposing of any property belonging to creditors, shareholders, policyholders, and incorporators who cannot be found;
on the application of any director, officer, shareholder, policyholder, incorporator, creditor or the liquidator;
an order staying the liquidation proceedings on such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit,
an order continuing or discontinuing the liquidation proceedings, or
an order to the liquidator to restore to the company all of its remaining property; and
after the liquidator has rendered the liquidator’s final account to the court, an order directing the company to apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the company.
Where a court makes an order for the liquidation of a company,
the company continues in existence but shall cease to carry on business, except the business that is, in the opinion of the liquidator, required for an orderly liquidation; and
the powers of the directors and shareholders, if any, are vested in the liquidator and cease to be vested in the directors or shareholders, except as specifically authorized by the court.
A liquidator may delegate any of the powers vested by paragraph (1)(b) to the directors or shareholders, if any.
When making an order for the liquidation of a company or at any time thereafter, the court may appoint any person, including a director, an officer or a shareholder of the company or any other company, as liquidator of the company.
Where an order for the liquidation of a company has been made and the office of liquidator is or becomes vacant, the property of the company is under the control of the court until the office of liquidator is filled.
A liquidator shall
forthwith after appointment give notice thereof to the Superintendent and to each claimant and creditor of the company known to the liquidator;
forthwith after appointment publish notice thereof once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the company has transacted any business within the preceding twelve months, requiring
any person indebted to the company to render an account and pay to the liquidator at the time and place specified in the notice any amount owing,
any person possessing property of the company to deliver it to the liquidator at the time and place specified in the notice, and
any person having a claim against the company, whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent, other than a policyholder having an unliquidated claim, to present particulars thereof in writing to the liquidator not later than sixty days after the first publication of the notice;
take into custody and control the property of the company;
[Repealed]
open and maintain a trust account for the moneys received by the liquidator in the course of the liquidation of the company;
keep accounts of the moneys received and paid out by the liquidator in the course of the liquidation of the company;
maintain separate lists of each class of creditors, shareholders, policyholders and other persons having claims against the company;
if at any time the liquidator determines that the company is unable to pay or adequately provide for the discharge of its obligations, apply to the court for directions;
deliver to the court and to the Superintendent, at least once in every twelve month period after the liquidator’s appointment or more often as the court requires, the annual statement of the company prepared in accordance with subsection 331(1) or prepared in such manner as the liquidator thinks proper or as the court requires; and
after the final accounts are approved by the court, distribute any remaining property of the company among the shareholders, if any, or incorporators, according to their respective rights.
A liquidator may
retain actuaries, lawyers, notaries, accountants, appraisers and other professional advisers;
bring, defend or take part in any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding in the name and on behalf of the company;
carry on the business of the company as required for an orderly liquidation;
sell by public auction or private sale any property of the company;
do all acts and execute documents in the name and on behalf of the company;
borrow money on the security of the property of the company;
settle or compromise any claims by or against the company; and
do all other things necessary for the liquidation of the company and distribution of its property.
A liquidator is not liable if they exercised the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in comparable circumstances, including reliance in good faith on
financial statements of the company represented to the liquidator by an officer of the company or in a written report of the auditor of the company fairly to reflect the financial condition of the company; or
a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by them.
Where a liquidator has reason to believe that any property of the company is in the possession or under the control of a person or that a person has concealed, withheld or misappropriated any such property, the liquidator may apply to the court for an order requiring that person to appear before the court at the time and place designated in the order and to be examined.
Where an examination conducted pursuant to subsection (1) discloses that a person has concealed, withheld or misappropriated any property of the company, the court may order that person to restore the property or pay compensation to the liquidator.
A liquidator shall pay the costs of liquidation out of the property of the company and shall pay or make adequate provision for all claims against the company.
Within one year after the appointment of a liquidator and after paying or making adequate provision for all claims against the company, the liquidator shall apply to the court
for approval of the final accounts of the liquidator and for an order permitting the distribution, in money or in kind, of the remaining property of the company to its shareholders, if any, or to the incorporators, according to their respective rights; or
for an extension of time, setting out the reasons therefor.
If a liquidator fails to make the application required by subsection (1), a shareholder of the company or, if there are no shareholders of the company, an incorporator may apply to the court for an order for the liquidator to show cause why a final accounting and distribution should not be made.
A liquidator shall give notice of the liquidator’s intention to make an application under subsection (1) to the Superintendent, to each inspector appointed under section 387, to each shareholder of the company or, if there are no shareholders, to each incorporator and to any person who provided a security or fidelity bond for the liquidation.
The liquidator shall publish the notice required under subsection (3) in the Canada Gazette and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the company has transacted any business within the preceding twelve months or as otherwise directed by the court.
If the court approves the final accounts rendered by a liquidator, the court shall make an order
directing the company to apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the company;
directing the custody or disposal of the documents, records and registers of the company; and
discharging the liquidator except in respect of the duty of a liquidator under subsection (2).
The liquidator shall forthwith send a certified copy of the order referred to in subsection (1) to the Superintendent.
If in the course of the liquidation of a company the shareholders resolve to, or the liquidator proposes to,
exchange all or substantially all of the remaining property of the company for securities of another entity that are to be distributed to the shareholders or to the incorporators, or
distribute all or part of the remaining property of the company to the shareholders or to the incorporators in kind,
a shareholder or incorporator may apply to the court for an order requiring the distribution of the remaining property of the company to be in money.
On an application under subsection (1), the court may order
all of the remaining property of the company to be converted into and distributed in money; or
the claim of any shareholder or incorporator applying under this section to be satisfied by a distribution in money.
Where an order is made by a court under paragraph (2)(b), the court
shall fix a fair value on the share of the property of the company attributable to the shareholder or incorporator;
may in its discretion appoint one or more appraisers to assist the court in fixing a fair value in accordance with paragraph (a); and
shall render a final order against the company in favour of the shareholder or incorporator for the amount of the share of the property of the company attributable to the shareholder or incorporator.
On an application made pursuant to an order under paragraph 396(1)(a), the Minister may issue letters patent dissolving the company.
A company in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (1) is dissolved and ceases to exist on the date of the issuance of the letters patent.
General
Notwithstanding the dissolution of a company under this Part,
a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding commenced by or against the company before its dissolution may be continued as if the company had not been dissolved;
a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding may be brought against the company within two years after its dissolution as if the company had not been dissolved; and
any property that would have been available to satisfy any judgment or order if the company had not been dissolved remains available for that purpose.
Service of a document on a company after its dissolution may be effected by serving the document on a person shown as a director in the incorporating instrument of the company or, if applicable, in the latest return sent to the Superintendent under section 668.
Notwithstanding the dissolution of a company, a shareholder or incorporator to whom any of its property has been distributed is liable to any person claiming under subsection 400(1) to the extent of the amount received by that shareholder or incorporator on the distribution.
An action to enforce liability under subsection (1) may not be commenced except within two years after the date of the dissolution of the company.
If the plaintiff establishes a claim in an action under subsection (3), the court may refer the proceedings to a referee or other officer of the court who may
add as a party to the proceedings each person found by the plaintiff to have been a shareholder or incorporator;
determine, subject to subsection (1), the amount that each person who was a shareholder or incorporator must contribute towards satisfaction of the plaintiff’s claim; and
direct payment of the amounts so determined.
Where a creditor, shareholder or incorporator to whom property is to be distributed on the dissolution of a company cannot be found, the portion of the property to be distributed to that creditor, shareholder or incorporator shall be converted into money and paid in accordance with section 404.
Where the business of a company is being wound up under this Division, the liquidator or the company shall pay to the Minister on demand and in any event before the final winding-up of that business any amount that is payable by the liquidator or the company to a creditor, shareholder or incorporator of the company to whom payment thereof has not, for any reason, been made.
Where a liquidator or a company makes a payment to the Minister under subsection (1) with respect to a creditor, shareholder or incorporator, the liquidator or company shall concurrently forward to the Minister all documents, records and registers in the possession of the liquidator or company that relate to the entitlement of the creditor, shareholder or incorporator.
The Minister shall pay to the Receiver General all amounts paid to the Minister under subsection (1).
Payment by a liquidator or a company to the Minister under subsection (1) discharges the liquidator and the company in respect of which the payment is made from all liability for the amount so paid, and payment by the Minister to the Receiver General under subsection (3) discharges the Minister from all liability for the amount so paid.
If at any time a person establishes an entitlement to any moneys paid to the Receiver General under this Division, the Receiver General shall pay an equivalent amount to that person out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
A person who has been granted custody of the documents, records and registers of a dissolved company shall keep them available for production for six years following the date of the dissolution of the company or until the expiration of such shorter period as may be ordered by the court when it orders the dissolution.
Ownership
Interpretation
The following definitions apply in this Part.
agent means
in relation to Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province, any agent of Her Majesty in either of those rights, and includes a municipal or public body empowered to perform a function of government in Canada or any entity empowered to perform a function or duty on behalf of Her Majesty in either of those rights but does not include
an official or entity performing a function or duty in connection with the administration or management of the estate or property of a natural person,
an official or entity performing a function or duty in connection with the administration, management or investment of a fund established to provide compensation, hospitalization, medical care, annuities, pensions or similar benefits to natural persons, or moneys derived from such a fund, or
the trustee of any trust for the administration of a fund to which Her Majesty in either of those rights contributes and of which an official or entity that is an agent of Her Majesty in either of those rights is a trustee; and
in relation to the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, a person empowered to perform a function or duty on behalf of the government of the foreign country or political subdivision, other than a function or duty in connection with the administration or management of the estate or property of a natural person. (mandataire)
eligible agent means an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or an agent or agency of a government of a foreign country or any political subdivision of a foreign country
whose mandate is publicly available;
that controls the assets of an investment fund in a manner intended to maximize long-term risk-adjusted returns and that fund is
one to which, as the case may be, Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or the government of a foreign country or political subdivision contributes, or
established to provide compensation, hospitalization, medical care, annuities, pensions or similar benefits to natural persons; and
whose decisions with respect to the assets of the fund referred to in paragraph (b) are not influenced in any significant way by, as the case may be, Her Majesty in right of Canada or of the province or the government of the foreign country or the political subdivision. (mandataire admissible)
For the purpose of determining ownership of a company by an eligible agent, where two persons, at least one of whom is an eligible agent, are associated with each other, those persons are deemed to be a single eligible agent who beneficially owns the aggregate number of shares of the company beneficially owned by them.
For the purposes of subsection (1), a person is associated with another person if
each person is an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada;
each person is an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of the same province;
each person is an agent or agency of a government of the same foreign country or a political subdivision of the same foreign country;
one person is Her Majesty in right of Canada and the other person is an agent or agency of Her Majesty in that right;
one person is Her Majesty in right of a province and the other person is an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of that province; or
one person is a government of a foreign country or any political subdivision of a foreign country and the other person is its agent or agency.
Constraints on Ownership
No person, or entity controlled by a person, shall, without the approval of the Minister, purchase or otherwise acquire any share of a company or purchase or otherwise acquire control of any entity that holds any share of a company if
the acquisition would cause the person to have a significant interest in any class of shares of the company; or
where the person has a significant interest in a class of shares of the company, the acquisition would increase the significant interest of the person in that class of shares.
If the entity that would result from an amalgamation, a merger or a reorganization would have a significant interest in a class of shares of a company, the entity is deemed to be acquiring a significant interest in that class of shares of the company through an acquisition for which the approval of the Minister is required under subsection (1).
the aggregate book value of the shares of the class is not more than 30 per cent of the aggregate book value of all the outstanding shares of the company; or
in the case of a mutual company, the aggregate book value of the shares of the class is not more than 30 per cent of the aggregate book value of all the outstanding shares of the company and the surplus of the company.
Despite subsection (1), no person may be a major shareholder of a converted company having an aggregate of surplus and minority interests of five billion dollars or more according to its last annual statement dated before the effective date of the letters patent of conversion of the converted company.
controlled the converted company on the day on which the letters patent of conversion that gave effect to the conversion of the converted company became effective and it has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the converted company since that day; or
the insurance holding company acquired control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the converted company or of the company to which subsection (5) applies, as the case may be, under section 714 or 715 and the insurance holding company has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the converted company since the day the insurance holding company acquired control; or
the converted company was a subsidiary of the company to which subsection (5) applies that was continued under section 721 as the insurance holding company and the insurance holding company has continued to control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the converted company since the day it came into existence as an insurance holding company.
Subsection (4) does not apply to an entity that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the converted company if the entity is controlled, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), by a company to which subsection (5) applies, or by an insurance holding company to which subsection (6) applies, that is permitted under that subsection to be a major shareholder of the converted company.
The Minister may, at any time after the day that is two years after December 31, 1999, by order, determine that subsection (4) no longer applies in respect of any particular company.
Subsection (9) does not apply to a widely held insurance holding company that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), a company to which subsection (5) applies if the insurance holding company acquired control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the company under section 714 or 715 and the insurance holding company has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the company since the day the insurance holding company acquired control.
Despite subsection (1), until a day that is two years after December 31, 1999, no person may have a significant interest in any class of shares of a converted company having an aggregate of surplus and minority interests in an amount that is one billion dollars or more but less than five billion dollars, according to its last annual statement dated before the effective date of the letters patent of conversion of the converted company.
controlled the converted company on the day on which the letters patent of conversion that gave effect to the conversion of the converted company became effective and it has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the converted company since that day; or
the insurance holding company acquired control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the converted company or of the company to which subsection (12) applies, as the case may be, under section 714 or 715 and the insurance holding company has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the converted company since the day the insurance holding company acquired control; or
the converted company was a subsidiary of the company to which subsection (12) applies that was continued under section 721 as the insurance holding company and the insurance holding company has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the converted company since the day it came into existence as an insurance holding company.
Subsection (11) does not apply to an entity that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the converted company if the entity is controlled, within the meaning of that paragraph, by a company to which subsection (12) applies, or by an insurance holding company to which subsection (13) applies, that is permitted under that subsection to have a significant interest in any class of shares of the converted company.
no person has a significant interest in any class of shares of the insurance holding company; and
the insurance holding company acquired control, within the meaning of that paragraph, under section 714 or 715 of the company to which subsection (12) applies and the insurance holding company has continued to control, within the meaning of that paragraph, the company since the day the insurance holding company acquired control.
the particular company is deemed, as of the effective date of the order, to no longer be a company in respect of which subsection (4) applies;
For the purposes of this Act, after the day that is two years after December 31, 1999,
a converted company having an aggregate of surplus and minority interests in an amount that is one billion dollars or more but less than five billion dollars, according to its last annual statement dated before the effective date of the letters patent of conversion of the converted company is deemed to no longer be a company in respect of which subsection (11) applies;
If a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies controls a life company and a person becomes a major shareholder of the life company or of any entity that also controls the life company, the converted company or company, as the case may be, must do all things necessary to ensure that, on the day that is one year after the person became a major shareholder of the life company or entity that controls the life company,
the converted company or the company no longer controls the life company; or
the life company or the entity that controls the life company does not have any major shareholder other than the converted company or the company, as the case may be, or any entity that the converted company or the company controls.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a life company with equity of less than two hundred and fifty million dollars, or any other amount that may be prescribed.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the converted company or the company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
Despite subsection 407.01(1), if a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies controls a life company in respect of which subsection 407.01(1) does not apply by reason of subsection 407.01(2) and the equity of the life company reaches two hundred and fifty million dollars or more or any other amount that is prescribed and on the day the equity of the life company reaches two hundred and fifty million dollars or more, or the prescribed amount, as the case may be, a person is a major shareholder of the life company or of any entity that also controls the life company, the converted company or company must do all things necessary to ensure that, on the day that is three years after that day,
the converted company or company no longer controls the life company; or
the life company or the entity that controls the life company does not have any major shareholder other than the converted company or the company or any entity that the converted company or company controls.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the converted company or the company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
If a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(11) applies or a company to which subsection 407(12) applies controls a life company and a person acquires a significant interest in any class of shares of the life company or of any entity that also controls the life company, the converted company or company, as the case may be, must do all things necessary to ensure that, on the day that is one year after the person acquired the significant interest in the class of shares of the life company or entity that controls the life company,
the converted company or the company no longer controls the life company; or
no person has a significant interest in any class of shares of the life company or the entity that controls the life company, other than the converted company or the company, as the case may be, or any entity that the converted company or the company controls.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a life company with equity of less than two hundred and fifty million dollars, or any other amount that may be prescribed.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the converted company or the company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
No person who has a significant interest in any class of shares of a widely held converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or of a widely held company to which subsection 407(5) applies may have a significant interest in any class of shares of a subsidiary of the converted company or company, as the case may be, that is a life company or an insurance holding company.
No person who has a significant interest in any class of shares of a life company may have a significant interest in any class of shares of
a widely held converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies that controls the life company;
a widely held company to which subsection 407(5) applies that controls the life company; or
a widely held insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies that controls the life company.
No person shall acquire control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), of a company without the approval of the Minister.
If the entity that would result from an amalgamation, a merger or a reorganization would control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), a company, the entity is deemed to be acquiring control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the company through an acquisition for which the approval of the Minister is required under subsection (1).
Subsection (1) does not apply to an entity that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the converted company or company, as the case may be, if the entity is controlled, within the meaning of that paragraph, by a company to which subsection 407(5) or (12) applies, or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) or (13) applies, that is permitted to be a major shareholder of the converted company or company, as the case may be, or to have a significant interest in any class of shares of the converted company or company, as the case may be.
Despite subsections (1) and 407(4), if the converted company referred to in subsection (1) is a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies, a company to which subsection 407(5) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies may be a major shareholder of the converted company and cease to control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the converted company if the company or the insurance holding company, as the case may be, has entered into an agreement with the Minister to do all things necessary to ensure that it is not a major shareholder of the converted company on the expiration of the day specified in the agreement.
Despite subsections (1) and 407(9), if the company referred to in subsection (1) is a company to which subsection 407(5) applies, an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies may be a major shareholder of the company and cease to control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the company if the insurance holding company has entered into an agreement with the Minister to do all things necessary to ensure that it is not a major shareholder of the company on the expiration of the day specified in the agreement.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the company or the insurance holding company, as the case may be, has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (4) or (4.1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
Despite subsections (1) and 407(11), if the converted company referred to in subsection (1) is a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(11) applies, a company to which subsection 407(12) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(13) applies may have a significant interest in a class of shares of the converted company and cease to control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the converted company if the company or the insurance holding company, as the case may be, has entered into an agreement with the Minister to do all things necessary to ensure that it does not have a significant interest in any class of shares of the converted company on the expiration of the day specified in the agreement.
Despite subsections (1) and 407(15), if the company referred to in subsection (1) is a company to which subsection 407(12) applies, an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(13) applies may have a significant interest in a class of shares of the company and cease to control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the company if the insurance holding company has entered into an agreement with the Minister to do all things necessary to ensure that it does not have a significant interest in any class of shares of the company on the expiration of the day specified in the agreement.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the company or the insurance holding company, as the case may be, has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (6) or (6.1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
No company shall, unless the acquisition of the share has been approved by the Minister, record in its securities register a transfer or issue of any share of the company to any person or to any entity controlled by a person if
the transfer or issue of the share would cause the person to have a significant interest in any class of shares of the company; or
where the person has a significant interest in a class of shares of the company, the transfer or issue of the share would increase the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the company.
[Repealed]
Despite section 408, if, as a result of a transfer or issue of shares of a class of shares of a company to a person, other than an eligible agent, the total number of shares of that class registered in the securities register of the company in the name of that person would not exceed 5,000 and would not exceed 0.1% of the outstanding shares of that class, the company is entitled to assume that no person is acquiring or increasing a significant interest in that class of shares of the company as a result of that issue or transfer of shares.
Despite subsections 407(1) and (2) and section 408, the approval of the Minister is not required in respect of a company, other than a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies, if a person with a significant interest in a class of shares of the company or an entity controlled by a person with a significant interest in a class of shares of the company purchases or otherwise acquires shares of that class, or acquires control of any entity that holds any share of that class, and the number of shares of that class purchased or otherwise acquired, or the acquisition of control of the entity, as the case may be, would not increase the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the company to a percentage that is greater than the percentage referred to in subsection (2) or (3), whichever is applicable.
Subject to subsection (3), for the purposes of subsection (1), the percentage is 5 percentage points in excess of the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the company on the later of June 1, 1992 and the day of the most recent purchase or acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the company, for which approval was given by the Minister.
If a person has a significant interest in a class of shares of a company and the person’s percentage of that class has decreased after the date of the most recent purchase or other acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the company, for which approval was given by the Minister, the percentage for the purposes of subsection (1) is the percentage that is the lesser of
5 percentage points in excess of the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the company on the later of June 1, 1992 and the day of the most recent purchase or other acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the company, for which approval was given by the Minister, and
10 percentage points in excess of the lowest significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the company at any time after the later of June 1, 1992 and the day of the most recent purchase or other acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the company, for which approval was given by the Minister.
Subsection (1) does not apply if the purchase or other acquisition of shares or the acquisition of control referred to in that subsection would
result in the acquisition of control of the company by the person referred to in that subsection;
where the person controls the company but the voting rights attached to the aggregate of any voting shares of the company beneficially owned by the person and by entities controlled by the person do not exceed 50 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the company, cause the voting rights attached to that aggregate to exceed 50 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the company;
result in the acquisition of a significant interest in a class of shares of the company by an entity controlled by the person and the acquisition of that investment is not exempted by the regulations; or
The Governor in Council may make regulations
exempting from the application of paragraph (4)(c) the acquisition of a significant interest in a class of shares of the company by an entity controlled by the person; and
the Superintendent has, by order, directed the company to increase its capital and shares of the company are issued and acquired in accordance with the terms and conditions, if any, that may be specified in the order; or
a person, other than an eligible agent, who controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(a), the company acquires additional shares of the company.
the purchase or other acquisition of such number or percentage of shares of a company as may be required in a particular transaction or series of transactions; or
the purchase or other acquisition of up to a specified number or percentage of shares of a company within a specified period.
Every company shall, from and after the day determined under this section in respect of that company, have, and continue to have, voting shares that carry at least 35 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the company and that are
shares of one or more classes of shares that are listed and posted for trading on a recognized stock exchange in Canada; and
shares none of which is beneficially owned by a person who is a major shareholder of the company in respect of the voting shares of the company or by any entity that is controlled by a person who is a major shareholder of the company in respect of such shares.
If the company has equity of four billion dollars or more on the day it comes into existence, the day referred to in subsection (1) is the day that is three years after that day and, in the case of any other company, the day referred to in subsection (1) is the day that is three years after the day of the first annual meeting of the shareholders and policyholders of the company held after the equity of the company first reaches four billion dollars.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that a company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with this section on the day determined under subsection (2), the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which the company must comply with subsection (1).
Unless an exemption order with respect to the company is granted under section 414, if a company fails to comply with section 411 in any month, the Minister may, by order, require the company not to have, until it complies with that section, average total assets in any three month period ending on the last day of a subsequent month exceeding the company’s average total assets in the three month period ending on the last day of the month immediately before the month specified in the order.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the average total assets of a company in a three month period shall be computed by adding the total assets of the company as calculated for the month end of each of the three months in the period and by dividing the sum by three.
Where the Superintendent has, by order, directed a company to increase its capital and shares of the company are issued and acquired in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified in the order, section 411 shall not apply in respect of the company until such time as the Superintendent may, by order, specify.
[Repealed]
On application by a company and subject to any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate, the Minister may by order exempt the company from the requirements of section 411 if the Minister considers it appropriate to do so.
The company shall comply with section 411 as of the day on which the exemption order expires.
If a company fails to comply with section 411 on the day referred to in subsection (2), it shall not, until it complies with that section, have average total assets in any three month period ending on the last day of a subsequent month exceeding its average total assets in the three month period ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the day referred to in subsection (2) or on any later day that the Minister may specify by order.
Despite subsection 414(2), if an exemption order that was granted in respect of a company under subsection 414(3) as it read before the day on which this section comes into force provides that it expires if the holding body corporate ceases to comply with section 411, the company is not required to comply with that section until six months after the day on which the holding body corporate ceased to comply with that section if the failure to comply is as a result of
a distribution to the public of voting shares of the holding body corporate;
a redemption or purchase of voting shares of the holding body corporate;
the exercise of any option to acquire voting shares of the holding body corporate; or
the conversion of any convertible securities into voting shares of the holding body corporate.
Despite subsection 414(2), if as a result of an event that has occurred and is continuing shares of a holding body corporate referred to in subsection (1) acquire voting rights in such number as to cause the holding body corporate to no longer be in compliance with section 411, the company is not required to comply with that section until six months after the day on which the holding body corporate ceased to comply with that section or any later day that the Minister may by order specify.
Where a company fails to comply with section 411 as the result of
a distribution to the public of voting shares of the company,
a redemption or purchase of voting shares of the company,
the exercise of any option to acquire voting shares of the company, or
the conversion of any convertible securities into voting shares of the company,
Where, as the result of an event that has occurred and is continuing, shares of a company acquire voting rights in such number as to cause the company to no longer be in compliance with section 411, section 412 shall not apply in respect of that company until the expiration of six months after the day the company ceased to be in compliance with section 411 or such later day as the Minister may, by order, specify.
[Repealed]
Subject to subsection (2) and sections 408 and 417, section 411 does not apply in respect of a company if a person acquires control of a company with equity of four billion dollars or more through the purchase or other acquisition of all or any number of the shares of the company by the person or by any entity controlled by the person.
Subsection (1) applies only if the person provides the Minister with an undertaking satisfactory to the Minister to do all things necessary so that, within three years after the acquisition, or any other period that the Minister may specify, the company has voting shares that carry at least 35 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the company and that are
shares of one or more classes of shares that are listed and posted for trading on a recognized stock exchange in Canada; and
shares none of which is beneficially owned by a person who is a major shareholder of the company in respect of the voting shares of the company or by any entity that is controlled by a person who is a major shareholder of the company in respect of such shares.
If, with respect to any company, a particular person contravenes subsection 407(1), (4), (9), (11) or (15) or section 407.03, 407.1 or 407.2 or fails to comply with an undertaking referred to in subsection 416(2) or with any term or condition imposed under section 421, no person, and no entity controlled by the particular person, shall, in person or by proxy, exercise any voting rights
that are attached to shares of the company beneficially owned by the particular person or any entity controlled by the particular person; or
that are subject to an agreement entered into by the particular person, or any entity controlled by the particular person, pertaining to the exercise of the voting rights.
Subsection (1) ceases to apply in respect of a person when, as the case may be,
the shares to which the contravention relates have been disposed of;
the person ceases to control the company within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d);
if the person failed to comply with a term or condition imposed under section 421, the person complies with the term or condition.
Despite subsection (1), if a person contravenes subsection 407(4) by reason only that, as a result of an event that has occurred and is continuing and is not within the control of the person, shares of the converted company beneficially owned by the person or by any entity controlled by the person acquire voting rights in such number so as to cause the person to be a major shareholder of the converted company, the Minister may, after consideration of the circumstances, permit the person and any entity controlled by the person to exercise voting rights, in person or by proxy, in respect of any class of voting shares of the converted company beneficially owned by them that do not in aggregate exceed 20 per cent of the voting rights attached to that class of voting shares.
Despite subsection (1), if a person contravenes subsection 407(9) by reason only that, as a result of an event that has occurred and is continuing and is not within the control of the person, shares of the company beneficially owned by the person or by any entity controlled by the person acquire voting rights in such number so as to cause the person to be a major shareholder of the company, the Minister may, after consideration of the circumstances, permit the person and any entity controlled by the person to exercise voting rights, in person or by proxy, in respect of any class of voting shares of the company beneficially owned by them that do not in aggregate exceed 20 per cent of the voting rights attached to that class of voting shares.
Approval Process
An application for an approval of the Minister required under this Part must be filed with the Superintendent and contain the information, material and evidence that the Superintendent may require.
If, with respect to any particular transaction, this Part applies to more than one person, any one of those persons may make the application to the Minister for approval on behalf of all of those persons.
the nature and sufficiency of the financial resources of the applicant or applicants as a source of continuing financial support for the company;
the soundness and feasibility of the plans of the applicant or applicants for the future conduct and development of the business of the company;
the business record and experience of the applicant or applicants;
the character and integrity of the applicant or applicants or, if the applicant or any of the applicants is a body corporate, its reputation for being operated in a manner that is consistent with the standards of good character and integrity;
whether the company will be operated responsibly by persons with the competence and experience suitable for involvement in the operation of a financial institution;
if the company is a converted company in respect of which the Minister has issued an order under subsection 407(8) or a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(11) applied at any time, or a company that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), such a converted company, the opinion of the Superintendent regarding the extent to which the corporate structure of the applicant or applicants and their affiliates may affect the supervision and regulation of the company, having regard to
the nature and extent of the proposed financial services activities to be carried out by the company and its affiliates, and
the nature and degree of supervision and regulation applying to the proposed financial services activities to be carried out by the affiliates of the company;
the impact of any integration of the businesses and operations of the applicant or applicants with those of the company on the conduct of those businesses and operations; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
more than 10 per cent but no more than 30 per cent of any class of the outstanding non-voting shares of such a converted company or company.
Where a transaction in respect of which subsection 407(1) or (2) applies would cause a company to become a subsidiary of a foreign institution that is engaged in the insurance business, that does not have any other company as its subsidiary and that is a non-WTO Member foreign institution, the Minister shall not approve the transaction unless the Minister is satisfied that treatment as favourable for companies to which this Act applies exists or will be provided in the jurisdiction in which the foreign institution principally carries on business, either directly or through a subsidiary.
The Minister may impose any terms and conditions in respect of an approval given under this Part that the Minister considers necessary to ensure compliance with any provision of this Act.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, an application filed under this Part contains all the required information, the Superintendent shall without delay refer the application to the Minister and send a receipt to the applicant certifying the date on which the completed application was received by the Superintendent.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, an application filed under this Part is incomplete, the Superintendent shall send a notice to the applicant specifying the information required by the Superintendent to complete the application.
a notice approving the transaction to which the application relates; or
where the Minister is not satisfied that the transaction to which the application relates should be approved, a notice to that effect, advising the applicant of the right to make representations to the Minister in respect of the matter.
the application involves the acquisition of control of a company;
the application is made by an eligible agent or an entity controlled by an eligible agent; or
an application is made for the approval referred to in subsection 428(3).
Where the Minister is unable to complete the consideration of an application within the period referred to in subsection (1), the Minister shall,
within that period, send a notice to that effect to the applicant; and
within a further period of thirty days after the date of the sending of the notice referred to in paragraph (a) or within such other further period as may be agreed on by the applicant and the Minister, send a notice referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) to the applicant.
Where the Minister considers it appropriate to do so, the Minister may extend the period referred to in subsection (2) for one or more periods of forty-five days.
Where, after receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph 423(1)(b), the applicant advises the Minister that the applicant wishes to make representations, the Minister shall provide the applicant with a reasonable opportunity within a period of thirty days after the date of the notice, or within such further period as may be agreed on by the applicant and the Minister, to make representations in respect of the matter.
If, after receipt of the notice sent in accordance with subsection 423(2) that the Minister is not satisfied that the transaction to which the application relates should be approved, the applicant advises the Minister that the applicant wishes to make representations, the Minister shall provide the applicant with a reasonable opportunity within a period of 45 days after the date of the notice, or within any further period that may be agreed on by the applicant and the Minister, to make representations in respect of the matter.
Within a period of thirty days after the expiration of the period for making representations referred to in subsection 424(1), the Minister shall, in the light of any such representations and having regard to the matters to be taken into account, send a notice to the applicant indicating whether or not the Minister approves the share transaction to which the application relates.
Within a period of forty-five days after the expiration of the period for making representations referred to in subsection 424(2), the Minister shall, in the light of any such representations and having regard to the matters to be taken into account, send a notice to the applicant indicating whether or not the Minister approves the share transaction to which the application relates.
[Repealed]
Subject to such regulations as the Governor in Council may make for the purpose, a mutual company may by by-law impose, change or remove restrictions on the issue, transfer or ownership of shares of any class issued under section 63, in order to prevent a person from having a significant interest in that class.
No company shall record in its securities register a transfer or issue of any share of the company to
Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or any agent or agency of Her Majesty in either of those rights; or
the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or any agent or agency thereof.
Despite subsection (1), a company may record in its securities register a transfer or issue of any share of the company to a foreign institution that is controlled by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision of a foreign country, or by any agent or agency of a foreign government, if the share that is transferred or issued is beneficially owned by the foreign institution or by an entity controlled by the foreign institution.
Despite subsection (1), a company may, with the Minister’s approval, record in its securities register the issue of any share of the company to an eligible agent.
The application for the approval referred to in subsection (3) must be made jointly by the company and the eligible agent.
If an approval referred to in subsection (3) is revoked, the company shall delete any entry in its securities register in respect of the recording of the issuance of shares to the eligible agent.
If a company or an eligible agent fails to comply with any undertaking or term or condition in relation to an approval referred to in subsection (3), or if an eligible agent ceases to be an eligible agent, the Minister may, if the Minister considers it to be in the public interest to do so, by order, direct the eligible agent or former eligible agent and any person controlled by the eligible agent or former eligible agent to dispose of any number of shares of the company beneficially owned by the eligible agent or former eligible agent or the persons controlled by the eligible agent or former eligible agent that the Minister specifies in the order, within the time specified in the order and in the proportion, if any, as between the eligible agent or former eligible agent and the persons controlled by the eligible agent or former eligible agent that is specified in the order.
No direction shall be made under subsection (7) unless the Minister has provided each person to whom the direction relates and the company concerned with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the subject-matter of the direction.
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
Notwithstanding section 152, where any voting shares of a company are beneficially owned by
Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or any agency of Her Majesty in either of those rights, or
the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or any agency thereof,
no person shall, in person or by proxy, exercise the voting rights attached to those shares.
Subsection (2) does not apply to a foreign institution that is controlled by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision of a foreign country, or by any agent or agency of a foreign government, if the shares referred to in subsection (2) are beneficially owned by the foreign institution or by an entity controlled by the foreign institution.
Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of a government or agency referred to in that subsection that, on September 27, 1990, beneficially owned shares of a former-Act company where the exercise of the voting rights attached to those shares was not prohibited under subsection 36(2) of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, as that subsection read immediately prior to June 1, 1992.
Subsection (3) ceases to apply where a government or agency referred to in that subsection acquires beneficial ownership of any additional voting shares of the former-Act company in such number that the percentage of the voting rights attached to all of the voting shares of the former-Act company beneficially owned by the government or agency is greater than the percentage of the voting rights attached to all of the voting shares of the former-Act company that were beneficially owned by the government or agency on September 27, 1990.
If an approval referred to in subsection 428(3) is suspended, the eligible agent shall not exercise, in person or by proxy, any voting rights attached to any share of the company that is beneficially owned by the eligible agent.
[Repealed]
Directions
If, with respect to any company, a person contravenes subsection 407(1), (4), (9), (11) or (15) or section 407.03, 407.1 or 407.2 or fails to comply with an undertaking referred to in subsection 416(2) or with any term or condition imposed under section 421, the Minister may, if the Minister considers it in the public interest to do so, by order, direct that person and any person controlled by that person to dispose of any number of shares of the company beneficially owned by any of those persons that the Minister specifies in the order, within the time specified in the order and in the proportion, if any, as between the person and the persons controlled by that person that is specified in the order.
No direction shall be made under subsection (1) unless the Minister has provided each person to whom the direction relates and the company concerned with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the subject-matter of the direction.
[Repealed]
If the Minister is of the opinion that a person’s holding or beneficial ownership of shares of a company poses a threat to the integrity or security of the company or the financial system in Canada or a threat to national security, the Minister may, by order, direct that person and any person controlled by that person to dispose of any number of shares of the company held or beneficially owned by any of the persons that the Minister specifies in the order, within the time specified in the order and in the proportion, if any, as between the person and the persons controlled by the person that is specified in the order.
A direction made under subsection (1) may also suspend any of the rights under Part VI attached to the shares referred to in that subsection until the shares are disposed of in accordance with the direction.
No direction shall be made under subsection (1) unless the Minister has provided each person to whom the direction relates and the company concerned with a reasonable opportunity to make representations.
If, in the Minister’s opinion, the length of time required for representations to be made under subsection (3) might be prejudicial to the public interest, the Minister may make a temporary direction to suspend any of the rights under Part VI attached to any of the shares referred to in subsection (1).
A temporary direction ceases to have effect on the earlier of
the expiry of 30 days after the day on which it takes effect or of a shorter period that is specified in the temporary direction, and
if a direction is made under subsection (1) in respect of the shares, the day on which that direction takes effect.
the Committee, as defined in section 2 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act; and
the Review Agency, as defined in section 2 of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act.
A court may, on an application under subsection (1), make such order as the circumstances require to give effect to the terms of the direction and may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, require the company concerned to sell the shares that are the subject-matter of the direction.
An appeal from an order of a court under this section lies in the same manner as, and to the same court to which, an appeal may be taken from any other order of the court.
General Provisions
This Part does not apply to a securities underwriter in respect of shares of a body corporate or ownership interests in an unincorporated entity that are acquired by the underwriter in the course of a distribution to the public of those shares or ownership interests and that are held by the underwriter for a period of not more than six months.
The directors of a company may make such arrangements as they deem necessary to carry out the intent of this Part and, in particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may
require any person in whose name a share of the company is held to submit a declaration setting out
the beneficial ownership of the share, and
such other information as the directors deem relevant for the purposes of this Part;
require any person who wishes to have a transfer of a share registered in the name of, or to have a share issued to, that person to submit a declaration referred to in paragraph (a) as though the person were the holder of that share; and
determine the circumstances in which a declaration referred to in paragraph (a) is to be required, the form of the declaration and the times at which it is to be submitted.
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a company to obtain from any person in whose name a share of the company is held a declaration setting out the name of every entity controlled by that person and containing information concerning
the ownership or beneficial ownership of the share; and
such other related matters as are specified by the Superintendent.
As soon as possible after receipt by a company of a direction under subsection (2),
the company shall comply with the direction; and
Where, pursuant to this section, a declaration is required to be submitted by a shareholder or other person in respect of the issue or transfer of any share, a company may refuse to issue the share or register the transfer unless the required declaration is submitted.
A company and any person who is a director or an officer, employee or agent of the company may rely on any information contained in a declaration required by the directors pursuant to section 435 or on any information otherwise acquired in respect of any matter that might be the subject of such a declaration, and no action lies against the company or any such person for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in reliance on any such information.
[Repealed]
The Governor in Council may, by regulation, exempt from any of the provisions of this Part any share transaction or any class of share transactions involving the transfer of shares on the death of the beneficial owner thereof, or any arrangement made in contemplation of the death of the beneficial owner, to one or more members of the beneficial owner’s family, or to one or more trustees on their behalf.
Nothing in, or done under the authority of, this Act affects the operation of the Competition Act.
Business and Powers
General
Subject to this Act, a company shall not engage in or carry on any business other than such business generally as appertains to the business of providing financial services.
For greater certainty, a company may
act as a financial agent, receiver, liquidator or sequestrator;
provide investment counselling services and portfolio management services; and
issue payment, credit or charge cards and, in cooperation with others including other financial institutions, operate a payment, credit or charge card plan.
In addition, a company may
act as an agent for vendors, purchasers, mortgagors, mortgagees, lessors or lessees of real property and provide consulting or appraisal services in respect of real property;
hold, manage and otherwise deal with real property;
provide information processing services in Canada that the company has developed for its own use and that are an integral part of the company’s operations to entities in which the company has a substantial investment that do not provide information processing services to other entities;
outside Canada, or with the prior written approval of the Minister, in Canada, engage in any of the following activities, namely,
collecting, manipulating and transmitting
information that is primarily financial or economic in nature,
information that relates to the business of a permitted entity, as defined in subsection 490(1), or
any other information that the Minister may, by order, specify,
providing advisory or other services in the design, development or implementation of information management systems,
designing, developing or marketing computer software, and
designing, developing, manufacturing or selling, as an ancillary activity to any activity referred to in any of subparagraphs (i) to (iii) that the company is engaging in, computer equipment integral to the provision of information services related to the business of financial institutions or to the provision of financial services;
with the prior written approval of the Minister, develop, design, hold, manage, manufacture, sell or otherwise deal with data transmission systems, information sites, communication devices or information platforms or portals that are used
to provide information that is primarily financial or economic in nature,
to provide information that relates to the business of a permitted entity, as defined in subsection 490(1), or
for a prescribed purpose or in prescribed circumstances;
promote merchandise and services to the holders of any payment, credit or charge card issued by the company;
engage in the sale of
tickets, including lottery tickets, on a non-profit public service basis in connection with special, temporary and infrequent non-commercial celebrations or projects that are of local, municipal, provincial or national interest,
urban transit tickets, and
tickets in respect of a lottery sponsored by the federal government or a provincial or municipal government or an agency of any such government or governments;
act as a custodian of property;
with the consent of the Minister
provide safety and risk prevention services and services respecting risk management and claims adjustment, where the provision of those services is reasonably ancillary to the business of insurance carried on by the company,
operate rehabilitation and training and development centres, where the operation of those centres is reasonably ancillary to the business of insurance carried on by the company,
provide computer systems to independent insurance brokers and agents, where the provision of those systems is reasonably ancillary to the business of insurance carried on by the company,
provide support to independent insurance brokers and agents, where the provision of that support is reasonably ancillary to the business of insurance carried on by the company,
operate repair and appraisal centres, where the operation of those centres is reasonably ancillary to the business of insurance carried on by the company, and
carry on any other activities that are reasonably ancillary to the business of insurance carried on by the company; and
provide identification, authentication or verification services.
A life company may engage, under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed, in specialized business management or advisory services.
A consent given under paragraph (1)(h) is subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the Minister.
Except as authorized by or under this Act, a company shall not deal in goods, wares or merchandise or engage in any trade or other business.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting what a company may or may not do with respect to the carrying on of the activities referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(d) and (d.1) and subsection (1.1);
imposing terms and conditions in respect of
the provision of services referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and 440(2)(b), and
the carrying on of the activities referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(d) and (d.1) and subsection (1.1); and
respecting the circumstances in which companies may be exempted from the requirement to obtain the approval of the Minister before carrying on a particular activity referred to in paragraph (1)(d) or (d.1).
A company may
act as agent for any person in respect of the provision of any service that is provided by a financial institution, a permitted entity as defined in subsection 490(1) or a prescribed entity;
enter into an arrangement with any person in respect of the provision of that service; or
refer any person to any such financial institution or entity.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the disclosure of
the name of the principal for whom a company is acting as agent pursuant to subsection (1); and
whether any commission is being earned by a company when acting as agent pursuant to subsection (1).
Classes of Insurance
A company shall not insure a risk unless the risk falls within a class of insurance that is specified in the order of the Superintendent approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company.
A class of insurance specified in a certificate of registry, issued under Part III of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, or in any other authorization, that had not expired or been withdrawn before the coming into force of this Part is deemed to be specified in an order of the Superintendent approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company.
A company may reinsure, but shall not otherwise insure, a risk falling within a class of insurance specified in the order of the Superintendent approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company if the order limits the company to the reinsurance of those risks.
A condition that limits a company to the reinsurance of risks falling within a class of insurance and that is contained in a certificate of registry issued under Part III of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, or in any other authorization, that had not expired or been withdrawn before the coming into force of this Part is deemed to be a limitation in an order of the Superintendent approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company.
The Superintendent may not make or vary an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a company if the company would as a result be permitted to insure both risks falling within the class of life insurance and risks falling within any other class of insurance other than accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance.
[Repealed]
A company that is authorized to insure risks falling within the class of life insurance and risks falling within one or more other classes of insurance shall maintain separate accounts in respect of each class of insurance within which it is authorized to insure risks.
Property and casualty companies and marine companies shall not issue annuities or policies of endowment insurance.
Every company that is insuring risks that fall within a class of insurance shall become and remain a member of any compensation association designated by order of the Minister for that class of insurance.
A compensation association shall not be designated under subsection (1) unless, in the opinion of the Minister, it has the authority to levy an assessment on each of its members.
Subsection (1) does not apply
to a company that may reinsure but may not otherwise insure risks;
in respect of a class of insurance that, in the opinion of the Minister, is adequately covered by some other compensation plan;
in respect of the insurance against the loss of, or damage to, property caused by fire, by lightning, by an explosion due to ignition, by smoke or by breakage of or leakage from a sprinkler, from other fire protection equipment or from another fire protection system by a company that is a member of the Fire Mutuals Guarantee Fund; or
in respect of a class of insurance for which the Minister has not designated a compensation association.
Segregated Funds
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, shall not issue policies — or accept or retain, on the direction of a policyholder or beneficiary, policy dividends or bonuses, or policy proceeds that are payable on the surrender or maturity of the policy or on the death of the person whose life is insured — if the liabilities of the company in respect of the policies or the amounts accepted or retained vary in amount depending on the market value of a fund consisting of a specified group of assets.
A life company that issues policies described in section 450 or accepts or retains amounts so described shall, in respect of those policies or amounts,
maintain separate accounts; and
establish and maintain one or more funds consisting of assets that are segregated from the other assets of the company and that are specified as the assets on the market value of which the liabilities of the company in respect of those policies or amounts depend.
For the purpose of establishing or maintaining a segregated fund required to be established and maintained by section 451, a company may, subject to the regulations and, in the case of a transfer from a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456, to section 463, transfer an amount to the separate account maintained in respect of the segregated fund.
A company may return the current value of an amount transferred under section 452 to the account from which the amount was transferred.
A claim against a segregated fund maintained as required by section 451 under a policy or for an amount in respect of which the fund is maintained has priority over any other claim against the assets of that fund, including the claims referred to in section 161 of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act, except to the extent that the payment of that other claim is secured by a security interest in or on a specific, identifiable asset of the segregated fund.
The liability of a company under a policy or for an amount in respect of which a segregated fund is maintained pursuant to section 451
does not, except to the extent that the assets of the fund are insufficient to satisfy a claim for any minimum amount that the company agrees to pay under the policy or in respect of the amount, give rise to a claim against any assets of the company, other than the assets of that fund,
but
to the extent that the assets of the fund are insufficient to satisfy such a claim, gives rise to a claim against the assets of the company, other than the assets of that fund, that has the priority referred to in subsection 161(2) of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act.
Participating Policies
A company shall maintain accounts, in the form and manner determined by the Superintendent, in respect of participating policies, separately from those maintained in respect of other policies.
There shall be credited to, or debited from, a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456 that portion of the investment income or losses of the company for a financial year, including accrued capital gains or losses, whether or not realized, that is determined in accordance with a method that is
in the written opinion of the actuary of the company, fair and equitable to the participating policyholders;
approved by resolution of the directors, after considering the written opinion of the actuary of the company; and
not disallowed by the Superintendent, on the ground that it is not fair and equitable to the participating policyholders, within sixty days after receiving the resolution.
There shall be debited from a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456 that portion of the expenses, including taxes, of the company for a financial year that is determined in accordance with a method that is
in the written opinion of the actuary of the company, fair and equitable to the participating policyholders;
approved by resolution of the directors, after considering the written opinion of the actuary of the company; and
not disallowed by the Superintendent, on the ground that it is not fair and equitable to the participating policyholders, within sixty days after receiving the resolution.
A company the directors of which by resolution approve a method of allocating its investment income and losses and expenses to a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456 shall, within thirty days after making the resolution, file a copy of it with the Superintendent, together with a copy of the written opinion of the actuary of the company and any other information relevant to the allocation method that the Superintendent requests.
The actuary of a company shall annually report in writing to the directors on the fairness and equitableness of the method used by the company for allocating its investment income and losses and expenses to a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456.
A company that has share capital may, from a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456, in a financial year and at any time within six months after the end of that financial year, make a payment to its shareholders, or transfer an amount to an account (other than a participating shareholder account as defined in section 83.01) from which a payment can be made to its shareholders, if
the aggregate of the amounts so paid or transferred in that financial year does not exceed the percentage of the portion of the profits of the participating account that is determined by the directors as the portion to be distributed for that financial year to the shareholders and participating policyholders, which percentage shall not exceed the number, expressed as a percentage, that is the aggregate of
10 multiplied by the lesser of
the sum of the opening balances for that financial year of all participating accounts of the company, and
two hundred and fifty million dollars,
7.5 multiplied by the amount, if any, by which the lesser of exceeds two hundred and fifty million dollars,
the sum of the opening balances for that financial year of all participating accounts of the company, and
five hundred million dollars
5 multiplied by the amount, if any, by which the lesser of exceeds five hundred million dollars, and
the sum of the opening balances for that financial year of all participating accounts of the company, and
one billion dollars
2.5 multiplied by the amount, if any, by which the sum of the opening balances for that financial year of all participating accounts of the company exceeds one billion dollars,
divided by the sum of the opening balances for that financial year of all the participating accounts;
the company pays dividends or bonuses to its participating policyholders out of the profits of the participating account for that financial year in accordance with its dividend or bonus policy established pursuant to paragraph 165(2)(e); and
the payment to the shareholders, or the transfer to the account from which a payment can be made to the shareholders, would not, in the opinion of the actuary of the company, materially affect the company’s ability to continue to comply with its dividend or bonus policy or to maintain the levels or rates of dividends or bonuses paid to the company’s participating policyholders.
The only transfers that may be made from a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456 are
transfers made in respect of transfers or reinsurance of all or any portion of the participating policies in respect of which the participating account is maintained;
transfers, with the approval of the Superintendent, of amounts that can be reasonably attributed to sources not related to the participating policies in respect of which the account is or has been maintained, if the transfer would not, in the opinion of the actuary of the company, materially affect the company’s ability to continue to comply with its dividend or bonus policy, maintain the levels or rates of dividends or bonuses paid to the company’s participating policyholders or meet the company’s obligations under its participating policies; and
transfers made in respect of the conversion of a mutual company into a company with common shares.
A company may transfer from a participating account maintained pursuant to section 456 to a segregated fund maintained pursuant to section 451 an amount not exceeding the amount determined in accordance with the formula A - (B - C) where A is 25 per cent of the unappropriated earned surplus of that account; B is the aggregate amount of all previous transfers from that account to the segregated funds; and C is the aggregate amount returned to the participating account from the segregated funds.
The aggregate amount of all transfers from participating accounts maintained pursuant to section 456 to the segregated funds maintained pursuant to section 451 may not exceed the amount determined in accordance with the formula A - (B - C) where A is 10 per cent of the aggregate unappropriated earned surplus of the participating accounts; B is the aggregate amount of all previous transfers from those accounts to those funds; and C is the aggregate amount returned to those accounts from those funds.
Subject to this section, the directors of a company that issues participating policies may declare, and the company may pay or otherwise satisfy, a dividend, bonus or other benefit on those policies in accordance with its dividend or bonus policy established pursuant to paragraph 165(2)(e).
The company’s actuary shall, in writing, report to the directors on the fairness to participating policyholders of a proposed dividend, bonus or other benefit and whether it is in accordance with the policy. The directors shall consider the actuary’s report before declaring the dividend, bonus or other benefit.
The report of the actuary referred to in subsection (2) shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice with such changes as may be determined by the Superintendent and any additional directions that may be made by the Superintendent.
The directors of a company shall not declare a dividend, bonus or other benefit to participating policyholders if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or the payment or other satisfaction would cause the company to be, in contravention of subsection 515(1), any regulation made under subsection 515(2) or any order made under subsection 515(3).
Adjustable Policies
The actuary of a company that has adjustable policyholders shall, annually and in writing, report to the directors on whether the changes that the company made in respect of its adjustable policies during the preceding 12 months are in accordance with the criteria established under paragraph 165(2)(e.2) and are fair to the adjustable policyholders.
The report of the actuary referred to in subsection (1) shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice with such changes as may be determined by the Superintendent and any additional directions that may be made by the Superintendent.
A company that made changes in respect of its adjustable policies during the preceding 12 months shall within the prescribed period send the prescribed information to the policyholder, if the adjustable policy was issued in Canada or if it confers voting rights.
In the case of the renewal of an adjustable policy, the company shall within the prescribed period send the prescribed information to the policyholder.
Reinsurance
The Governor in Council may make regulations limiting the extent to which a company may cause itself to be reinsured against risks undertaken under its policies.
A regulation made pursuant to subsection (1) may provide that the Superintendent may, by order, determine the matters or exercise the discretion that the regulation may specify.
Restrictions
No company shall act in Canada as
an executor, administrator or official guardian or a guardian, tutor, curator, judicial adviser or committee of a mentally incompetent person; or
a trustee for a trust.
Except as otherwise permitted by this Act, a company shall not accept deposits.
A company shall not deal in Canada in securities to the extent prohibited or restricted by such regulations as the Governor in Council may make for the purposes of this section.
It is prohibited for a company to issue a debt obligation in relation to which the amounts of principal and interest owing are guaranteed to be paid from loans or other assets held by an entity that is created and organized for the principal purpose of holding those loans or other assets and with the intention of legally isolating those loans or other assets from the company, unless
the debt obligation is a covered bond as defined in section 21.5 of the National Housing Act;
the company is a registered issuer as defined in section 21.5 of that Act other than one whose right to issue covered bonds has been suspended; and
the debt obligation is issued under a registered program as defined in section 21.5 of that Act.
The Governor in Council may make regulations exempting any type of debt obligation from the application of subsection (1).
A company shall not make a loan in Canada on the security of residential property in Canada for the purpose of purchasing, renovating or improving that property, or refinance such a loan, if the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, would exceed 80 per cent of the value of the property at the time of the loan.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of
a loan made or guaranteed under the National Housing Act or any other Act of Parliament by or pursuant to which a different limit on the value of property on the security of which the company may make a loan is established;
a loan if repayment of the amount of the loan that exceeds the maximum amount set out in subsection (1) is guaranteed or insured by a government agency or a private insurer approved by the Superintendent;
the acquisition by the company from an entity of securities issued or guaranteed by the entity that are secured on any residential property, whether in favour of a trustee or otherwise, or the making of a loan by the company to the entity against the issue of such securities; or
a loan secured by a mortgage where
the mortgage is taken back by the company on a property disposed of by the company, including where the disposition is by way of a realization of a security interest, and
the mortgage secures payment of an amount payable to the company for the property.
Subject to any regulations made under subsection (2), a company that has obtained insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made in Canada on the security of residential property shall not charge a borrower an amount for the insurance or guarantee that exceeds the actual cost to the company of the insurance or guarantee.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the determination of the actual cost to a company for the purposes of subsection (1);
respecting the circumstances in which a company is exempt from the application of subsection (1);
respecting, in relation to insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made by a company in Canada on the security of residential property,
the arrangements into which the company, its representatives and its employees may or may not enter, and
the payments or benefits that the company, its representatives and its employees may or may not accept from an insurer or the insurer’s affiliates; and
respecting any other matters necessary to carry out the purposes of subsection (1).
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the disclosure by a company of information relating to insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made by the company in Canada on the security of residential property, including regulations respecting
the information that must be disclosed, including information relating to
the person who benefits from the insurance or guarantee,
the arrangements between the company, its representatives or its employees and the insurer or the insurer’s affiliates, and
the payments and benefits that the company, its representatives and its employees accept from an insurer or the insurer’s affiliates;
the time and place at which, the form and manner in which and the persons to whom information is to be disclosed; and
the circumstances under which a company is not required to disclose information.
The directors of a company shall establish and the company shall adhere to policies regarding the creation of security interests in property of the company to secure obligations of the company and the acquisition by the company of beneficial interests in property that is subject to security interests.
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a company to amend its policies as specified in the order.
A company shall comply with an order made under subsection (2) within the time specified in the order.
The Governor in Council may make regulations and the Superintendent may make guidelines respecting the creation by a company of security interests in its property to secure obligations of the company and the acquisition by the company of beneficial interests in property that is subject to security interests.
A company shall not grant to a person the right to appoint a receiver or a receiver and manager of the property or business of the company.
Except with the approval of the Superintendent, a company may not be a general partner in a limited partnership or a partner in a general partnership.
For the purposes of subsection (1), general partnership means any partnership other than a limited partnership.
Restrictions Specific to Life Companies
A life company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, enter into any debt obligation, within the meaning assigned to that expression by the regulations, or issue any share, other than a common share, if as a result the aggregate of the total debt obligations of the company, determined in the prescribed manner, and the stated capital of the company would exceed the prescribed percentage of the total assets of the company.
A life company need not include in the aggregate amount calculated for the purposes of subsection (1) the value of any debt obligation or the stated capital of any shares if the value of the debt obligation or the stated capital of the shares is included as part of the regulatory capital of the company.
A life company shall not guarantee on behalf of any person the payment or repayment of any sum of money unless
the sum of money is a fixed sum of money with or without interest thereon; and
the person on whose behalf the company has undertaken to guarantee the payment or repayment has an unqualified obligation to reimburse the company for the full amount of the payment or repayment to be guaranteed.
Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply where the person on whose behalf the company has undertaken to guarantee a payment or repayment is a subsidiary of the company.
[Repealed]
The Governor in Council may make regulations imposing terms and conditions in respect of guarantees permitted by this section.
A life company shall not engage in Canada in any personal property leasing activity in which a financial leasing entity, within the meaning of subsection 490(1), is not permitted to engage.
Restrictions Specific to Property and Casualty Companies and Marine Companies
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, enter into any debt obligation, within the meaning assigned to that expression by the regulations, or issue any share, other than a common share, if as a result the aggregate of the total debt obligations of the company, determined in the prescribed manner, and the stated capital of the company would exceed the prescribed percentage of the total assets of the company.
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, need not include in the aggregate amount calculated for the purposes of subsection (1) the value of any debt obligation if the value of the debt obligation is included as part of the regulatory capital of the company.
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, shall not guarantee on behalf of any person the payment or repayment of any sum of money unless the person on whose behalf the company has undertaken to guarantee the payment or repayment is a subsidiary of the company and has an unqualified obligation to reimburse the company for the full amount of the payment or repayment to be guaranteed.
Subsection (1) does not prevent a property and casualty company, or a marine company, from insuring a risk falling within a class of insurance that is specified in the order of the Superintendent approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company.
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, shall not engage in Canada in any financial leasing of personal property.
Borrowing Costs
the interest or discount applicable to the loan or advance;
any amount charged in connection with the loan or advance that is payable by the borrower to the company; and
any charge prescribed to be included in the cost of borrowing.
For those purposes, however, cost of borrowing does not include any charge prescribed to be excluded from the cost of borrowing.
Where a company makes a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 480 apply and the loan is not secured by a mortgage on real property and is required to be repaid either on a fixed future date or by instalments, the company shall, if there is a prepayment of the loan, rebate to the borrower a portion of the charges included in the cost of borrowing in respect of the loan.
The charges to be rebated do not include the interest or discount applicable to the loan.
The Governor in Council may make regulations governing the rebate of charges under subsection (1). The rebate shall be made in accordance with those regulations.
A company shall not make a loan to a natural person that is repayable in Canada unless the cost of borrowing, as calculated and expressed in accordance with section 481, and other prescribed information have been disclosed by the company to the borrower at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a loan that is of a prescribed class of loans.
The cost of borrowing shall be calculated, in the prescribed manner, on the basis that all obligations of the borrower are duly fulfilled and shall be expressed as a rate per annum and, in prescribed circumstances, as an amount in dollars and cents.
Where a company makes a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 480 are applicable and the loan is required to be repaid either on a fixed future date or by instalments, the company shall disclose to the borrower, in accordance with the regulations,
whether the borrower has the right to repay the amount borrowed before the maturity of the loan and, if applicable,
any terms and conditions relating to that right, including the particulars of the circumstances in which the borrower may exercise that right, and
whether, in the event that the borrower exercises the right, any portion of the cost of borrowing is to be rebated, the manner in which any such rebate is to be calculated or, if a charge or penalty will be imposed on the borrower, the manner in which the charge or penalty is to be calculated;
in the event that an amount borrowed is not repaid at maturity or, if applicable, an instalment is not paid on the day the instalment is due to be paid, particulars of the charges or penalties to be paid by the borrower because of the failure to repay or pay in accordance with the contract governing the loan;
at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any prescribed changes respecting the cost of borrowing or the loan agreement;
particulars of any other rights and obligations of the borrower; and
any other prescribed information, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
A company shall, in accordance with the regulations, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, provide prescribed information in any application forms or related documents that it prepares for the issuance of credit, payment or charge cards and provide prescribed information to any person applying to it for a credit, payment or charge card.
Where a company issues or has issued a credit, payment or charge card to a natural person, the company shall, in addition to disclosing the costs of borrowing in respect of any loan obtained through the use of the card, disclose to the person, in accordance with the regulations,
any charges or penalties described in paragraph (1)(b);
particulars of the person’s rights and obligations;
any charges for which the person becomes responsible by accepting or using the card;
at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any prescribed changes respecting the cost of borrowing or the loan agreement; and
any other prescribed information, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
Where a company enters into or has entered into an arrangement, including a line of credit, for the making of a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 480 apply and the loan is not a loan in respect of which subsection (1) or (2) applies, the company shall, in addition to disclosing the costs of borrowing, disclose to the person to whom the loan is made, in accordance with the regulations,
any charges or penalties described in paragraph (1)(b);
particulars of the person’s rights and obligations;
any charges for which the person is responsible under the arrangement;
at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any prescribed changes respecting the cost of borrowing under the arrangement; and
any other prescribed information, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
If a company makes a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 480 apply and the loan is secured by a mortgage on real property, the company shall disclose to the borrower, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any information that is prescribed respecting the renewal of the loan.
No person shall authorize the publication, issue or appearance of any advertisement in Canada relating to arrangements referred to in subsection 482(3), loans, credit cards, payment cards or charge cards, offered to natural persons by a company, and purporting to disclose prescribed information about the cost of borrowing or about any other matter unless the advertisement discloses prescribed information at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
If regulations have been made respecting the manner in which the cost of borrowing is to be disclosed in respect of an advance on the security or against the cash surrender value of a policy, a company shall not make such an advance unless the cost of borrowing, as calculated and expressed in accordance with the regulations, has, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, been disclosed by the company or otherwise as prescribed to the policyholder at or before the time when the advance is made.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the time and place at which, and the form and manner in which, a company is to disclose to a borrower
the cost of borrowing,
any rebate of the cost of borrowing, and
any other information relating to a loan, arrangement, credit card, payment card or charge card referred to in section 482;
respecting the contents of any statement disclosing the cost of borrowing and other information required to be disclosed by a company to a borrower;
respecting the manner of calculating the cost of borrowing;
respecting the circumstances under which the cost of borrowing is to be expressed as an amount in dollars and cents;
specifying any class of advances that are not to be subject to section 484 or the regulations or any specified provisions of the regulations;
prohibiting the imposition of any charge or penalty referred to in section 482 or providing that the charge or penalty, if imposed, will not exceed a prescribed amount;
respecting the nature or amount of any charge or penalty referred to in paragraph 482(1)(b), (2)(a) or (3)(a) and the costs of the company that may be included or excluded in the determination of the charge or penalty;
respecting the method of calculating the amount of rebate of the cost of borrowing, or the portion of the cost of borrowing referred to in subparagraph 482(1)(a)(ii);
respecting advertisements made by a company regarding arrangements referred to in subsection 482(3), loans, credit cards, payment cards or charge cards;
respecting the renewal of loans; and
Complaints
A company shall
establish procedures for dealing with complaints made by persons having requested or received products or services in Canada from the company;
designate an officer or employee of the company to be responsible for implementing those procedures; and
designate one or more officers or employees of the company to receive and deal with those complaints.
A company shall file with the Commissioner a copy of its procedures established under paragraph (1)(a).
A company shall make its procedures established under paragraph (1)(a) available
on its websites through which products or services are offered in Canada; and
in written format to be sent to any person who requests them.
A company shall also make prescribed information on how to contact the Agency available whenever it makes its procedures established under paragraph (1)(a) available under subsection (3).
In any province, if there is no law of the province that makes a company subject to the jurisdiction of an organization that deals with complaints made by persons having requested or received products or services in the province from a company, the company shall be a member of an organization that is not controlled by it and that deals with those complaints that have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the persons under procedures established by companies under paragraph 486(1)(a).
A company shall, in accordance with the regulations, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, provide a person requesting or receiving a product or service from it with prescribed information on how to contact the Agency if the person has a complaint about an arrangement referred to in subsection 482(3), a payment, credit or charge card, the disclosure of or manner of calculating the cost of borrowing in respect of a loan or an advance on the security or against the cash surrender value of a policy, or about any other obligation of the company under a consumer provision.
The Commissioner shall prepare a report, to be included in the report referred to in section 34 of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act, respecting
procedures for dealing with complaints established by companies pursuant to paragraph 486(1)(a); and
the number and nature of complaints that have been brought to the attention of the Agency by persons who have requested or received a product or service from a company.
Miscellaneous
A company shall not make a loan to a natural person that is repayable in Canada, the terms of which prohibit prepayment of the money advanced or any instalment thereon before its due date.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a loan
that is secured by a mortgage on real property; or
that is made for business purposes and the principal amount of which is more than $100,000 or such other amount as may be prescribed.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting any matters involving a company’s dealings, or its employees’ or representatives’ dealings, with customers or the public, including
what a company may or may not do in carrying out any of the activities in which it is permitted to engage, or in providing any of the services that it may provide, under section 440 and any ancillary, related or incidental activities or services; and
the time and place at which and the form and manner in which any of those activities are to be carried out or any of those services are to be provided.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
requiring a company or society to establish procedures regarding the collection, retention, use and disclosure of any information about its customers or members or any class of customers or members;
requiring a company or society to establish procedures for dealing with complaints made by a customer or member about the collection, retention, use or disclosure of information about the customer or member;
requiring a company or society to designate its officers and employees who are responsible for
implementing the procedures referred to in paragraph (b), and
receiving and dealing with complaints made by a customer or member of the company or society about the collection, retention, use or disclosure of information about the customer or member;
requiring a company or society to report information relating to
complaints made by customers or members of the company or society about the collection, retention, use or disclosure of information, and
the actions taken by the company or society to deal with the complaints; and
A company with equity of $1 billion or more shall, in accordance with regulations made under subsection (4), annually publish a statement describing the contribution of the company and its prescribed affiliates to the Canadian economy and society.
A company shall, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, file a copy of the statement with the Commissioner.
A company shall, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, disclose the statement to its customers and to the public.
The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing
the name, contents and form of a statement referred to in subsection (1) and the time and place at which and the manner in which it must be prepared;
affiliates of a company referred to in subsection (1);
the time and place at which and the form and manner in which a statement must be filed under subsection (2); and
the time and place at which and the form and manner in which a statement mentioned in subsection (3) is to be disclosed, respectively, to a company’s customers and to the public.
The Governor in Council may, subject to any other provisions of this Act relating to the disclosure of information, make regulations respecting the disclosure of information by companies or any prescribed class of companies, including regulations respecting
the information that must be disclosed, including information relating to
any product or service or prescribed class of products or services offered by them,
any of their policies, procedures or practices relating to the offer by them of any product or service or prescribed class of products or services,
anything they are required to do or to refrain from doing under a consumer provision, and
any other matter that may affect their dealings, or their employees’ or representatives’ dealings, with customers or the public;
the time and place at which, the form and manner in which and the persons to whom information is to be disclosed; and
the content and form of any advertisement by companies or any prescribed class of companies relating to any matter referred to in paragraph (a).
the order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company restricts it to the reinsurance of risks within a class of insurance specified in the order;
it has provided the Commissioner with a declaration stating that it is not dealing with a prescribed group of consumers or carrying on any prescribed activity; and
after providing the declaration, it continues to not deal with that prescribed group.
The company must give notice to the Commissioner if it subsequently deals with the prescribed group referred to in the declaration.
Investments
Definitions and Application
The definitions in this subsection apply in this Part.
business growth fund means Canadian Business Growth Fund (GP) Inc., a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act. (fonds de croissance des entreprises)
closed-end fund means an entity whose activities are limited to investing the funds of the entity so as to provide investment diversification and professional investment management to the holders of its securities, and whose securities are
fixed in number and distributed to the public in an offering under a preliminary prospectus, prospectus, short-form prospectus or similar document in accordance with the laws of a province or a foreign jurisdiction;
traded on an exchange or an over-the-counter market; and
liquidated on a fixed future termination date, the proceeds of which are allocated to the holders of the securities on a proportional basis. (fonds d’investissement à capital fixe)
commercial loan means
any loan made or acquired by a company, other than
a loan to a natural person in an amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars or less,
a loan to the Government of Canada, the government of a province, a municipality, or to any agency thereof, or to the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or any agency thereof, or to a prescribed international agency,
a loan that is guaranteed by, or fully secured by securities issued by, a government, a municipality or an agency referred to in subparagraph (ii),
a loan that is secured by a mortgage on real property, if
the mortgage is on residential property and the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, does not exceed 80% of the value of the property at the time the loan is made or acquired, or
the mortgage is on real property other than residential property and
the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, does not exceed 80% of the value of the property at the time the loan is made or acquired, and
at the time the loan is made or acquired, the property provides an annual income sufficient to pay all annual expenses related to the property, including the payments owing under the mortgage and the mortgages having an equal or prior claim against the property,
a loan that is secured by a mortgage on real property, if
the mortgage is on residential property and
the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, exceeds 80% of the value of the property at the time the loan is made or acquired, and
repayment of the amount of the loan that exceeds 80% of the value of the property is guaranteed or insured by a government agency or private insurer approved by the Superintendent,
the mortgage is on real property other than residential property and
the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, exceeds 80% of the value of the property at the time the loan is made or acquired,
repayment of the amount of the loan that exceeds 80% of the value of the property is guaranteed or insured by a government agency or private insurer approved by the Superintendent, and
at the time the loan is made or acquired, the property provides an annual income sufficient to pay all annual expenses related to the property, including the payments owing under the mortgage and the mortgages having an equal or prior claim against the property, or
the loan is one referred to in paragraph 469(2)(d),
a loan that
consists of a deposit made by the company with another financial institution,
is fully secured by a deposit with any financial institution, including the company,
is fully secured by debt obligations guaranteed by any financial institution other than the company, or
is fully secured by a guarantee of a financial institution other than the company,
an advance on the security of or against the cash surrender value of a policy, or
a loan to an entity controlled by the company;
an investment in debt obligations, other than
debt obligations that are
guaranteed by any financial institution other than the company,
fully secured by deposits with any financial institution, or
fully secured by debt obligations that are guaranteed by any financial institution other than the company,
debt obligations issued by the Government of Canada, the government of a province, a municipality, or by any agency thereof, or by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or by any agency thereof, or by a prescribed international agency,
debt obligations that are guaranteed by, or fully secured by securities issued by, a government, a municipality or an agency referred to in subparagraph (ii),
debt obligations that are widely distributed, as that expression is defined by the regulations, or
debt obligations of an entity controlled by the company; and
an investment in shares of a body corporate or ownership interests in an unincorporated entity, other than
shares or ownership interests that are widely distributed, as that expression is defined by the regulations,
shares or ownership interests of an entity controlled by the company, or
participating shares. (prêt commercial)
factoring entity means a factoring entity as defined in the regulations. (entité s’occupant d’affacturage)
finance entity means a finance entity as defined in the regulations. (entité s’occupant de financement)
financial leasing entity means an entity
the activities of which are limited to the financial leasing of personal property and such related activities as are prescribed and whose activities conform to such restrictions and limitations thereon as are prescribed; and
that, in conducting the activities referred to in paragraph (a) in Canada, does not
direct its customers or potential customers to particular dealers in the leased property or the property to be leased,
enter into lease agreements with persons in respect of any motor vehicle having a gross vehicle weight, as that expression is defined by the regulations, of less than twenty-one tonnes, or
enter into lease agreements with natural persons in respect of personal household property, as that expression is defined by the regulations. (entité s’occupant de crédit-bail)
loan includes an acceptance, advance on the security of or against the cash surrender value of a policy, endorsement or other guarantee, a deposit, a financial lease, a conditional sales contract, a repurchase agreement and any other similar arrangement for obtaining funds or credit but does not include investments in securities. (prêt ou emprunt)
motor vehicle means a motorized vehicle designed to be used primarily on a public highway for the transportation of persons or things, but does not include
a fire-engine, bus, ambulance or utility truck; or
any other special purpose motorized vehicle that contains significant special features that make it suitable for a specific purpose. (véhicule à moteur)
mutual fund distribution entity means an entity whose principal activity is acting as a selling agent of units, shares or other interests in a mutual fund and acting as a collecting agent in the collection of payments for any such interests if
the proceeds of the sales of any such interests, less any sales commissions and service fees, are paid to the mutual fund; and
the existence of a sales commission and service fee in respect of the sale of any such interest is disclosed to the purchaser of the interest before the purchase of the interest. (courtier de fonds mutuels)
mutual fund entity means an entity
whose activities are limited to the investing of the funds of the entity so as to provide investment diversification and professional investment management to the holders of its securities; and
whose securities entitle their holders to receive, on demand, or within a specified period after demand, an amount computed by reference to the value of a proportionate interest in the whole or in a part of its net assets, including a separate fund or trust account of the entity. (entité s’occupant de fonds mutuels)
permitted entity means an entity in which a company is permitted to acquire a substantial investment under section 495. (entité admissible)
prescribed subsidiary means a subsidiary that is one of a prescribed class of subsidiaries. (filiale réglementaire)
specialized financing entity means a specialized financing entity as defined in the regulations. (entité s’occupant de financement spécial)
For the purpose of this Part, a member of a company’s group is any of the following:
a prescribed entity in relation to the company.
A reference in this Part to the assets or liabilities of a company does not include
assets of a segregated fund maintained pursuant to section 451; or
liabilities of the company under the policies and for the amounts in respect of which such a fund is maintained.
This Part does not apply in respect of
assets of a segregated fund maintained pursuant to section 451;
the holding of a security interest in real property, unless the security interest is prescribed under paragraph 509(a) to be an interest in real property; or
the holding of a security interest in securities of an entity.
General Constraints on Investments
The directors of a company shall establish and the company shall adhere to investment and lending policies, standards and procedures that a reasonable and prudent person would apply in respect of a portfolio of investments and loans to avoid undue risk of loss and obtain a reasonable return.
The aggregate value of all ownership interests in the business growth fund and the entities that the business growth fund controls that a company and its subsidiaries hold must not exceed $200,000,000.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the value of an ownership interest is determined by the amount paid for it at the time of its issuance.
A company may, subject to Part XI, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity other than a permitted entity by way of
an acquisition of shares or ownership interests in the entity by
A company may, subject to Part XI, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity by way of
a temporary investment permitted by section 498;
an acquisition of shares of a body corporate or of ownership interests in an unincorporated entity permitted by section 499; or
a realization of security permitted by section 500.
A life company may, subject to Part XI, acquire control of, or hold, acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity other than a permitted entity if it does so in accordance with regulations made under paragraph 494(d) concerning specialized financing.
For greater certainty, a company is prohibited from acquiring control of the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls.
A company is prohibited from holding or acquiring a substantial investment in the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls if the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls holds or acquires shares of, or other ownership interests in, any of the following entities, or in any entity that controls any of the following entities:
an entity that is primarily engaged in the leasing of motor vehicles in Canada for the purpose of extending credit to a customer or financing a customer’s acquisition of a motor vehicle;
an entity that is primarily engaged in providing temporary possession of personal property, including motor vehicles, to customers in Canada for a purpose other than to finance the customer’s acquisition of the property;
an entity that acts as an insurance broker or agent in Canada; or
an entity that is engaged in any prescribed activity.
A company is prohibited from holding or acquiring a substantial investment in the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls if the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls holds shares of, or other ownership interests in, an entity or holds a loan made to an entity and, in respect of that entity and its affiliates, the aggregate value of the following exceeds $100,000,000:
all ownership interests that are held by the company, the company’s subsidiaries, the business growth fund or the entities that the business growth fund controls, the value of those ownership interests as determined by the amount paid for them at the time each was first acquired by any of those entities; and
the outstanding principal of all loans held by the business growth fund or the entities that the business growth fund controls.
A company is deemed not to contravene subsection (1) if the company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity solely as the result of an event not within the control of the company.
Despite having acquired control of, or a substantial investment in, an entity under a particular provision of this Part, a company may continue to control the entity or hold the substantial investment in the entity as though it had made the acquisition under another provision of this Part so long as the conditions of that other provision are met.
If a company decides to exercise its right under subsection (6), the company is deemed to be acquiring the control or the substantial investment under the other provision.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the determination of the amount or value of loans, investments and interests for the purposes of this Part;
respecting the loans and investments, and the maximum aggregate amount of all loans and investments, that may be made or acquired by a company and its prescribed subsidiaries to or in a person and any persons connected with that person;
specifying the classes of persons who are connected with any person for the purposes of paragraph (b); and
concerning specialized financing for the purposes of subsection 493(4).
Subsidiaries and Equity Investments
a company or a society;
an insurance holding company;
a bank;
a bank holding company;
a body corporate to which the Trust and Loan Companies Act applies;
an association to which the Cooperative Credit Associations Act applies;
a trust, loan or insurance corporation incorporated or formed by or under an Act of the legislature of a province;
a cooperative credit society incorporated or formed, and regulated, by or under an Act of the legislature of a province;
an entity that is incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province and that is primarily engaged in dealing in securities; or
an entity that is incorporated or formed, and regulated, otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province and that is primarily engaged outside Canada in a business that, if carried on in Canada, would be the business of banking, the business of a cooperative credit society, the business of insurance, the business of providing fiduciary services or the business of dealing in securities.
acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, entities in which a company is permitted under this Part to hold or acquire;
engaging in the provision of any services exclusively to any or all of the following, so long as the entity is providing those services to the company or any member of the company’s group:
the company,
any member of the company’s group,
any entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services,
any permitted entity in which an entity referred to in subparagraph (iii) has a substantial investment, or
any prescribed person, if it is doing so under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed;
the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by the life company or any member of the life company’s group, or
if a significant portion of the business of the entity involves an activity referred to in subparagraph (i), the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by any other entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services;
engaging in the activities referred to in the definition closed-end fund, mutual fund distribution entity or mutual fund entity in subsection 490(1); and
engaging in prescribed activities, under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed.
Subject to subsection (3) and Part XI, a life company may — under any prescribed terms and conditions — acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, a permitted infrastructure entity.
A life company may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity whose business includes any activity referred to in any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (e), or in any regulation made under paragraph 2.2(b), if the entity engages in the business of accepting deposit liabilities or if the activities of the entity include
dealing in securities, except as may be permitted under paragraph (2)(e) or as may be permitted to a company under paragraph 440(2)(b);
activities that a company is not permitted to engage in under any regulation made under section 489 if the entity engages in the activities of a finance entity or of any other entity as may be prescribed;
acquiring control of or acquiring or holding a substantial investment in another entity unless
in the case of an entity, other than a permitted infrastructure entity, that is controlled by the company, the company itself would be permitted under this Part to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity,
in the case of an entity, other than a permitted infrastructure entity, that is not controlled by the company, the company itself would be permitted to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity under subsection (1), (2) or (2.1) or 493(2), paragraph 493(3)(b) or (c) or subsection 493(4), or
in the case of a permitted infrastructure entity, whether or not that entity is controlled by the company, the company itself would be permitted to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity under subsection (2.1); or
any prescribed activity.
Despite paragraph (3)(a), a life company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, any entity that acts as a trustee for a trust if the entity has been permitted under the laws of a province to act as a trustee for a trust and the following conditions are satisfied:
the entity acts as a trustee only with respect to a closed-end fund or mutual fund entity; and
if the entity engages in other business, that business is limited to engaging in one or more of the following:
the activities of a mutual fund distribution entity,
any activity that a company is permitted to engage in under subsection 441(1.1), and
the provision of investment counselling services and portfolio management services.
Subject to subsections (5) to (8) and Part XI, a property and casualty company, or a marine company, may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity, other than an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (j), whose business is limited to one or more of the following:
acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, entities in which a property and casualty company, or a marine company, is permitted under this Part to hold or acquire;
engaging in the provision of any services exclusively to any or all of the following, so long as the entity is providing those services to the company or any member of the company’s group:
the company,
any member of the company’s group,
any entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services,
any permitted entity in which an entity referred to in subparagraph (iii) has a substantial investment, or
any prescribed person, if it is doing so under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed;
the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by the company or any member of the company’s group, or
if a significant portion of the business of the entity involves an activity referred to in subparagraph (i), the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by any other entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services;
engaging in the activities referred to in the definition closed-end fund, mutual fund distribution entity or mutual fund entity in subsection 490(1); and
engaging in prescribed activities, under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed.
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity whose business includes any activity referred to in any of paragraphs (4)(a) to (e) if the entity engages in the business of accepting deposit liabilities or if the activities of the entity include
dealing in securities, except as may be permitted under paragraph (4)(e) or as may be permitted to a company under paragraph 440(2)(b);
any financial intermediary activity that exposes the entity to material market or credit risk, including the activities of a finance entity, a factoring entity and a financial leasing entity;
the activities of a specialized financing entity;
acquiring control of or acquiring or holding a substantial investment in another entity unless
in the case of an entity that is controlled by the company, the company itself would be permitted under this Part to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity, or
any prescribed activity.
Despite paragraph (5)(a), a property and casualty company, or a marine company, may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, any entity that acts as a trustee for a trust if the entity has been permitted under the laws of a province to act as a trustee for a trust and the following conditions are satisfied:
the entity acts as a trustee only with respect to a closed-end fund or mutual fund entity; and
if the entity engages in other business, that business is limited to engaging in one or more of the following:
the activities of a mutual fund distribution entity, and
the provision of investment counselling services and portfolio management services.
Subject to subsection (10) and the regulations, a company may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in,
an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (j), unless
the company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity, or
the company is permitted by regulations made under paragraph 501(a) to acquire or increase the substantial investment;
an entity whose business includes one or more of the activities referred to in paragraph (2)(a) and that engages, as part of its business, in any financial intermediary activity that exposes the entity to material market or credit risk, including a finance entity, a factoring entity and a financial leasing entity, unless
the company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity, or
the company is permitted by regulations made under paragraph 501(a) to acquire or increase the substantial investment; or
an entity whose business includes an activity referred to in paragraph (2)(b) or (4)(b), including a specialized financing entity, unless
the company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity,
the company is permitted by regulations made under paragraph 501(a) to acquire or increase the substantial investment, or
subject to prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed, the activities of the entity do not include the acquisition or holding of control of, or the acquisition or holding of shares or other ownership interests in, an entity referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) or an entity that is not a permitted entity.
Subject to the regulations, a company may not, without the prior written approval of the Minister,
acquire control of an entity referred to in paragraphs (1)(g) to (i) from a person who is not a member of the company’s group;
acquire control of an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j) or (6)(b), other than an entity whose activities are limited to the activities of one or more of the following entities, if the control is acquired from an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (f) that is not a member of the company’s group:
a factoring entity, or
a financial leasing entity;
acquire control of an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j) if the company is a company with equity of four billion dollars or more and A + B > C where A is the value of the entity’s consolidated assets, as it would have been reported in the entity’s annual financial statements if those statements had been prepared immediately before the acquisition, B is the aggregate of the values of the consolidated assets of all other entities referred to in paragraph (1)(j) that the company has acquired control of within the preceding 12 months, as the value for each entity would have been reported in its annual financial statements if those statements had been prepared immediately before the acquisition of control of that entity, and C is 10% of the value of the company’s consolidated assets, as shown in the company’s last annual statement that was prepared before its first acquisition of control of an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j) within the preceding 12 months;
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity whose business includes one or more of the activities referred to in paragraph (2)(d) or (4)(d);
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity that engages in Canada in an activity described in paragraph 441(1)(d);
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity that engages in an activity described in paragraph 441(1)(d.1); or
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity engaging in an activity prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (2)(f) or (4)(f).
In addition to any matters or conditions provided for in this Act that are relevant to the granting of an approval, the Minister may, in considering whether to grant the approval under paragraph (7)(b.1), take into account all matters that he or she considers relevant in the circumstances, including
the stability of the financial system in Canada; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
Subject to subsection (9) and the regulations, a company may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(g) to (j) and (6)(b) and (c) unless the company obtains the approval of the Superintendent.
Subsection (8) does not apply in respect of a particular transaction if
the company is acquiring control of an entity, other than a specialized financing entity, and the only reason for which the company would, but for this subsection, require approval for the acquisition is that the entity carries on activities referred to in paragraph (2)(b) or (4)(b);
the company is acquiring control of an entity whose activities are limited to the activities of a factoring entity or a financial leasing entity;
the company is acquiring control of, or acquiring or increasing a substantial investment in, an entity whose activities are limited to acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, permitted infrastructure entities; or
subject to subsection (9.1), the company is acquiring control of an entity (referred to in this paragraph as the “target entity”) referred to in paragraph (6)(b) or (c) and A/B < C where A is the aggregate of the values, as they would have been reported in the company’s annual financial statements if those statements were prepared on the day of the acquisition of control of the target entity, of the target entity’s consolidated assets, the assets of the company and of any subsidiary of the company that were acquired, at any time within the 12 months preceding the acquisition of control of the target entity, from any entity that, at that time, held any of the assets referred to in subparagraph (i), and the consolidated assets of any entity referred to in paragraph (6)(b) or (c) the control of which is acquired by the company at the same time as the acquisition of control of the target entity — or within the 12 months preceding the acquisition of control of the target entity if, at any time within those 12 months, that entity and the target entity were affiliates — excluding any assets referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) and the consolidated assets of an entity in respect of which no approval of the Superintendent is required under any of paragraphs (a) to (c), B is the value of the company’s consolidated assets, as shown in its last annual statement prepared before the acquisition of control of the target entity, and C is 0.01, in the case of a company with equity of 12 billion dollars or more, or 0.02, in the case of any other company; or
the company is acquiring or increasing a substantial investment in an entity (referred to in this paragraph as the “target entity”) without acquiring control of it, and A/B < C where A is the aggregate of the values, as they would have been reported in the company’s annual financial statements if those statements were prepared on the day of the acquisition or increase of the substantial investment in the target entity, of the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that the company or a subsidiary of the company is acquiring in the transaction that results in the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in the target entity, and the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that are held by an entity the control of which the company is acquiring in the transaction that results in the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in the target entity, the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that are held by the company or a subsidiary of the company and that were acquired by the company or the subsidiary within the 12 months preceding the transaction referred to in subparagraph (i), and the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that are held by a subsidiary of the company the control of which was acquired by the company within the 12 months preceding the transaction referred to in subparagraph (i), excluding any shares or other ownership interests referred to in subparagraph (ii), B is the value of the company’s consolidated assets, as shown in its last annual statement prepared before the transaction that results in the acquisition or increase of the substantial investment in the target entity, and C is 0.005, in the case of a company with equity of 12 billion dollars or more, or 0.01, in the case of any other company.
The exception in paragraph (9)(d) does not apply with respect to a deemed acquisition of control under subsection 493(7).
A company need not control an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j), or an entity that is incorporated or formed otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province, if the laws or customary business practices of the country under the laws of which the entity was incorporated or formed do not permit the company to control the entity.
A company that, under subsection (6), controls an entity may, with the prior written approval of the Superintendent, give up control of the entity while keeping a substantial investment in the entity if
the company is permitted to do so by regulations made under paragraph 501(c); or
the entity meets the conditions referred to in subparagraph (6)(c)(iii).
If a company obtains the approval of the Minister under subsection 495(7) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase, the company indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Minister under subsection 495(7) or the Superintendent under subsection 495(8) and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Minister in writing before the approval is obtained, the company is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Minister or the Superintendent for that indirect acquisition or increase.
If a company obtains the approval of the Superintendent under subsection 495(8) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase the company indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Superintendent under that subsection and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Superintendent in writing before the approval is obtained, the company is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Superintendent for that indirect acquisition or increase.
the activities of the entity; and
access to information about the entity.
The Superintendent may enter into an agreement with the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of any entity referred to in any of paragraphs 495(1)(g) to (j) in each province or in any other jurisdiction concerning any matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) or any other matter the Superintendent considers appropriate.
Despite any other provision of this Part, a company shall not control a permitted entity, other than an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 495(1)(a) to (f), unless, in the course of the acquisition of control or within a reasonable time after the control is acquired, the company obtains from the permitted entity an undertaking to provide the Superintendent with reasonable access to the records of the permitted entity.
Exceptions and Exclusions
Subject to subsection (4), a company may, by way of a temporary investment, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity but, within two years, or any other period that may be specified or approved by the Superintendent, after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment, as the case may be, it shall do all things necessary to ensure that it no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite subsection (1), if a company that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the company subsequently increases that substantial investment by way of a temporary investment, the company shall, within two years, or any other period that is specified or approved by the Superintendent, after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular company that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period of two years, or the other period specified or approved by the Superintendent, that is referred to in subsection (1) or (2) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
If a company, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Minister would have been required under subsection 495(7) if the company had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 495, the company must, within 90 days after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment,
apply to the Minister for approval to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for a period specified by the Minister or for an indeterminate period on any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate; or
do all things necessary to ensure that, on the expiry of the 90 days, it no longer controls the entity or does not have a substantial investment in the entity.
If a company, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Superintendent would have been required under subsection 495(8) if the company had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 495, the Superintendent may, on application, permit the company to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for an indeterminate period, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate.
Despite anything in this Part, if a company or any of its subsidiaries has made a loan to an entity and, under the terms of the agreement between the company, or any of its subsidiaries, and the entity with respect to the loan and any other documents governing the terms of the loan, a default has occurred, the company may acquire
if the entity is a body corporate, all or any of the shares of the body corporate;
if the entity is an unincorporated entity, all or any of the ownership interests in the entity;
all or any of the shares or all or any of the ownership interests in any entity that is an affiliate of the entity;
all or any of the shares of a body corporate that is primarily engaged in holding shares of, ownership interests in or assets acquired from the entity or any of its affiliates; or
all or any of the ownership interests in any entity that is primarily engaged in holding shares of, ownership interests in or assets acquired from the entity or any of its affiliates.
If a company acquires shares or ownership interests in an entity under subsection (1), the company shall, within five years after acquiring them, do all things necessary to ensure that the company does not control the entity or have a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite subsection (1), if a company that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the company later increases that substantial investment by way of an investment made under subsection (1), the company shall, within five years after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.
Despite anything in this Part, if a company has made a loan to, or holds a debt obligation of, the government of a foreign country or an entity controlled by the government of a foreign country and, under the terms of the agreement between the company and that government or the entity, as the case may be, and any other documents governing the terms of the loan or debt obligation, a default has occurred, the company may acquire all or any of the shares of, or ownership interests in, that entity or in any other entity designated by that government, if the acquisition is part of a debt restructuring program of that government.
If a company acquires any shares or ownership interests under subsection (5), the company may, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate, hold those shares or ownership interests for an indeterminate period or for any other period that the Superintendent may specify.
If, under subsection (1), a company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 495, the company may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3), including any extension of it granted under subsection (4).
Despite anything in this Act, a company may acquire
an investment in a body corporate,
an interest in an unincorporated entity, or
an interest in real property,
if the investment or interest is acquired through the realization of a security interest held by the company or any of its subsidiaries.
Subject to subsection 77(2), if a company acquires control of, or acquires a substantial investment in, an entity by way of the realization of a security interest held by the company or any of its subsidiaries, the company shall, within five years after the day on which control or the substantial investment is acquired, do all things necessary, or cause its subsidiary to do all things necessary, as the case may be, to ensure that the company no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite subsection (2), if a company that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the company later increases that substantial investment by way of a realization of a security interest under subsection (1), the company shall, within five years after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.
If, under subsection (1), a company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 495, the company may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3), including any extension of it granted under subsection (4).
The Governor in Council may make regulations
for the purposes of subsection 495(6), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which that subsection does not apply or the companies or other entities in respect of which that subsection does not apply, including prescribing companies or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;
for the purposes of subsection 495(7) or (8), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which either of those subsections does not apply or the companies or other entities in respect of which either of those subsections does not apply, including prescribing companies or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;
for the purposes of subsection 495(12), permitting a company to give up control of an entity;
for the purposes of subsection 495(2.1), establishing terms and conditions respecting the acquisition of control of, or the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in, a permitted infrastructure entity by a life company.
Portfolio Limits
Subject to subsection (3), the value of all loans, investments and interests acquired by a company and any of its prescribed subsidiaries under section 499 or as a result of a realization of a security interest is not to be included in calculating the value of loans, investments and interests of the company and its prescribed subsidiaries under sections 503 to 508
for a period of twelve years following the day on which the interest was acquired, in the case of an interest in real property; and
for a period of five years after the day on which the loan, investment or interest was acquired, in the case of a loan, investment or interest, other than an interest in real property.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular company, extend any period referred to in subsection (1) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
the company or the subsidiary acquired the investment or interest as a result of the realization of a security interest securing a loan that was defined by a regulation made under section 509 to be an interest in real property; or
Commercial Lending by Life Companies
Subject to section 504, a life company that has twenty-five million dollars or less of regulatory capital shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, make or acquire a commercial loan or acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans if the aggregate value of all commercial loans held by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries exceeds, or the making or acquisition of the commercial loan or acquisition of control of the entity would cause the aggregate value of all commercial loans held by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries to exceed, 5 per cent of the total assets of the company.
A life company that has twenty-five million dollars or less of regulatory capital that is controlled by a financial institution that has the equivalent of more than twenty-five million dollars of regulatory capital or a life company that has more than twenty-five million dollars of regulatory capital may make or acquire commercial loans or acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans if the aggregate value of all commercial loans held by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries would thereby exceed the limit set out in section 503 only with the prior approval in writing of the Superintendent and in accordance with any terms and conditions that the Superintendent may specify.
Consumer and Commercial Lending by Property and Casualty Companies and Marine Companies
A property and casualty company, or a marine company, shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, make or acquire a commercial loan or a loan to a natural person, or acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans or loans to natural persons, if the aggregate value of all such loans held by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries exceeds, or the making or acquisition of the loan or the acquisition of control of the permitted entity would cause the aggregate value of all such loans held by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries to exceed, the prescribed percentage of the total assets of the company.
Real Property
A company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, purchase or otherwise acquire an interest in real property or make an improvement to any real property in which the company or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest if the aggregate value of all interests of the company in real property exceeds, or the acquisition of the interest or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Equities
A company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire any participating shares of any body corporate or any ownership interests in any unincorporated entity, other than those of a permitted entity in which the company has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or
acquire control of an entity that holds shares or ownership interests referred to in paragraph (a),
if the aggregate value of
all participating shares, excluding participating shares of permitted entities in which the company has a substantial investment, and
all ownership interests in unincorporated entities, other than ownership interests in permitted entities in which the company has a substantial investment,
beneficially owned by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries exceeds, or the purchase or acquisition would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Aggregate Limit
A company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire
participating shares of a body corporate, other than those of a permitted entity in which the company has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment,
ownership interests in an unincorporated entity, other than ownership interests in a permitted entity in which the company has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or
interests in real property, or
make an improvement to real property in which the company or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest
if the aggregate value of
all participating shares and ownership interests referred to in subparagraphs (a)(i) and (ii) that are beneficially owned by the company and its prescribed subsidiaries, and
all interests of the company in real property referred to in subparagraph (a)(iii)
exceeds, or the acquisition or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Miscellaneous
For the purposes of this Part, the Governor in Council may make regulations
defining the interests of a company in real property;
determining the method of valuing those interests;
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a company to dispose of, within any period that the Superintendent considers reasonable, any loan, investment or interest made or acquired in contravention of this Part.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent,
an investment by a company or any entity it controls in shares of a body corporate or in ownership interests in an unincorporated entity enables the company to control the body corporate or the unincorporated entity, or
the company or any entity it controls has entered into an arrangement whereby it or its nominee may veto any proposal put before
the board of directors of a body corporate, or
a similar group or committee of an unincorporated entity,
or whereby no proposal may be approved except with the consent of the company, the entity it controls or the nominee,
the Superintendent may, by order, require the company, within any period that the Superintendent considers reasonable, to do all things necessary to ensure that the company no longer controls the body corporate or unincorporated entity or has the ability to veto or otherwise defeat any proposal referred to in paragraph (b).
If
a company
a permitted entity referred to in subsection 497(4) is in default of an undertaking referred to in subsection 497(4) and the default is not remedied within ninety days after the day of receipt by the company of a notice from the Superintendent of the default,
the Superintendent may, by order, require the company, within any period that the Superintendent considers reasonable, to do all things necessary to ensure that the company no longer has a substantial investment in the entity to which the undertaking relates.
Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of an entity in which a company has a substantial investment permitted by this Part.
If a company controls or has a substantial investment in an entity as permitted by this Part and the company becomes aware of a change in the business or affairs of the entity that, if the change had taken place before the acquisition of control or of the substantial investment, would have caused the entity not to be a permitted entity or would have been such that approval for the acquisition would have been required under subsection 495(7) or (8), the company is deemed to have acquired, on the day the company becomes aware of the change, a temporary investment in respect of which section 498 applies.
A company shall not, and shall not permit its subsidiaries to, without the approval of the Superintendent, acquire assets from a person or transfer assets to a person if A + B > C where A is the value of the assets; B is the total value of all assets that the company and its subsidiaries acquired from or transferred to that person in the twelve months ending immediately before the acquisition or transfer; and C is ten per cent of the total value of the assets of the company, as shown in the last annual statement of the company prepared before the acquisition or transfer.
The Superintendent may, for the purposes of subsection (1), approve a transaction or series of transactions relating to the acquisition or transfer of assets that may be entered into with a person, or with persons of any class of persons, regardless of whether those persons are known at the time of the granting of the approval or not.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of
an asset that is a debt obligation referred to in subparagraphs (b)(i) to (v) of the definition commercial loan in subsection 490(1);
assets that are acquired or transferred under a transaction or series of transactions by a company with another financial institution as a result of the company’s participation in one or more syndicated loans with that financial institution;
assets that are acquired or transferred under a transaction approved by the Minister under subsection 715(1) of this Act or subsection 678(1) of the Bank Act;
assets, other than real property, acquired or disposed of under an arrangement that has been approved by the Superintendent under subsection 527(3); or
assets acquired or disposed of with the approval of the Superintendent under subsection 527(4).
[Repealed]
For the purposes of “A” in subsection (1), the value of the assets is
in the case of assets that are acquired, the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which will be included in the annual statement of the company after the acquisition, the fair market value of the assets; and
in the case of assets that are transferred, the value of the assets as reported in the last annual statement of the company prepared before the transfer or, if the value of the assets is not reported in that annual statement, the value of the assets as it would be reported in the annual statement of the company if the annual statement had been prepared, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), immediately before the transfer.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the company or any of its subsidiaries has acquired during the period of twelve months referred to in subsection (1) is the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which immediately after the acquisition were included in the annual statement of the company, the fair market value of the assets of the entity at the date of the acquisition.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the company or any of its subsidiaries has transferred during the 12-month period referred to in subsection (1) is the total of the value of each of those assets as reported in the last annual statement of the company prepared before the transfer of the asset or, if the value of any of those assets is not reported in that annual statement, as it would be reported in the annual statement of the company if the annual statement had been prepared, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), immediately before the transfer of the asset.
Nothing in this Part requires
the termination of a loan made before February 7, 2001;
the termination of a loan made after that date as a result of a commitment made before that date;
the disposal of an investment made before that date; or
the disposal of an investment made after that date as a result of a commitment made before that date.
A loan or investment referred to in section 513 is deemed not to be prohibited by the provisions of this Part.
Adequacy of Capital and Liquidity and Assets
A company and society shall, in relation to its operations, maintain adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity and shall comply with any regulations in relation to adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity.
The Governor in Council may make regulations and the Superintendent may make guidelines respecting the maintenance by companies and societies of adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity.
Notwithstanding that a company or society is complying with regulations or guidelines made under subsection (2), the Superintendent may, by order, direct the company or society to increase its capital or to provide additional liquidity in any forms and amounts that the Superintendent may require.
A company and society shall comply with an order made under subsection (3) within the time that the Superintendent specifies in the order.
[Repealed]
Where an appraisal of any asset held by a company or any of its subsidiaries has been made by the Superintendent and the value determined by the Superintendent to be the appropriate value of the asset varies materially from the value placed by the company or subsidiary on the asset, the Superintendent shall send to the company, the auditor of the company, the actuary of the company and the audit committee of the company a written notice of the appropriate value of the asset as determined by the Superintendent.
Self-dealing
Interpretation and Application
For the purposes of this Part, a senior officer of a body corporate is a person who is
a director of the body corporate who is a full-time employee of the body corporate;
the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, secretary, treasurer, controller, chief financial officer, chief accountant, chief auditor or chief actuary of the body corporate;
a natural person who performs functions for the body corporate similar to those performed by a person referred to in paragraph (b);
the head of the strategic planning unit of the body corporate;
the head of the unit of the body corporate that provides legal services or human resources services to the body corporate; or
any other officer reporting directly to the body corporate’s board of directors, chief executive officer or chief operating officer.
For the purposes of this Part, a person is a related party of a company where the person
is a person who has a significant interest in a class of shares of the company;
is a director or senior officer of the company or of a body corporate that controls the company or is acting in a similar capacity in respect of an unincorporated entity that controls the company;
is an entity in which a person who controls the company has a substantial investment;
is an entity in which the spouse or common-law partner, or a child who is less than eighteen years of age, of a person who controls the company has a substantial investment; or
[Repealed]
If an entity in which a company has a substantial investment would, but for this subsection, be a related party of the company only because a person who controls the company controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity, and the person does not control the entity or have a substantial investment in the entity otherwise than through the person’s controlling interest in the company, the entity is not a related party of the company.
The holding body corporate of a company is deemed not to be a person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) if the holding body corporate is a foreign company.
For the purposes of this Part, the Superintendent may, with respect to a particular company, designate as a related party of the company
any person or class of persons whose direct or indirect interest in or relationship with the company or a related party of the company might reasonably be expected to affect the exercise of the best judgment of the company in respect of a transaction; or
any person who is a party to any agreement, commitment or understanding referred to in section 9 if the company referred to in that section is the particular company.
Where a person is designated as a related party of a company pursuant to subsection (4), the Superintendent may also designate any entity in which the person has a substantial investment and any entity controlled by such an entity to be a related party of the company.
Where, in contemplation of a person becoming a related party of a company, the company enters into a transaction with the person, the person is deemed for the purposes of this Part to be a related party of the company in respect of that transaction.
The Superintendent may, by order, designate a class of non-voting shares of a company for the purpose of this subsection. If a class of non-voting shares of a company is so designated, a person is deemed, notwithstanding paragraph (1)(a), not to be a related party of the company if the person would otherwise be a related party of the company only because the person has a significant interest in that class.
For the purpose of determining whether an entity or a person has a substantial investment for the purposes of paragraph (1)(e) or (f), the references to “control” and “controlled” in section 10 shall be construed as references to “control, within the meaning of section 3, determined without regard to paragraph 3(1)(d)” and “controlled, within the meaning of section 3, determined without regard to paragraph 3(1)(d)”, respectively.
This Part does not apply in respect of any transaction entered into prior to the coming into force of this Part but, after the coming into force of this Part, any modification of, addition to, or renewal or extension of a prior transaction is subject to this Part.
This Part does not apply in respect of
assets of a segregated fund maintained pursuant to section 451 if
all the policies in respect of which the fund is maintained are held by one person or all the amounts in respect of which it is maintained are retained on the direction of one person, or
the assets of the fund reflect the securities upon which a generally recognized market index is based and the weighting of those securities in that index;
the issue by the company of shares of any class when fully paid for in money or when issued
in accordance with any provisions for the conversion of other issued and outstanding securities of the company into shares of that class,
as a share dividend,
in exchange for shares of a body corporate that has been continued as a company under Part III,
in accordance with the terms of an amalgamation under Part VI,
by way of consideration in accordance with the terms of a sale agreement under Part VI, or
with the approval in writing of the Superintendent, in exchange for shares of another body corporate;
the payment of dividends or policy dividends or bonuses by a company;
transactions that consist of the payment or provision by a company to persons who are related parties of the company of salaries, fees, stock options, policy premiums, pension benefits, incentive benefits or other benefits or remuneration in their capacity as directors, officers or employees of the company;
transactions approved by the Minister under subsection 715(1) of this Act or subsection 678(1) of the Bank Act; or
if a company is controlled by a widely held insurance holding company or a widely held bank holding company, transactions approved by the Superintendent that are entered as part of, or in the course of, a restructuring of the holding company or of any entity controlled by it.
Nothing in paragraph (2)(d) exempts from the application of this Part the payment by a company of fees or other remuneration to a person for
the provision of services referred to in paragraph 528(1)(a); or
duties outside the ordinary course of business of the company.
Where a holding body corporate of a company is, because of subsection (4), not a related party of the company, any entity in which the holding body corporate has a substantial investment is not a related party of the company if no related party of the company has a substantial investment in the entity otherwise than through the control of the holding body corporate.
For the purposes of this Part, entering into a transaction with a related party of a company includes
making a guarantee on behalf of the related party;
making an investment in any securities of the related party;
taking an assignment of or otherwise acquiring a loan made by a third party to the related party;
taking a security interest in the securities of the related party; and
causing the company to be reinsured by the related party against any risk undertaken by the company under its policies.
For the purposes of this Part, the fulfilment of an obligation under the terms of any transaction, including the payment of interest on a loan or deposit and the making of a payment or an advance under a policy, is part of the transaction, and not a separate transaction.
For the purposes of this Part, loan includes a deposit, a financial lease, a conditional sales contract, a repurchase agreement and any other similar arrangement for obtaining funds or credit, but does not include investments in securities or the making of an acceptance, endorsement or other guarantee.
For the purposes of this Part, security of a related party includes an option, transferable by delivery, to demand delivery of a specified number or amount of shares of the related party at a fixed price within a specified time.
Prohibited Related Party Transactions
Except as provided in this Part, a company shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction with a related party of the company.
Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a company is deemed to have indirectly entered into a transaction in respect of which this Part applies where the transaction is entered into by an entity that is controlled by the company.
Subsection (2) does not apply where an entity that is controlled by a company is a financial institution incorporated or formed under the laws of a province and is subject to regulation and supervision, satisfactory to the Minister, regarding transactions with related parties of the company.
Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of transactions entered into by an entity that is controlled by a company if the transaction is a prescribed transaction or is one of a class of prescribed transactions.
Permitted Related Party Transactions
Notwithstanding anything in this Part, a company may enter into a transaction with a related party of the company if the value of the transaction is nominal or immaterial to the company when measured by criteria that have been established by the conduct review committee of the company and approved in writing by the Superintendent.
A company may, subject to subsection (2) and to Division III of Part VI, cause itself to be reinsured by a related party of the company against any risk undertaken by the company under its policies.
Except with the approval of the Superintendent, a company may cause itself to be reinsured in respect of risks undertaken under its policies by a related party of the company only if the related party is
a company; or
a foreign company that, in Canada, reinsures those risks.
A company may, subject to Division III of Part VI, reinsure any risks undertaken by a related party of the company.
A company may make a loan to or a guarantee on behalf of a related party of the company or take an assignment of or otherwise acquire a loan to a related party of the company if
the loan or guarantee is fully secured by securities of or guaranteed by the Government of Canada or the government of a province; or
the loan is a loan permitted by section 469 made to a related party who is a natural person on the security of a mortgage of the principal residence of that related party.
A company may borrow money from or issue debt obligations to a related party of the company.
A company may issue policies to a related party of the company or accept or retain on the direction of a policyholder or beneficiary who is a related party amounts that are payable as
policy dividends or bonuses, or
policy proceeds on the surrender or maturity of the policy or on the death of the person whose life is insured
where the liabilities of the company in respect of the policies or the amounts accepted or retained vary in amount depending on the market value of a specified group of assets.
A company may purchase or otherwise acquire from a related party of the company
securities of or guaranteed by the Government of Canada or the government of a province;
assets fully secured by securities of or guaranteed by the Government of Canada or the government of a province; or
goods for use in the ordinary course of business.
Subject to section 512, a company may sell any assets of the company to a related party of the company if
the consideration for the assets is fully paid in money; and
there is an active market for those assets.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), a company may, in the normal course of business and pursuant to arrangements that have been approved by the Superintendent in writing, acquire or dispose of any assets, other than real property, from or to a related party of the company that is a financial institution.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), a company may acquire any assets from, or dispose of any assets to, a related party of the company as part of, or in the course of, a restructuring, if the acquisition or disposition has been approved in writing by the Superintendent.
A company may lease assets
from a related party of the company for use in the ordinary course of business of the company, or
to a related party of the company,
if the lease payments are made in money.
A company may enter into a transaction with a related party of the company if the transaction
subject to subsection (2), consists of a written contract for the purchase by the company of services used in the ordinary course of business;
subject to subsection (4), involves the provision of services normally offered to the public by the company in the ordinary course of business;
consists of a written contract with a financial institution or an entity in which the company is permitted to have a substantial investment pursuant to section 495 that is a related party of the company
for the networking of any services provided by the company or the financial institution or entity, or
for the referral of any person by the company to the financial institution or entity, or for the referral of any person by the financial institution or entity to the company;
consists of a written contract for such pension or benefit plans or their management or administration as are incidental to directorships or to the employment of officers or employees of the company or its subsidiaries; or
involves the provision by the company of management, advisory, accounting, information processing or other services in relation to any business of the related party.
Where a company has entered into a contract pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) and the contract, when taken together with all other such contracts entered into by the company, results in all or substantially all of the management functions of the company being exercised by persons who are not employees of the company, the Superintendent may, by order, if the Superintendent considers that result to be inappropriate, require the company, within such time as may be specified in the order, to take all steps necessary to ensure that management functions that are integral to the carrying on of business by the company are exercised by employees of the company to the extent specified in the order.
Despite subsection 521(2), a company is deemed not to have indirectly entered into a transaction in respect of which this Part applies if the transaction is entered into by an entity that is controlled by the company and the business of which is limited to the activity referred to in paragraph 495(2)(c) and the transaction is on terms and conditions at least as favourable to the company as market terms and conditions, as defined in subsection 534(2).
The provision of services, for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), does not include the making of loans or guarantees.
Subject to subsection (2) and sections 528.2 and 528.3, if a widely held insurance holding company or a widely held bank holding company has a significant interest in any class of shares of a company, the company may enter into any transaction with the holding company or with any other related party of the company that is an entity in which the holding company has a substantial investment.
The company shall adhere to policies and procedures established under subsection 204(3) when entering into the transaction.
If a company enters into a transaction with a related party of the company with whom the company may enter into transactions under subsection 528.1(1) and that is not a federal financial institution, the company shall not directly or indirectly make, take an assignment of or otherwise acquire a loan to the related party, make an acceptance, endorsement or other guarantee on behalf of the related party or make an investment in the securities of the related party if, immediately following the transaction, the aggregate financial exposure, as that expression is defined by the regulations, of the company would exceed
in respect of all transactions of the company with the related party, the prescribed percentage of the company’s regulatory capital or, if no percentage is prescribed, five per cent of the company’s regulatory capital; or
in respect of all transactions of the company with such related parties of the company, the prescribed percentage of the company’s regulatory capital or, if no percentage is prescribed, ten per cent of the company’s regulatory capital.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that it is necessary for the protection of the interests of the policyholders and creditors of a company, the Superintendent may, by order,
reduce the limit in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) that would otherwise apply to the company; and
impose limits on transactions by the company with related parties with whom the company may enter into transactions under subsection 528.1(1) that are federal financial institutions.
The Superintendent may, by order, increase the limit in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) that would otherwise apply to a company on transactions by the company with related parties that are financial institutions that are regulated in a manner acceptable to the Superintendent.
Despite subsection 527(3), a company shall not, without the approval of the Superintendent and its conduct review committee, directly or indirectly acquire assets from a related party of the company with whom the company may enter into transactions under subsection 528.1(1) that is not a federal financial institution, or directly or indirectly transfer assets to such a related party if A + B > C where A is the value of the assets; B is the total value of all assets that the company directly or indirectly acquired from, or directly or indirectly transferred to, that related party in the 12 months ending immediately before the acquisition or transfer, other than assets acquired by or transferred to the company under transactions permitted by section 522; and C is five per cent, or the percentage that may be prescribed, of the total value of the assets of the company, as shown in the last annual statement of the company prepared before the acquisition or transfer.
The approval of the Superintendent under this section is not required if
For the purposes of “A” in subsection (1), the value of the assets is
in the case of assets that are acquired, the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which will be included in the annual statement of the company after the acquisition, the fair market value of the assets; and
in the case of assets that are transferred, the book value of the assets as stated in the last annual statement of the company prepared before the transfer or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which were included in the last annual statement of the company before the transfer, the value of the assets as stated in the annual statement.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the company or any of its subsidiaries has acquired during the period of twelve months referred to in subsection (1) is the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which immediately after the acquisition were included in the annual statement of the company, the fair market value of the assets of the entity at the date of the acquisition.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the company or any of its subsidiaries has transferred during the period of twelve months referred to in subsection (1) is the book value of the assets as stated in the last annual statement of the company prepared before the transfer or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which were included in the last annual statement of the company before the transfer, the value of the assets of the entity as stated in the annual statement.
a natural person who is a related party of the company only because the person is
a director or senior officer of the company or of an entity that controls the company, or
the spouse or common-law partner, or a child who is less than eighteen years of age, of a director or senior officer of the company or of an entity that controls the company; or
an entity that is a related party of the company only because the entity is controlled by
a director or senior officer of the company or of an entity that controls the company, or
the spouse or common-law partner, or a child who is less than eighteen years of age, of a director or senior officer referred to in subparagraph (i).
A company may, with respect to a related party of the company referred to in subsection (1) who is a full-time senior officer of the company, make, take an assignment of or otherwise acquire a loan to the related party only if the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding loans to the related party that are held by the company and its subsidiaries, together with the principal amount of the proposed loan, does not exceed the greater of twice the annual salary of the related party and $100,000.
Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of
loans referred to in paragraph 525(b), and
margin loans referred to in section 531,
and the amount of any such loans to a related party of a company shall not be included in determining, for the purposes of subsection (2), the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding loans made by the company to the related party.
Notwithstanding section 534, a company may make a loan, other than a margin loan, to a senior officer of the company on terms and conditions more favourable to the officer than market terms and conditions, as defined in subsection 534(2), if the terms and conditions of the loan have been approved by the conduct review committee of the company.
Notwithstanding section 534, a company may make a loan referred to in paragraph 525(b) to the spouse or common-law partner of a senior officer of the company on terms and conditions more favourable than market terms and conditions, as defined in subsection 534(2), if the terms and conditions of the loan have been approved by the conduct review committee of the company.
Notwithstanding section 534, a company may offer financial services, other than loans or guarantees, to a senior officer of the company, or to the spouse or common-law partner, or a child who is less than eighteen years of age, of a senior officer of the company, on terms and conditions more favourable than market terms and conditions, as defined in subsection 534(2), if
the financial services are offered by the company to employees of the company on those favourable terms and conditions; and
the conduct review committee of the company has approved the practice of making those financial services available on those favourable terms and conditions to senior officers of the company or to the spouses or common-law partners, or the children under eighteen years of age, of senior officers of the company.
Except with the concurrence of at least two thirds of the directors present at a meeting of the board of directors of the company, a company shall not, with respect to a related party of the company referred to in subsection 529(1),
make, take an assignment of or otherwise acquire a loan to the related party, including a margin loan referred to in section 531,
make a guarantee on behalf of the related party, or
make an investment in the securities of the related party
if, immediately following the transaction, the aggregate of
the principal amount of all outstanding loans to the related party that are held by the company and its subsidiaries, other than
loans referred to in paragraph 525(b), and
if the related party is a full-time senior officer of the company, loans to the related party that are permitted by subsection 529(2),
the sum of all outstanding amounts guaranteed by the company and its subsidiaries on behalf of the related party, and
where the related party is an entity, the book value of all investments by the company and its subsidiaries in the securities of the entity
would exceed 2 per cent of the regulatory capital of the company.
A company shall not, with respect to a related party of the company referred to in subsection 529(1),
make, take an assignment of or otherwise acquire a loan to the related party, including a margin loan referred to in section 531,
make a guarantee on behalf of the related party, or
make an investment in the securities of the related party
if, immediately following the transaction, the aggregate of
the principal amount of all outstanding loans to all related parties of the company referred to in subsection 529(1) that are held by the company and its subsidiaries, other than
loans referred to in section 525, and
loans permitted by subsection 529(2),
the sum of all outstanding amounts guaranteed by the company and its subsidiaries on behalf of all related parties of the company referred to in subsection 529(1), and
the book value of all investments by the company and its subsidiaries in the securities of all entities that are related parties of the company referred to in subsection 529(1)
would exceed 50 per cent of the regulatory capital of the company.
The Superintendent may establish terms and conditions with respect to the making by a company of margin loans to a director or senior officer of the company.
A company may enter into a transaction with a related party of the company if the Superintendent, by order, has exempted the transaction from the provisions of section 521.
The Superintendent shall not make an order referred to in subsection (1) unless the Superintendent is satisfied that the decision of the company to enter into the transaction has not been and is not likely to be influenced in any significant way by a related party of the company and does not involve in any significant way the interests of a related party of the company.
A company may enter into a transaction with a related party of the company if the transaction is a prescribed transaction or one of a class of prescribed transactions.
Restrictions on Permitted Transactions
For the purposes of subsection (1), market terms and conditions means
in respect of a service or a loan facility offered to the public by the company in the ordinary course of business, terms and conditions that are no more or less favourable than those offered to the public by the company in the ordinary course of business; and
in respect of any other transaction,
terms and conditions, including those relating to price, rent or interest rate, that might reasonably be expected to apply in a similar transaction in an open market under conditions requisite to a fair transaction between parties who are at arm’s length and who are acting prudently, knowledgeably and willingly, or
if the transaction is one that would not reasonably be expected to occur in an open market between parties who are at arm’s length, terms and conditions, including those relating to price, rent or interest rate, that would reasonably be expected to provide the company with fair value, having regard to all the circumstances of the transaction, and that would be consistent with the parties to the transaction acting prudently, knowledgeably and willingly.
[Repealed]
Disclosure
Where, in respect of any proposed transaction permitted by this Part, other than those referred to in section 522, a company has reason to believe that the other party to the transaction is a related party of the company, the company shall take all reasonable steps to obtain from the other party full disclosure, in writing, of any interest or relationship, direct or indirect, that would make the other party a related party of the company.
A company and any person who is a director or an officer, employee or agent of the company may rely on any information contained in any disclosure received by the company pursuant to subsection (1) or any information otherwise acquired in respect of any matter that might be the subject of such a disclosure and no action lies against the company or any such person for anything done or omitted in good faith in reliance on any such information.
If a company has entered into a transaction that the company is prohibited by this Part from entering into, or a company has entered into a transaction for which approval is required under subsection 530(1) without having obtained the approval, the company shall, on becoming aware of that fact, notify the Superintendent without delay.
Remedial Actions
If a company enters into a transaction that it is prohibited from entering into by this Part, the company or the Superintendent may apply to a court for an order setting aside the transaction or for any other appropriate remedy, including an order directing that the related party of the company involved in the transaction account to the company for any profit or gain realized or that any director or senior officer of the company who authorized the transaction compensate the company for any loss or damage incurred by the company.
An application under subsection (1) in respect of a particular transaction may only be made within the period of three months following the day the notice referred to in section 538 in respect of the transaction is given to the Superintendent or, if no such notice is given, the day the Superintendent becomes aware of the transaction.
For the purposes of subsection (2), a document purporting to have been issued by the Superintendent, certifying the day on which the Superintendent became aware of the transaction, shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be received in evidence as conclusive proof of that fact without proof of the signature or of the official character of the person appearing to have signed the document and without further proof.
Fraternal Benefit Societies
Interpretation
In this Part,
by-law includes the incorporating instrument of a society; (règlement administratif)
permitted entity means an entity in which a society is permitted to acquire a substantial investment under section 554; (entité admissible)
subordinate branch means a division of a society as described in the by-laws of the society; (succursale secondaire)
supreme governing body means a board of directors or any other group within a society having ultimate authority for managing the business and affairs of the society. (conseil supérieur de direction)
For the purpose of section 554, a member of a society’s group is any of the following:
a subsidiary of the society;
an entity in which the society has a substantial investment; or
a prescribed entity in relation to the society.
Words and expressions that are defined for the purposes of Part IX and referred to in this Part, other than “permitted entity”, have, for the purposes of this Part, the meanings assigned to them by that Part with any modifications that the circumstances require.
Powers
No by-law of a society shall empower or purport to empower any subordinate branch of the society to grant sickness benefits to any member of the branch unless the by-law makes adequate provision to secure on an actuarial basis the solvency of the sick benefit fund of the branch.
Except as otherwise permitted by this Act, a society shall not carry on a business that does not relate to the business of the insuring of risks in respect of its members or the spouses, common-law partners or children of its members.
A society may
with the consent of the Minister, engage in activities that are reasonably ancillary to the society’s insurance business;
engage in fraternal, benevolent or religious activities;
hold, manage and otherwise deal with real property;
act as an agent for a person, or enter into any other arrangement with a person, in respect of the provision of a service by
a financial institution that is primarily engaged in an insurance business, or
a body corporate in which a society is permitted by section 554 to have a substantial investment; and
refer persons to a financial institution or body corporate described in paragraph (d).
A society shall not carry on the business of insuring risks unless it is authorized to do so by a by-law of the society passed on the recommendation of the society’s actuary and approved by the Superintendent.
A society shall not insure a risk that is not within a class of insurance that is specified in the order of the Superintendent approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the society. The classes that may be specified in that order are the class of life insurance, the class of accident and sickness insurance or both of those classes.
A society shall not engage in Canada in any financial leasing of personal property.
A society shall maintain a separate account in respect of each class of insurance in which it is authorized to insure risks.
A society’s actuary shall certify whether the society’s rates of benefit are reasonable, and whether the amounts of insurance to be issued by the society are reasonable, having regard to
the conditions and circumstances for the issuance of policies by the society;
the sufficiency of the rates of contribution to provide for those benefits and those amounts of insurance; and
the reasonableness of the loan values, cash values and other equities that may be provided under the policies.
Only a society that is authorized to insure risks within the class of life insurance may
issue policies where the liabilities of the society in respect of the policies vary in amount depending on the market value of a fund consisting of a specified group of assets; or
accept or retain, on the direction of a policyholder or beneficiary, policy dividends or bonuses or policy proceeds that are payable on the surrender or maturity of the policy or on the death of the person whose life is insured, where the liabilities of the society in respect of the amounts accepted or retained vary in amount depending on the market value of a fund consisting of a specified group of assets.
A society that issues policies described in paragraph (1)(a) or accepts or retains amounts described in paragraph (1)(b) shall
maintain separate accounts in respect of those policies or amounts; and
establish and maintain one or more funds consisting of assets that are segregated from the other assets of the society and that are specified as the assets on the market value of which the liabilities of the society in respect of those policies or amounts depend.
For the purpose of establishing or maintaining a segregated fund required by subsection (2), a society may, subject to the regulations, transfer an amount to the separate account maintained in respect of the segregated fund.
A society may return the current value of an amount transferred under subsection (3) to the account from which the amount was transferred.
A claim against a segregated fund maintained under subsection (2) under a policy, or for an amount in respect of which the fund is maintained, has priority over any other claim against the assets of that fund, including the claims referred to in section 161 of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act, except to the extent that the payment of that other claim is secured by a security interest in or on a specific, identifiable asset of the segregated fund.
The liability of a society under a policy or for an amount in respect of which a segregated fund is maintained under subsection (2) does not, except to the extent that the assets of the fund are insufficient to satisfy a claim for any minimum amount that the society agrees to pay under the policy or in respect of the amount, give rise to a claim against any assets of the society, other than the assets of that fund.
To the extent that the assets of the fund are insufficient to satisfy the liability of a society under a policy or for an amount in respect of which a segregated fund is maintained under subsection (2), that liability gives rise to a claim against the assets of the society, other than the assets of that fund, and that claim has the priority referred to in subsection 161(2) of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act.
The Governor in Council may make regulations limiting the extent to which a society may cause itself to be reinsured against risks undertaken under its policies.
A regulation made under subsection (1) may provide that the Superintendent may, by order, determine the matters or exercise the discretion that the regulation specifies.
A society may issue annuities or policies of endowment insurance only if it is authorized to insure risks within the class of life insurance.
A society shall not make a loan in Canada on the security of residential property in Canada for the purpose of purchasing, renovating or improving the property, if the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, would exceed 80 per cent of the value of the property at the time of the loan.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of
a loan made or guaranteed under the National Housing Act or any other Act of Parliament by or under which a different limit on the value of property on the security of which the society may make a loan is established;
a loan if repayment of the amount of the loan that exceeds the maximum amount set out in subsection (1) is guaranteed or insured by a government agency or private insurer approved by the Superintendent;
the acquisition by the society from an entity of securities issued or guaranteed by the entity that are secured on any residential property, whether in favour of a trustee or otherwise, or the making of a loan by the society to the entity against the issue of those securities; or
a loan secured by a mortgage where
the mortgage is taken back by the society on a property disposed of by the society, including where the disposition is by way of the realization of a security interest, and
the mortgage secures payment of an amount payable to the society for the property.
Subject to any regulations made under subsection (2), a society that has obtained insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made in Canada on the security of residential property shall not charge a borrower an amount for the insurance or guarantee that exceeds the actual cost to the society of the insurance or guarantee.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the determination of the actual cost to a society for the purposes of subsection (1);
respecting the circumstances in which a society is exempt from the application of subsection (1);
respecting, in relation to insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made by a society in Canada on the security of residential property,
the arrangements into which the society, its representatives and its employees may or may not enter, and
the payments or benefits that the society, its representatives and its employees may or may not accept from an insurer or the insurer’s affiliates; and
respecting any other matters necessary to carry out the purposes of subsection (1).
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the disclosure by a society of information relating to insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made by the society in Canada on the security of residential property, including regulations respecting
the information that must be disclosed, including information relating to
the person who benefits from the insurance or guarantee,
the arrangements between the society, its representatives or its employees and the insurer or the insurer’s affiliates, and
the payments and benefits that the society, its representatives and its employees accept from an insurer or the insurer’s affiliates;
the time and place at which, the form and manner in which and the persons to whom information is to be disclosed; and
the circumstances under which a society is not required to disclose information.
The directors of a society shall establish and the society shall adhere to policies regarding the creation of security interests in property of the society to secure obligations of the society and the acquisition by the society of beneficial interests in property that is subject to security interests.
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a society to amend its policies as specified in the order.
A society shall comply with an order made under subsection (2) within the time specified in the order.
The Governor in Council may make regulations and the Superintendent may make guidelines respecting the creation by a society of security interests in its property to secure obligations of the society and the acquisition by the society of beneficial interests in property that is subject to security interests.
A society shall not grant to a person the right to appoint a receiver or a receiver and manager of the property or business of the society.
Except with the approval of the Superintendent, a society may not be a general partner in a limited partnership or a partner in any partnership other than a limited partnership.
A society shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, enter into any debt obligation, within the meaning assigned to that expression by the regulations, or permit its prescribed subsidiaries to issue any share, other than a common share, if as a result the aggregate of the total debt obligations of the society, determined in the prescribed manner, and the stated capital of the society would exceed the prescribed percentage of the total assets of the society.
A society need not include in the aggregate amount calculated for the purpose of subsection (1) the value of any debt obligation or the stated capital of any shares if the value of the debt obligation or the stated capital of the shares is included as part of the regulatory capital of the society.
A society shall not guarantee on behalf of any person the payment or repayment of any sum of money unless
the sum of money is a fixed sum of money with or without interest on it; and
the person on whose behalf the society has undertaken to guarantee the payment or repayment has an unqualified obligation to reimburse the society for the full amount of the payment or repayment to be guaranteed.
Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply where the person on whose behalf the society has undertaken to guarantee a payment or repayment is a subsidiary of the society.
The Governor in Council may make regulations imposing terms and conditions in respect of guarantees permitted by this section.
A society shall not make a loan to a natural person if the loan would be repayable in Canada and the terms would prohibit prepayment of the money advanced or any instalment of that money before its due date.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a loan
that is secured by a mortgage on real property; or
that is made for business purposes and the principal amount of which is more than $100,000 or such other amount as may be prescribed.
Corporate Governance
A majority of the members of the supreme governing body of every society shall at the time of their election or appointment be individuals who are resident in Canada.
A society shall at all times have a head office in the province specified in its incorporating instrument or by-laws.
Despite anything contained in its incorporating instrument, any society may, by by-law passed and approved by the votes of at least two thirds of the members entitled to vote by the by-laws of the society who are present or represented at a special meeting duly called for considering the by-law, change the head office of the society from one province to another.
The supreme governing body of a society may, by resolution passed and approved by at least two thirds of the votes cast at a meeting, change the address of the head office within the province specified in the society’s by-laws.
If there is a change of address of the head office of a society, the society shall send a notice of the change to the Superintendent within fifteen days after the change.
A society shall establish by by-law the maximum period of time within which meetings of the society shall be held.
Despite anything contained in its incorporating instrument, a society may, by by-law passed and approved by the votes of at least two thirds of the members entitled to vote by the by-laws of the society who are present or represented at a special meeting duly called for considering the by-law, change the name of the society.
A by-law referred to in subsection (1) is not effective until the Superintendent approves it.
A member who is entitled to vote by by-law of a society may, if the by-laws of the society so provide, by executing an instrument of proxy, appoint a proxyholder or one or more alternate proxyholders, who are not required to be members of the society, to attend and act at the meeting in the manner and to the extent authorized by the proxy and with the authority conferred by the proxy.
An instrument of proxy is not valid at a meeting of a society unless it is filed with the secretary of the society at least ten days before the date of the meeting and it may be revoked at any time.
A society for which an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business of life insurance has been made under this Act that has members who are entitled to vote at meetings of the society shall advise each of those members at least once a year by means of a statement printed in prominent type on a premium notice, premium receipt or dividend notice or otherwise, of the rights of the member to attend and to vote in person or by proxy at those meetings and to obtain a blank instrument of proxy on request therefor in writing to the secretary of the society, but in the case of a member who is not in receipt of a regular annual premium notice from the society, notice of the rights of the member to attend and to vote at meetings of the society may be given only at least once every five years.
Every society for which an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business has been made under this Act shall, not later than June 1 in each year, mail to each member of the society a copy of the valuation balance sheet in the prescribed form and an explanation of the facts concerning the condition of the society or, in lieu thereof, shall publish in its official paper that balance sheet and explanation and mail a copy of the issue of the paper containing the balance sheet and explanation to each of the society’s members.
Divisions XIII and XIV of Part VI apply to societies with such modifications as the circumstances require.
The directors of a former-Act society shall, forthwith after the coming into force of this Part, appoint the actuary of the society.
Unless this Act otherwise provides, the supreme governing body of a society may by resolution make, amend or repeal any by-law that regulates the business or affairs of the society.
Any matter provided for in the incorporating instrument of a former-Act society on the coming into force of this Part that, under this Act, would be provided for in the by-laws of a society is deemed to be provided for in the by-laws of the society.
Within thirty days after a by-law of a society comes into effect or is amended, the society shall send a copy of the by-law or the amendment to the Superintendent. A society shall send to the Superintendent, within six months after the coming into force of this subsection, its by-laws that are in effect on the coming into force of this subsection.
Every society shall, each year before June 30 of that year, provide the Superintendent with a return showing
the name, residence and citizenship of each director of the society;
the mailing address of each director;
the bodies corporate of which each director referred to in paragraph (a) is an officer or director and the firms of which each director is a member;
the names of the directors referred to in paragraph (a) who are officers or employees of the society, and the positions they occupy;
the date of expiration of the term of each director referred to in paragraph (a); and
the name, address and date of appointment of the auditor of the society.
Where
any information relating to a director or auditor of a society shown in the latest return made to the Superintendent under subsection (1), other than information referred to in paragraph (1)(c), becomes inaccurate or incomplete,
a vacancy in the position of auditor of the society occurs or is filled by another person, or
a vacancy on the supreme governing body of the society occurs or is filled,
the society shall forthwith provide the Superintendent with such information as is required to maintain the return in a complete and accurate form.
For greater certainty, subsection 262(3.1) does not apply to societies.
Investments
Application
any interest in real property arising through the holding of a security interest in real property;
any interest in an entity arising through the holding of a security interest in securities of that entity; or
assets of a segregated fund maintained as required by subsection 542.03(2).
General Constraints on Investments
The directors of a society shall establish and the society shall adhere to investment and lending policies, standards and procedures that a reasonable and prudent person would apply in respect of a portfolio of investments and loans to avoid undue risk of loss and obtain a reasonable return.
The aggregate value of all ownership interests in the business growth fund and the entities that the business growth fund controls that a society and its subsidiaries hold must not exceed $200,000,000.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the value of an ownership interest is determined by the amount paid for it at the time of its issuance.
A society may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity other than a permitted entity by way of
an acquisition of shares or ownership interests in the entity by
A society may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity by way of
a temporary investment permitted by section 557;
an acquisition of shares of a body corporate or of ownership interests in an unincorporated entity permitted by section 558; or
a realization of security permitted by section 559.
For greater certainty, a society is prohibited from acquiring control of the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls.
A society is prohibited from holding or acquiring a substantial investment in the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls if the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls holds or acquires shares of, or other ownership interests in, any of the following entities, or in any entity that controls any of the following entities:
an entity that is primarily engaged in the leasing of motor vehicles in Canada for the purpose of extending credit to a customer or financing a customer’s acquisition of a motor vehicle;
an entity that is primarily engaged in providing temporary possession of personal property, including motor vehicles, to customers in Canada for a purpose other than to finance the customer’s acquisition of the property;
an entity that acts as an insurance broker or agent in Canada; or
an entity that is engaged in any prescribed activity.
A society is prohibited from holding or acquiring a substantial investment in the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls if the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls holds shares of, or other ownership interests in, an entity or holds a loan made to an entity and, in respect of that entity and its affiliates, the aggregate value of the following exceeds $100,000,000:
all ownership interests that are held by the society, the society’s subsidiaries, the business growth fund or the entities that the business growth fund controls, the value of those ownership interests as determined by the amount paid for them at the time each was first acquired by any of those entities; and
the outstanding principal of all loans held by the business growth fund or the entities that the business growth fund controls.
A society is deemed not to contravene subsection (1) if the society acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity solely as the result of an event not within the control of the society.
Despite having acquired control of, or a substantial investment in, an entity under a particular provision of this Part, a society may continue to control the entity or hold the substantial investment in the entity as though it had made the acquisition under another provision of this Part so long as the conditions of that other provision are met.
If a society decides to exercise its right under subsection (5), the society is deemed to be acquiring the control or the substantial investment under the other provision.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the loans and investments, and the maximum aggregate amount of all loans and investments, that may be made or acquired by a society and its prescribed subsidiaries to or in a person and any persons connected with that person; and
specifying the classes of persons who are connected with any person for the purposes of paragraph (b).
Subsidiaries and Equity Investments
a company or a society;
an insurance corporation incorporated or formed by or under an Act of the legislature of a province; or
an entity that is incorporated or formed, and regulated, otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province and that is primarily engaged outside Canada in a business that, if carried on in Canada, would be the business of insurance.
acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, entities in which a society is permitted under this Part to hold or acquire;
engaging in the provision of any services exclusively to any or all of the following, so long as the entity is providing those services to the society or any member of the society’s group:
the society,
any member of the society’s group,
any entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services,
any permitted entity in which an entity referred to in subparagraph (iii) has a substantial investment, or
any prescribed person, if it is doing so under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed;
the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by the society or any member of the society’s group, or
if a significant portion of the business of the entity involves an activity referred to in subparagraph (i), the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by any other entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services;
engaging in the activities referred to in the definition closed-end fund, mutual fund distribution entity or mutual fund entity in subsection 490(1); and
engaging in prescribed activities, under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed.
Subject to subsection (3), a society may — under any prescribed terms and conditions — acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, a permitted infrastructure entity.
A society may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity whose business includes any activity referred to in any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (e), or in any regulation made under paragraph 2.2(b), if the entity engages in the business of accepting deposit liabilities or if the activities of the entity include
any financial intermediary activity that exposes the entity to material market or credit risk, including the activities of a finance entity, a factoring entity and a financial leasing entity;
the activities of a specialized financing entity;
dealing in securities, except as may be permitted under paragraph (2)(e) or as may be permitted to a company under paragraph 440(2)(b);
acquiring control of or acquiring or holding a substantial investment in another entity unless
in the case of an entity, other than a permitted infrastructure entity, that is controlled by the society, the society itself would be permitted under this Part to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity,
in the case of a permitted infrastructure entity, whether or not that entity is controlled by the society, the society itself would be permitted to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity under subsection (2.1); or
any prescribed activity.
Despite paragraph (3)(a), a society may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, any entity that acts as a trustee of a trust if the entity has been authorized under the laws of a province to act as a trustee of a trust and the entity is
a closed-end fund;
a mutual fund entity; or
an entity whose business is limited to engaging in one or more of the following:
the activities of a mutual fund distribution entity,
any activity that a company is permitted to engage in under subsection 441(1.1), and
the provision of investment counselling services and portfolio management services.
Subject to subsection (6) and the regulations, a society may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in,
an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (c), unless the society controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity; or
an entity whose business includes an activity referred to in paragraph (2)(b), unless
the society controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or
subject to prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed, the activities of the entity do not include the acquisition or holding of control of, or the acquisition or holding of shares or other ownership interests in, an entity referred to in paragraph (a) or an entity that is not a permitted entity.
Subject to the regulations, a society may not, without the prior written approval of the Minister, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, a permitted entity other than a permitted infrastructure entity or an entity whose activities are limited to acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, permitted infrastructure entities.
A society need not control an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(c), or an entity that is incorporated or formed otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province, if the laws or customary business practices of the country under the laws of which the entity was incorporated or formed do not permit the society to control the entity.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
for the purposes of subsection (4), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which that subsection does not apply or the societies or other entities in respect of which that subsection does not apply, including prescribing societies or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;
for the purposes of subsection (5), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which that subsection does not apply or the societies or other entities in respect of which that subsection does not apply, including prescribing societies or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in; and
for the purposes of subsection (2.1), establishing terms and conditions respecting the acquisition of control of, or the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in, a permitted infrastructure entity by a society.
If a society obtains the approval of the Minister under subsection 554(5) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase, the society indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Minister under subsection 554(5) and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Minister in writing before the approval is obtained, the society is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Minister for that indirect acquisition or increase.
the activities of the entity; and
access to information about the entity.
The Superintendent may enter into an agreement with the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of any entity referred to in paragraph 554(1)(b) or (c) in each province or in any other jurisdiction concerning any matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) or any other matter the Superintendent considers appropriate.
Despite any other provision of this Part, a society shall not control a permitted entity, other than an entity referred to in paragraph 554(1)(a), unless, in the course of the acquisition of control or within a reasonable time after the control is acquired, the society obtains from the permitted entity an undertaking to provide the Superintendent with reasonable access to the records of the permitted entity.
Exceptions and Exclusions
Subject to subsection (4), a society may, by way of a temporary investment, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity but, within two years, or any other period that may be specified or approved by the Superintendent, after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment, as the case may be, it shall do all things necessary to ensure that it no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite subsection (1), if a society that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the society subsequently increases that substantial investment by way of a temporary investment, the society shall, within two years, or any other period that is specified or approved by the Superintendent, after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular society that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period of two years, or the other period specified or approved by the Superintendent, that is referred to in subsection (1) or (2) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
If a society, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Minister would have been required under subsection 554(5) if the society had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 554, the society must, within 90 days after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment,
apply to the Minister for approval to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for a period specified by the Minister or for an indeterminate period on any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate; or
do all things necessary to ensure that, on the expiry of the 90 days, it no longer controls the entity or does not have a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite anything in this Part, if a society or any of its subsidiaries has made a loan to an entity and, under the terms of the agreement between the society, or any of its subsidiaries, and the entity with respect to the loan and any other documents governing the terms of the loan, a default has occurred, the society may acquire
if the entity is a body corporate, all or any of the shares of the body corporate;
if the entity is an unincorporated entity, all or any of the ownership interests in the entity;
all or any of the shares or all or any of the ownership interests in any entity that is an affiliate of the entity; or
all or any of the shares of a body corporate that is primarily engaged in holding shares of, ownership interests in or assets acquired from the entity or any of its affiliates.
If a society acquires shares or ownership interests in an entity under subsection (1), the society shall, within five years after acquiring them, do all things necessary to ensure that the society does not control the entity or have a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite subsection (1), if a society that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the society later increases that substantial investment by way of an investment made under subsection (1), the society shall, within five years after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.
Despite anything in this Part, if a society has made a loan to, or holds a debt obligation of, the government of a foreign country or an entity controlled by the government of a foreign country and, under the terms of the agreement between the society and that government or the entity, as the case may be, and any other documents governing the terms of the loan or debt obligation, a default has occurred, the society may acquire all or any of the shares of, or ownership interests in, that entity or in any other entity designated by that government, if the acquisition is part of a debt restructuring program of that government.
If a society acquires any shares or ownership interests under subsection (5), the society may, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate, hold those shares or ownership interests for an indeterminate period or for any other period that the Superintendent may specify.
If, under subsection (1), a society acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 554, the society may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period, if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3), including any extension of it granted under subsection (4).
Despite anything in this Act, a society may acquire
an investment in a body corporate,
an interest in an unincorporated entity, or
an interest in real property,
if the investment or interest is acquired through the realization of a security interest held by the society or any of its subsidiaries.
If a society acquires control of, or acquires a substantial investment in, an entity by way of the realization of a security interest held by the society or any of its subsidiaries, the society shall, within five years after the day on which control or the substantial investment is acquired, do all things necessary, or cause its subsidiary to do all things necessary, as the case may be, to ensure that the society no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.
Despite subsection (2), if a society that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the society later increases that substantial investment by way of a realization of a security interest under subsection (1), the society shall, within five years after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.
If, under subsection (1), a society acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 554, the society may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3), including any extension of it granted under subsection (4).
Portfolio Limits
The value of all loans, investments and interests acquired by a society and any of its prescribed subsidiaries as a result of a realization of a security interest or pursuant to section 558 shall not be included in calculating the value of loans, investments and interests of the society and its prescribed subsidiaries under sections 562 to 566
for a period of twelve years following the day on which the interest was acquired, in the case of an interest in real property; and
for a period of five years after the day on which the loan, investment or interest was acquired, in the case of a loan, investment or interest, other than an interest in real property.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular society, extend any period referred to in subsection (1) for such further period or periods, and on such terms and conditions, as the Superintendent considers necessary.
Consumer and Commercial Lending by Societies
A society shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
make or acquire a commercial loan or a loan to a natural person, or
acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans or loans to natural persons
where the aggregate value of all such loans held by the society and its prescribed subsidiaries exceeds, or the acquisition or making of the loan or the acquisition of control of the body corporate would cause the aggregate value of all such loans held by the society and its prescribed subsidiaries to exceed, the prescribed percentage of the total assets of the society.
Real Property
A society shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire an interest in real property, or
make an improvement to any real property in which the society or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest
if the aggregate value of all interests of the society in real property exceeds, or the acquisition of the interest or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
For the purposes of this Part, the Governor in Council may make regulations
defining the interests of a society in real property;
determining the method of valuing those interests; and
Equities
A society shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire any participating shares of any body corporate or any ownership interests in any unincorporated entity, other than those of a permitted entity in which the society has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or
acquire control of an entity that holds shares or ownership interests referred to in paragraph (a),
if the aggregate value of
all participating shares, excluding participating shares of permitted entities in which the society has a substantial investment, and
all ownership interests in unincorporated entities, other than ownership interests in permitted entities in which the society has a substantial investment,
beneficially owned by the society and its prescribed subsidiaries exceeds, or the purchase or acquisition would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Aggregate Limit
A society shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire
participating shares of a body corporate, other than those of a permitted entity in which the society has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment,
ownership interests in an unincorporated entity, other than ownership interests in a permitted entity in which the society has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or
interests in real property, or
make an improvement to real property in which the society or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest
if the aggregate value of
all participating shares and ownership interests referred to in subparagraphs (a)(i) and (ii) that are beneficially owned by the society and its prescribed subsidiaries, and
all interests of the society in real property referred to in subparagraph (a)(iii)
exceeds, or the acquisition or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Miscellaneous
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a society to dispose of, within such period as the Superintendent considers reasonable, any loan, investment or interest made or acquired in contravention of this Part.
Where
a society
fails to provide or obtain within a reasonable time the undertakings referred to in section 556, or
is in default of an undertaking referred to in section 556 and the default is not remedied within ninety days after the day of receipt by the society of a notice from the Superintendent of the default, or
a body corporate referred to in section 556 is in default of an undertaking referred to in section 556 and the default is not remedied within ninety days after the day of receipt by the society of a notice from the Superintendent of the default,
the Superintendent may, by order, require the society, within such period as the Superintendent considers reasonable, to do all things necessary to ensure that the society no longer has a substantial investment in the body corporate to which the undertaking relates.
If a society controls or has a substantial investment in an entity as permitted by this Part and the society becomes aware of a change in the business or affairs of the entity that, if the change had taken place before the acquisition of control or of the substantial investment, would have caused the entity not to be a permitted entity or would have been such that approval for the acquisition would have been required under subsection 554(5), the society is deemed to have acquired, on the day the society becomes aware of the change, a temporary investment in respect of which section 557 applies.
A society shall not, and shall not permit its subsidiaries to, without the approval of the Superintendent, acquire assets from a person or transfer assets to a person if A + B > C where A is the value of the assets; B is the total value of all assets that the society and its subsidiaries acquired from or transferred to that person in the twelve months ending immediately before the acquisition or transfer; and C is ten per cent of the total value of the assets of the society, as shown in the last annual statement of the society prepared before the acquisition or transfer.
The Superintendent may, for the purposes of subsection (1), approve a transaction or series of transactions relating to the acquisition or transfer of assets that may be entered into with a person, or with persons of any class of persons, regardless of whether those persons are known at the time of the granting of the approval or not.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of
an asset that is a debt obligation referred to in subparagraphs (b)(i) to (v) of the definition “commercial loan” in subsection 490(1); or
a transaction or series of transactions by a society with another financial institution as a result of the society’s participation in one or more syndicated loans with that financial institution.
The approval of the Superintendent under this section is not required if
the society or its subsidiary acquires shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity for which the approval of the Minister under Part VII or subsection 554(5) is required.
For the purposes of “A” in subsection (1), the value of the assets is
in the case of assets that are acquired, the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which will be included in the annual statement of the society after the acquisition, the fair market value of the assets; and
in the case of assets that are transferred, the value of the assets as reported in the last annual statement of the society prepared before the transfer or, if the value of the assets is not reported in that annual statement, the value of the assets as it would be reported in the annual statement of the society if the annual statement had been prepared, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), immediately before the transfer.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the society or any of its subsidiaries has acquired during the period of twelve months referred to in subsection (1) is the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which immediately after the acquisition were included in the annual statement of the society, the fair market value of the assets of the entity at the date of the acquisition.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the society or any of its subsidiaries has transferred during the 12-month period referred to in subsection (1) is the total of the value of each of those assets as reported in the last annual statement of the society prepared before the transfer of the asset or, if the value of any of those assets is not reported in that annual statement, as it would be reported in the annual statement of the society if the annual statement had been prepared, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), immediately before the transfer of the asset.
Saving
Nothing in this Part requires
the termination of a loan or a commitment to make a loan or investment or to increase a loan or investment, or
the disposal of an investment
made before the coming into force of this Part but, if the loan or investment would be precluded or limited by this Part, the amount of the loan or investment shall not, except as provided in sections 557, 558 and 559, or pursuant to a commitment referred to in paragraph (a), be increased after the coming into force of this Part.
A loan or investment referred to in section 570 is deemed not to be prohibited by the provisions of this Part.
Liquidation and Dissolution of a Society
Interpretation
Application
Duty to Provide Information
A liquidator appointed under this Part to wind up the business of a society shall provide the Superintendent with such information relating to the business and affairs of the society as the Superintendent requires, in such form as the Superintendent requires.
Simple Liquidation
A society that has no property and no liabilities may, if authorized by a special resolution or, if there are no members, by a resolution of the society’s supreme governing body, apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the society.
Where the Minister has received an application under subsection (1) and is satisfied that all the circumstances so warrant, the Minister may issue letters patent dissolving the society.
A society in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (2) is dissolved and ceases to exist on the day stated in the letters patent.
The voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a society, other than a society referred to in subsection 570.04(1),
may be proposed by its supreme governing body; or
may be initiated by way of a proposal made in accordance with the society’s by-laws by a member who is entitled to vote at a meeting of the society’s members at which the proposal may be voted on.
A notice of any meeting of members at which the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a society is to be proposed shall set out the terms of the proposal.
Where the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a society is proposed, the society may apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the society if authorized by a special resolution.
If the Minister is satisfied, on the basis of an application made under section 570.06, that the circumstances warrant the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a society, the Minister may, by order, approve the application.
If the Minister approves an application made under section 570.06 with respect to a society, the society shall not carry on business except to the extent necessary to complete its voluntary liquidation.
If the Minister approves an application made under section 570.06 with respect to a society, the society shall
cause notice of the approval to be sent to each known claimant, except members, against the society and to each known creditor of the society;
publish notice of the approval once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the company transacted any business within the preceding twelve months;
proceed to collect its property, dispose of property that is not to be distributed in kind to its members, discharge or provide for all its obligations and do all other acts required to liquidate its business; and
A society in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (1) is dissolved and ceases to exist on the day stated in the letters patent.
Court-supervised Liquidation
The Superintendent or any interested person may, at any time during the liquidation of a society, apply to a court for an order for the continuance of the voluntary liquidation under the supervision of the court in accordance with this section and sections 570.1 to 570.21. On that application, the court may so order and make any further order it thinks fit.
An application under subsection (1) to a court to supervise a voluntary liquidation shall state the reasons, verified by an affidavit of the applicant, why the court should supervise the liquidation.
Where a person, other than the Superintendent, makes an application under subsection (1), the person shall give the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
If a court makes an order under subsection 570.09(1), the liquidation of the society shall continue under the supervision of the court.
The supervision of the liquidation of a society by the court under an order made under subsection 570.09(1) begins on the day the order is made.
In connection with the liquidation and dissolution of a society, if the court is satisfied that the society is able to pay or adequately provide for the discharge of all its obligations and to make satisfactory arrangements for the protection of its policyholders, the court may make any order it thinks fit, including
an order to liquidate;
an order appointing a liquidator, with or without security, fixing a liquidator’s remuneration and replacing a liquidator;
an order appointing inspectors or referees, specifying their powers, fixing their remuneration and replacing inspectors or referees;
an order determining the notice to be given to any interested person, or dispensing with notice to any person;
an order determining the validity of any claims made against the society;
an order, at any stage of the proceedings, restraining the directors and officers of the society from
exercising any of their powers, or
collecting or receiving any debt or other property of the society, and from paying out or transferring any property of the society, except as permitted by the court;
an order determining and enforcing the duty or liability of any present or former director, officer or member
to the society, or
for an obligation of the society;
an order approving the payment, satisfaction or compromise of claims against the society and the retention of assets for that purpose, and determining the adequacy of provisions for the payment, discharge or transfer of any obligation of the society, whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent;
with the concurrence of the Superintendent, an order providing for the disposal or destruction of the documents, records or registers of the society;
on the application of a creditor, an inspector or the liquidator, an order giving directions on any matter arising in the liquidation;
after notice has been given to all interested parties, an order relieving the liquidator from any omission or default on such terms as the court thinks fit and confirming any act of the liquidator;
an order disposing of any property belonging to creditors, members and incorporators who cannot be found;
on the application of any director, officer, member, incorporator or creditor or the liquidator,
an order staying the liquidation proceedings on such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit,
an order continuing or discontinuing the liquidation proceedings, or
an order to the liquidator to restore to the society all of its remaining property; and
after the liquidator has rendered the liquidator’s final account to the court, an order directing the society to apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the society.
Where a court makes an order for the liquidation of a society,
the society continues in existence but shall cease to carry on business, except the business that is, in the opinion of the liquidator, required for an orderly liquidation; and
the powers of the directors and members, if any, are vested in the liquidator and cease to be vested in the directors or members, except as specifically authorized by the court.
A liquidator may delegate any of the powers vested by paragraph (1)(b) to the directors or members, if any.
When making an order for the liquidation of a society or at any later time, the court may appoint any person, including a director, an officer or a member of the society or any other society, as liquidator of the society.
Where an order for the liquidation of a society has been made and the office of liquidator is or becomes vacant, the property of the society is under the control of the court until the office of liquidator is filled.
A liquidator shall
without delay after appointment, give notice of the appointment to the Superintendent and to each claimant and creditor of the society known to the liquidator;
without delay after appointment, publish notice of the appointment once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the society has transacted any business within the preceding twelve months, requiring
any person indebted to the society to render an account and pay to the liquidator at the time and place specified in the notice any amount owing,
any person possessing property of the society to deliver it to the liquidator at the time and place specified in the notice, and
any person having a claim against the society, whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent, other than a policyholder having an unliquidated claim, to present particulars of the claim in writing to the liquidator not later than sixty days after the first publication of the notice;
take into custody and control the property of the society;
open and maintain a trust account for the money received by the liquidator in the course of the liquidation of the society;
keep accounts of the money received and paid out by the liquidator in the course of the liquidation of the society;
maintain separate lists of each class of creditors, members and other persons having claims against the society;
if at any time the liquidator determines that the society is unable to pay or adequately provide for the discharge of its obligations, apply to the court for directions;
deliver to the court and to the Superintendent, at least once in every twelve-month period after the liquidator’s appointment or more often as the court requires, the society’s financial statements prepared in such manner as the liquidator thinks proper or as the court requires; and
after the final accounts are approved by the court, distribute any remaining property of the society among the members, if any, or incorporators, according to their respective rights.
A liquidator may
retain actuaries, lawyers, notaries, accountants, appraisers and other professional advisers;
bring, defend or take part in any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding in the name of, and on behalf of, the society;
carry on the business of the society as required for an orderly liquidation;
sell by public auction or private sale any property of the society;
do all acts and execute documents in the name of, and on behalf of, the society;
borrow money on the security of the property of the society;
settle or compromise any claims by or against the society; and
do all other things necessary for the liquidation of the society and distribution of its property.
A liquidator is not liable if the liquidator relies in good faith on
financial statements of the society represented to the liquidator by an officer of the society, or on a written report of the auditor of the society, to reflect fairly the financial condition of the society; or
an opinion, report or statement of an actuary, lawyer, notary, accountant, appraiser or other professional adviser retained by the liquidator.
If a liquidator has reason to believe that any property of the society is in the possession or under the control of a person or that a person has concealed, withheld or misappropriated the property, the liquidator may apply to the court for an order requiring that person to appear before the court at the time and place designated in the order and to be examined.
If an examination conducted under subsection (1) discloses that a person has concealed, withheld or misappropriated any property of the society, the court may order that person to restore the property or pay compensation to the liquidator.
A liquidator shall pay the costs of liquidation out of the property of the society and shall pay or make adequate provision for all claims against the society.
Within one year after the appointment of a liquidator and after paying or making adequate provision for all claims against the society, the liquidator shall apply to the court
for approval of the final accounts of the liquidator and for an order permitting the distribution, in money or in kind, of the remaining property of the society to its members, if any, or to the incorporators, according to their respective rights; or
for an extension of time, setting out the reasons for the extension.
If a liquidator fails to make the application required by subsection (1), a member of the society or, if there are no members of the society, an incorporator may apply to the court for an order for the liquidator to show cause why a final accounting and distribution should not be made.
A liquidator who intends to make an application under subsection (1) shall give notice of that intention to the Superintendent, to each inspector appointed under section 570.11, to each member of the society or, if there are no members, to each incorporator and to any person who provided a security or fidelity bond for the liquidation.
The liquidator shall publish the notice required under subsection (3) in the Canada Gazette, and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the society has transacted any business within the preceding twelve months, or as otherwise directed by the court.
If the court approves the final accounts rendered by a liquidator, the court shall make an order
directing the society to apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the society;
directing the custody or disposal of the documents, records and registers of the society; and
discharging the liquidator except in respect of the duty of a liquidator under subsection (2).
The liquidator shall without delay send a certified copy of the order referred to in subsection (1) to the Superintendent.
A member or incorporator may apply to the court for an order requiring the distribution of the remaining property of a society to be in money if, in the course of the liquidation of the society, the members resolve to, or the liquidator proposes to,
exchange all or substantially all of the remaining property of the society for securities of another entity that are to be distributed to the members or to the incorporators; or
distribute all or part of the remaining property of the society to the members or to the incorporators in kind.
On an application under subsection (1), the court may order
all of the remaining property of the society to be converted into and distributed in money; or
the claim of any member or incorporator applying under this section to be satisfied by a distribution in money.
Where an order is made by a court under paragraph (2)(b), the court
shall fix a fair value on the share of the property of the society attributable to the member or incorporator;
may in its discretion appoint one or more appraisers to assist the court in fixing a fair value in accordance with paragraph (a); and
shall render a final order against the society in favour of the member or incorporator for the amount of the share of the property of the society attributable to the member or incorporator.
On an application made under an order under paragraph 570.2(1)(a), the Minister may issue letters patent dissolving the society.
A society in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (1) is dissolved and ceases to exist on the date of the issuance of the letters patent.
General
Even if a society has been dissolved under this Part,
a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding brought by or against the society before its dissolution may be continued as if the society had not been dissolved;
a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding may be brought against the society within two years after its dissolution as if the society had not been dissolved; and
any property that would have been available to satisfy any judgment or order if the society had not been dissolved remains available for that purpose.
Service of a document on a society after its dissolution may be effected by serving the document on a person shown as a director in the incorporating instrument of the society or, if applicable, in the latest return sent to the Superintendent under subsection 549(1).
Even if a society has been dissolved, a member or incorporator to whom any of its property has been distributed is liable to any person claiming under subsection 570.24(1), to the extent of the amount received by that member or incorporator on the distribution.
An action to enforce liability under subsection (1) may not be commenced more than two years after the date of the dissolution of the society.
If the plaintiff establishes a claim in an action under subsection (3), the court may refer the proceedings to a referee or other officer of the court who may
add as a party to the proceedings each person found by the plaintiff to have been a member or incorporator;
determine, subject to subsection (1), the amount that each person who was a member or incorporator must contribute towards satisfaction of the plaintiff’s claim; and
direct payment of the amounts so determined.
If a creditor, member or incorporator to whom property is to be distributed on the dissolution of a society cannot be found, the portion of the property to be distributed to that creditor, member or incorporator shall be converted into money and paid in accordance with section 570.28.
Where the business of a society is being wound up under this Part, the liquidator or the society shall pay to the Minister on demand, and in any event before the final winding-up of that business, any amount that is payable by the liquidator or the society to a creditor, member or incorporator of the society and that has not, for any reason, been paid.
If a liquidator or a society makes a payment to the Minister under subsection (1) with respect to a creditor, member or incorporator, the liquidator or society shall at the same time forward to the Minister all documents, records and registers in the possession of the liquidator or society that relate to the entitlement of the creditor, member or incorporator.
The Minister shall pay to the Receiver General all amounts paid to the Minister under subsection (1).
Payment by a liquidator or a society to the Minister under subsection (1) discharges the liquidator and the society in respect of which the payment is made from all liability for the amount so paid, and payment by the Minister to the Receiver General under subsection (3) discharges the Minister from all liability for the amount so paid.
If at any time a person establishes an entitlement to any money paid to the Receiver General under this Part, the Receiver General shall pay an equivalent amount to that person out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
A person who has been granted custody of the documents, records and registers of a dissolved society shall keep them available for production for six years after the date of the dissolution of the society or until the end of such shorter period as may be ordered by the court when it orders the dissolution.
Foreign Companies
Interpretation
In this Part,
association means an association of persons formed in a foreign country on the plan known as Lloyd’s, whereby each member of the association participating in a policy becomes liable for a stated, limited or proportionate part of the whole amount payable under the policy; (association)
chief agency means the principal office of a foreign company in Canada; (agence principale)
exchange means a group of persons formed in a foreign country for the purpose of exchanging reciprocal contracts of indemnity or inter-insurance with each other through the same attorney, where the principal office of the exchange is in a foreign country; (groupe d’échange)
foreign entity means an entity incorporated or formed by or under the laws of a country other than Canada, and includes an association and an exchange; (entité étrangère)
foreign fraternal benefit society means a fraternal benefit society incorporated outside Canada; (société de secours étrangère)
foreign life company means a foreign company that is authorized to insure risks that fall within the class of life insurance; (société d’assurance-vie étrangère)
foreign marine company means a foreign company that is authorized to solely insure risks within the class of marine insurance; (société d’assurance maritime étrangère)
foreign property and casualty company means a foreign company other than a foreign life company or a foreign marine company. (société d’assurances multirisques étrangère)
fraternal benefit society[Repealed, 1997, c. 15, s. 299]
Application
This Part applies only in respect of the insurance business in Canada of a foreign entity.
Despite section 572, this Part does not apply in respect of the insurance against injury to persons or loss of or damage to property, or liability for such injury, loss or damage, caused by nuclear energy, including ionizing radiation and contamination by radioactive substances, to the extent that, in the opinion of the Superintendent, that insurance is not available within Canada.
Insurance of Risks
A foreign entity shall not insure in Canada a risk unless it is authorized by order made under subsection 574(1).
A foreign company shall not insure in Canada a risk unless the risk falls within a class of insurance that is specified in the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company.
Unless authorized to insure in Canada risks falling within the class of life insurance, a foreign company shall not issue annuities or policies of endowment insurance in Canada.
A certificate of registry issued to a foreign entity under the Foreign Insurance Companies Act or Part VIII of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, or any other authorization, that had not expired or been withdrawn before June 1, 1992 is deemed to be an order made under subsection 574(1) and the foreign entity remains subject to any and all other conditions and limitations contained in the certificate or other authorization.
A class of insurance specified in a certificate of registry or other authorization referred to in subsection (4) is deemed to be specified in an order of the Superintendent approving the insuring in Canada of risks by the foreign company.
On application by a foreign entity, the Superintendent may, with the approval of the Minister but subject to the other provisions of this Part, make an order approving the insuring in Canada of risks by the foreign entity.
If the application is made by a foreign entity that is not controlled by a WTO Member resident, the Minister shall not approve the making of an order under subsection (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that treatment as favourable for companies to which this Act applies exists or will be provided in the jurisdiction in which the foreign entity principally carries on business, either directly or through a subsidiary.
A foreign company shall establish and adhere to policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security in relation to its business in Canada.
An order made under subsection 574(1) may not provide for the use of a name that
is prohibited by an Act of Parliament;
is, in the opinion of the Superintendent, deceptively misdescriptive;
is the same as or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, substantially the same as or confusingly similar to, any existing trademark, trade name or corporate name of a body corporate, except where
the trademark or trade name is being changed or the body corporate is being dissolved or is changing its corporate name, and
consent to the use of the trademark, trade name or corporate name is signified to the Superintendent in any manner that the Superintendent may require;
is the same as or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, substantially the same as or confusingly similar to, the known name under or by which any entity carries on business or is identified; or
is reserved under section 45 for a company or society or proposed company or society.
If the Superintendent does not make an order for one of the reasons specified in subsection (1), he or she must, by a notice in writing to that effect, give the foreign entity and any other interested party an opportunity to make representations.
On the application of a foreign company, the Superintendent may, subject to subsection 575(1), by further order, change the name under which a foreign company insures risks.
[Repealed]
Where a foreign company has been directed under subsection (1) to change the name under which it insures risks and has not, within sixty days after the service of the direction, changed that name to a name that is not prohibited by this Part, the Superintendent may revoke the name under which the foreign company insures risks and assign to it a name and, until changed in accordance with subsection 576(1), the name under which the foreign company is to insure risks is thereafter the name so assigned.
The name under which a foreign company is authorized to insure risks, as set out in the order made under subsection 574(1), may be in an English form, a French form, an English form and a French form, a combined English and French form or a form combining words in a language other than English or French with one of the forms specified in this subsection.
If a foreign company carries on its insurance business in Canada under a name other than a name set out in the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company, the Superintendent may direct the foreign company not to use that other name if the Superintendent is of the opinion that the other name is a name referred to in any of paragraphs 575(1)(a) to (e).
A foreign company shall set out, or cause to be set out, its name and, if different, the name under which it is authorized to insure risks, in legible characters in all contracts, premium notices, applications for policies, policies, negotiable instruments and other documents evidencing rights and obligations with respect to other parties that are issued or made by or on behalf of the foreign company.
A foreign company shall set out or cause to be set out in legible characters in all premium notices, applications for policies and policies that are issued or made by or on behalf of the foreign company a statement that the document was issued or made in the course of its insurance business in Canada.
An application for an order under subsection 574(1) must be filed with the Superintendent, together with the information, material and evidence that the Superintendent may require, including
documents relating to the constitution of the foreign entity;
a power of attorney to the chief agent appointed under subsection (3), in the form that the Superintendent may require;
a statement, in the form that the Superintendent may require, of the financial condition of the foreign entity and of the business of insurance undertaken by the foreign entity, and any additional statements or information that the Superintendent may require as to its solvency and its ability to meet all of its obligations;
evidence satisfactory to the Superintendent that the foreign entity is authorized under the laws of the country where it is incorporated or formed to insure risks within each class of insurance in Canada that that foreign entity has applied to insure;
in the case of a foreign fraternal benefit society,
a report of an actuary appointed by the foreign fraternal benefit society, in the form that the Superintendent may require, on the results of an actuarial valuation made by the actuary, as of the preceding December 31 or as of any later date specified by the Superintendent, of each of the benefit funds maintained by the foreign fraternal benefit society, having regard to the prospective liabilities of and contributions to each fund, and
the opinion of the actuary that the assets of the foreign fraternal benefit society applicable to each fund, taken at the value accepted by the Superintendent, together with the premiums, dues and other contributions to be received after the date of the valuation from the members according to the scale in force at the date of the valuation, are sufficient to provide for the payment at maturity of all of the obligations of the fund without deduction or abatement; and
a copy of the resolution respecting the investment and lending policies, standards and procedures that the foreign entity is to establish and adhere to in accordance with subsection 615(1).
A power of attorney referred to in paragraph (1)(b) must expressly authorize the chief agent to receive all notices under the laws of Canada from the Minister or the Superintendent.
A foreign company shall appoint a natural person who is ordinarily resident in Canada to be its chief agent for the purposes of this Part.
Before filing an application referred to in subsection 579(1), a foreign entity must, at least once a week for four consecutive weeks, publish, in a form satisfactory to the Superintendent, a notice of intention to make the application in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where its chief agency is to be situated if it is granted an order under subsection 574(1).
The Superintendent shall not make an order under subsection 574(1) in respect of a foreign entity until it has been shown to the satisfaction of the Superintendent that all relevant requirements of this Act have been complied with and that the foreign entity has
vested in trust assets of at least five million dollars or any greater amount that the Superintendent specifies;
established its chief agency.
The order may contain any conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act and that the Superintendent considers appropriate.
The assets of a foreign entity to be vested in trust under paragraph 581(1)(a) are to consist of unencumbered securities of or guaranteed by Canada or a province.
Those assets may also consist of other securities at the accepted value and on the conditions established by the Superintendent.
An order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of a foreign company must set out
the name of the foreign company and, if different, the name under which it is authorized to insure risks;
the day on which the order becomes effective;
the classes of insurance risks that the foreign company is authorized to insure; and
the conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act that are considered appropriate by the Superintendent.
On the making of an order under subsection 574(1) in respect of a foreign company, the foreign company must publish a notice of the making of the order in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where its chief agency is located.
The Superintendent shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette a notice of the making of the order referred to in subsection (1).
Unless the regulations provide otherwise, the Superintendent shall cause to be published quarterly in the Canada Gazette a list of
foreign companies;
the classes of insurance specified in the orders of the Superintendent approving the insurance of risks by them;
their chief agents; and
the province in which their chief agencies are situated.
In respect of an order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of a foreign company, the Superintendent may at any time, by further order,
specify additional classes of insurance risks that the foreign company is authorized to insure;
make the order subject to conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act and that are considered appropriate by the Superintendent; or
amend or revoke any authorization contained in the order or any condition or limitation to which the order is subject.
Before making any such further order, the Superintendent must give the foreign company an opportunity to make representations regarding that further order.
[Repealed]
A foreign company that changes its chief agent shall, without delay after doing so, file with the Superintendent a further power of attorney appointing the new chief agent.
A foreign company that changes the address of its chief agency shall, within 15 days after doing so, send a notice of the change of address to the Superintendent.
Except in accordance with this section or an order made under subsection 678.6(1), a foreign company shall not cause itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against all or any portion of the risks undertaken under its policies.
A foreign company may, with the approval of the Superintendent, cause itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against all or any portion of the risks undertaken under its policies, by one or more of the following entities:
a company or society;
another foreign company that, in Canada, reinsures those risks; or
a body corporate incorporated or formed by or under the laws of a province, if the Superintendent has entered into satisfactory arrangements concerning the reinsurance with either or both of the body corporate and the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of the body corporate.
The approval of the Superintendent is not required for a prescribed transaction or a transaction in a prescribed class of transactions.
The foreign company must, at least 30 days before it applies for the Superintendent’s approval, publish a notice in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where its chief agency is situated stating the day on or after which it will apply.
If a foreign company publishes a notice referred to in subsection (4), the Superintendent may direct the foreign company to provide its policyholders with any information that the Superintendent may require.
An application for approval must, if the Superintendent so requires, be accompanied by the report of an independent actuary on the proposed reinsurance agreement.
If a foreign company publishes a notice referred to in subsection (4), it must make the agreement for the transaction that the Superintendent is asked to approve available at its chief agency for the inspection of its policyholders for at least 30 days after the publication of the notice and must provide a copy of the agreement to any policyholder who requests one by writing to the chief agency.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the circumstances in which foreign companies are deemed to be causing themselves to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against risks undertaken under their policies.
A transaction referred to in subsection 587.1(2) has no effect until it has been approved by the Superintendent.
A foreign company proposing to transfer all or substantially all of its policies must give notice of the proposal to the Superintendent.
After receiving the notice, the Superintendent may direct the foreign company to provide its policyholders with any information that the Superintendent may require.
Classes of Insurance
A foreign company may reinsure, but shall not otherwise insure, a risk falling within a class of insurance specified in the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company if the order limits the foreign company to the reinsurance of those risks.
A condition that limits a foreign company to the reinsurance of risks falling within a class of insurance and that is contained in a certificate of registry issued under the Foreign Insurance Companies Act or under Part VIII of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, or in any other authorization, that had not expired or been withdrawn before June 1, 1992 is deemed to be a condition in an order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company.
The Superintendent may not make or vary an order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of a foreign company if the foreign company would as a result be permitted to insure both risks falling within the class of life insurance and risks falling within any other class of insurance other than accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance.
Despite section 589, subsections 573(4) and 588(2) permit a foreign company to which was issued under the Foreign Insurance Companies Act or Part VIII of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act a certificate of registry or other authorization specifying both risks falling within the class of life insurance and risks falling within some other class of insurance, other than accident and sickness insurance, accident insurance, personal accident insurance and sickness insurance, to insure those risks.
A foreign company referred to in subsection (1) shall maintain an account and funds in respect of the insurance of risks falling within the classes of life insurance and accident and sickness insurance, accident insurance, personal accident insurance and sickness insurance separately from those maintained in respect of the insurance of risks falling within any other class of insurance.
Every foreign company that is insuring risks that fall within a class of insurance shall become and remain a member of any compensation association designated by order of the Minister for that class of insurance.
A compensation association shall not be designated under subsection (1) unless, in the opinion of the Minister, it has the authority to levy an assessment on each of its members of not less than eighty-five one hundredths of one per cent of the member’s average annual premium income from policies that are eligible for compensation from the association.
Subsection (1) does not apply
to a foreign company that may reinsure but may not otherwise insure risks;
in respect of a class of insurance that, in the opinion of the Minister, is adequately covered by some other compensation plan for that class of insurance;
in respect of the insuring in Canada of risks against the loss of, or damage to, property caused by fire, by lightning, by an explosion due to ignition, by smoke or by breakage of or leakage from a sprinkler, from other fire protection equipment or from another fire protection system by a foreign company that is a member of the Fire Mutuals Guarantee Fund; or
to a foreign company that is a foreign fraternal benefit society or an exchange.
Segregated Funds
Unless authorized to insure risks that fall within the class of life insurance, a foreign company shall not
insure risks under policies, or
accept or retain on the direction of a policyholder or beneficiary policy dividends or bonuses, or policy proceeds that are payable on the surrender or maturity of the policy or on the death of the person whose life is insured,
where the liabilities of the foreign company in respect of the policies or the amounts accepted or retained vary in amount depending on the market value of a fund consisting of a specified group of assets.
A foreign company that issues policies described in section 592 or accepts or retains amounts so described shall, in respect of those policies or amounts,
maintain separate accounts; and
establish and maintain one or more funds consisting of assets in Canada that are segregated from the other assets in Canada of the foreign company and that are specified as the assets on the market value of which the liabilities of the foreign company in respect of those policies or amounts depend.
A claim against a segregated fund maintained as required by section 593 under a policy or for an amount in respect of which the fund is maintained has priority over any other claim against the assets of that fund, including the claims referred to in section 161 of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act, except to the extent that the payment of that other claim is secured by a security interest in or on a specific, identifiable asset of the segregated fund.
The liability of a foreign company under a policy or for an amount in respect of which a segregated fund is maintained pursuant to section 593
does not, except to the extent that the assets of the fund are insufficient to satisfy a claim for any minimum amount that the foreign company agrees to pay under the policy or in respect of the amount, give rise to a claim against any assets in Canada of the foreign company, other than the assets of that fund,
but
to the extent that the assets of the fund are insufficient to satisfy such a claim, gives rise to a claim against the assets in Canada of the foreign company, other than the assets of that fund, that has the priority referred to in subsection 161(2) of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act.
Reinsurance
The Governor in Council may make regulations limiting the extent to which foreign companies may cause themselves to be reinsured against risks undertaken under their policies.
A regulation made pursuant to subsection (1) may provide that the Superintendent may, by order, determine the matters or exercise the discretion that the regulation may specify.
Except with the approval of the Superintendent, a foreign company may cause itself to be reinsured, in respect of risks undertaken under its policies, by a related party of the foreign company only if the related party is
a company; or
a foreign company that, in Canada, reinsures those risks.
For the purposes of this section, related party, in relation to a foreign company, means a related party within the meaning of Part XI, with such modifications as the circumstances require.
Borrowing Costs
the interest or discount applicable to the loan or advance;
any amount charged in connection with the loan or advance that is payable by the borrower to the foreign company; and
any charge prescribed to be included in the cost of borrowing.
For those purposes, however, cost of borrowing does not include any charge prescribed to be excluded from the cost of borrowing.
Where a foreign company makes a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 599 apply, and the loan is not secured by a mortgage on real property and is required to be repaid either on a fixed future date or by instalments, the foreign company shall, if there is a prepayment of the loan, rebate to the borrower a portion of the charges included in the cost of borrowing in respect of the loan.
The charges to be rebated do not include the interest or discount applicable to the loan.
The Governor in Council may make regulations governing the rebate of charges under subsection (1). The rebate shall be made in accordance with those regulations.
A foreign company shall not include in its assets in Canada any loan to a natural person that is repayable in Canada unless the cost of borrowing, as calculated and expressed in accordance with section 600, and other prescribed information have been disclosed by the foreign company to the borrower at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a loan that is of a prescribed class of loans.
The cost of borrowing shall be calculated, in the prescribed manner, on the basis that all obligations of the borrower are duly fulfilled and shall be expressed as a rate per annum and, in prescribed circumstances, as an amount in dollars and cents.
Where a foreign company makes a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 599 are applicable and the loan is required to be repaid either on a fixed future date or by instalments, the foreign company shall disclose to the borrower, in accordance with the regulations,
whether the borrower has the right to repay the amount borrowed before the maturity of the loan and, if applicable,
any terms and conditions relating to that right, including the particulars of the circumstances in which the borrower may exercise that right, and
whether, in the event that the borrower exercises the right, any portion of the cost of borrowing is to be rebated, the manner in which any such rebate is to be calculated or, if a charge or penalty will be imposed on the borrower, the manner in which the charge or penalty is to be calculated;
in the event that an amount borrowed is not repaid at maturity or, if applicable, an instalment is not paid on the day the instalment is due to be paid, particulars of the charges or penalties to be paid by the borrower because of the failure to repay or pay in accordance with the contract governing the loan;
at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any changes respecting the cost of borrowing or the loan agreement;
particulars of any other rights and obligations of the borrower; and
any other prescribed information, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
A foreign company shall, in accordance with the regulations, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, provide prescribed information in any application forms or related documents that it prepares for the issuance of credit, payment or charge cards in Canada and provide prescribed information to any person applying to it in Canada for a credit, payment or charge card.
Where a foreign company issues in Canada or has issued in Canada a credit, payment or charge card to a natural person, the foreign company shall, in addition to disclosing the costs of borrowing in respect of any loan that is obtained through the use of the card and that is repayable in Canada, disclose to the person, in accordance with the regulations,
any charges or penalties described in paragraph (1)(b);
particulars of the person’s rights and obligations;
any charges for which the person becomes responsible by accepting or using the card;
at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any prescribed changes respecting the cost of borrowing or the loan agreement; and
any other prescribed information, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
Where a foreign company enters into or has entered into an arrangement, including a line of credit, for the making of a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 599 apply and the loan is not one in respect of which subsection (1) or (3) applies, the foreign company shall, in addition to disclosing the costs of borrowing, disclose to the person, in accordance with the regulations,
any charges or penalties described in paragraph (1)(b);
particulars of the person’s rights and obligations;
any charges for which the person is responsible under the arrangement;
at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any prescribed changes respecting the cost of borrowing or the loan agreement; and
any other prescribed information, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
If a foreign company makes a loan in respect of which the disclosure requirements of section 599 apply and the loan is secured by a mortgage on real property, the foreign company shall disclose to the borrower, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, any information that is prescribed respecting the renewal of the loan.
No person shall authorize the publication, issue or appearance of any advertisement in Canada relating to arrangements referred to in subsection 601(4), loans, credit cards, payment cards or charge cards, offered to natural persons by a foreign company, and purporting to disclose prescribed information about the cost of borrowing or about any other matter unless the advertisement discloses prescribed information at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner.
If regulations have been made respecting the manner in which the cost of borrowing is to be disclosed in respect of an advance on the security or against the cash surrender value of a policy, a foreign company shall not make such an advance unless the cost of borrowing, as calculated and expressed in accordance with the regulations, has, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, been disclosed by the foreign company or otherwise as prescribed to the policyholder at or before the time when the advance is made.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the time and place at which, and the form and manner in which, a foreign company is to disclose to a borrower
the cost of borrowing,
any rebate of the cost of borrowing, and
any other information relating to a loan, arrangement, credit card, payment card or charge card referred to in section 601;
respecting the contents of any statement disclosing the cost of borrowing and other information required to be disclosed by a foreign company to a borrower;
respecting the manner of calculating the cost of borrowing;
respecting the circumstances under which the cost of borrowing is to be expressed as an amount in dollars and cents;
specifying any class of advances that are not to be subject to section 602 or the regulations or any specified provisions of the regulations;
prohibiting the imposition of any charge or penalty referred to in section 601 or providing that the charge or penalty, if imposed, will not exceed a prescribed amount;
respecting the nature or amount of any charge or penalty referred to in paragraph 601(1)(b), (3)(a) or (4)(a) and the costs of the foreign company that may be included or excluded in the determination of the charge or penalty;
respecting the method of calculating the amount of rebate of the cost of borrowing, or the portion of the cost of borrowing referred to in subparagraph 601(1)(a)(ii);
respecting advertisements made by a foreign company regarding arrangements referred to in subsection 601(4), loans, credit cards, payment cards or charge cards;
respecting the renewal of loans; and
Complaints
A foreign company shall
establish procedures for dealing with complaints made by persons having requested or received products or services in Canada from the foreign company;
designate one of its officers or employees in Canada, or an agent in Canada, to be responsible for implementing those procedures; and
designate one or more of its officers or employees in Canada, or agents in Canada, to receive and deal with those complaints.
A foreign company shall file with the Commissioner a copy of its procedures established under paragraph (1)(a).
A foreign company shall make its procedures established under paragraph (1)(a) available
on its websites through which products or services are offered in Canada; and
in written format to be sent to any person who requests them.
A foreign company shall also make prescribed information on how to contact the Agency available whenever it makes its procedures established under paragraph (1)(a) available under subsection (3).
In any province, if there is no law of the province that makes a foreign company subject to the jurisdiction of an organization that deals with complaints made by persons having requested or received products or services in the province from a foreign company, the foreign company shall be a member of an organization in Canada that is not controlled by it and that deals with those complaints that have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the persons under procedures established under paragraph 604(1)(a).
A foreign company shall, in accordance with the regulations, at the prescribed time and place and in the prescribed form and manner, provide a person in Canada requesting or receiving a product or service in Canada from it with prescribed information on how to contact the Agency if the person has a complaint about an arrangement referred to in subsection 601(3), a payment, credit or charge card referred to in subsection 601(2), the disclosure of or manner of calculating the cost of borrowing in respect of a loan repayable in Canada or an advance on the security or against the cash surrender value of a policy, or about any other obligation of the foreign company under a consumer provision.
The Commissioner shall prepare a report, to be included in the report referred to in section 34 of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act, respecting
procedures for dealing with complaints established by foreign companies pursuant to paragraph 604(1)(a); and
the number and nature of complaints that have been brought to the attention of the Agency by persons who have requested or received a product or service from a foreign company.
Miscellaneous
A foreign company shall not include in its assets in Canada any loan to a natural person that is repayable in Canada, the terms of which prohibit prepayment of the money advanced or any instalment thereon before its due date.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a loan
that is secured by a mortgage on real property; or
that is made for business purposes and the principal amount of which is more than $100,000 or such other amount as may be prescribed.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting any matters involving a foreign company’s dealings, or its employees’ or representatives’ dealings, with customers or the public, including
what a foreign company may or may not do in carrying out any of the activities in which it is permitted to engage, or in providing any of the services that it may provide, under this Act and any ancillary, related or incidental activities or services; and
the time and place at which and the form and manner in which any of those activities are to be carried out or any of those services are to be provided.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
requiring a foreign company to establish procedures regarding the collection, retention, use and disclosure of any information about its customers in Canada or any class of customers in Canada;
requiring a foreign company to establish procedures for dealing with complaints made by a customer in Canada about the collection, retention, use or disclosure of information about the customer;
requiring a foreign company to designate the officers and employees of the company who are responsible for
implementing the procedures referred to in paragraph (b), and
receiving and dealing with complaints made by a customer, in Canada, of the foreign company about the collection, retention, use or disclosure of information about the customer;
requiring a foreign company to report information relating to
complaints made by its customers in Canada about the collection, retention, use or disclosure of information, and
its actions taken to deal with the complaints; and
The Governor in Council may, subject to any other provisions of this Act relating to the disclosure of information, make regulations respecting the disclosure of information by foreign companies or any prescribed class of foreign companies, including regulations respecting
the information that must be disclosed, including information relating to
any product or service or prescribed class of products or services offered by them,
any of their policies, procedures or practices relating to the offer by them of any product or service or prescribed class of products or services,
anything they are required to do or to refrain from doing under a consumer provision, and
any other matter that may affect their dealings, or their employees’ or representatives’ dealings, with customers or the public;
the time and place at which, the form and manner in which and the persons to whom information is to be disclosed; and
the content and form of any advertisement by foreign companies or any prescribed class of foreign companies relating to any matter referred to in paragraph (a).
the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company restricts it to the reinsurance of risks within a class of insurance specified in the order;
the foreign company has provided the Commissioner with a declaration stating that it is not dealing with a prescribed group of consumers; and
after providing the declaration, the foreign company continues to not deal with that prescribed group.
The foreign company must give notice to the Commissioner if it subsequently deals with the prescribed group referred to in the declaration.
Adequacy of Assets
A foreign company shall maintain in Canada an adequate margin of assets over liabilities in respect of its insurance business in Canada as shown in the records it is required to maintain under section 647, and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity, and shall comply with any regulations in relation to an adequate margin of assets over liabilities and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity.
The Superintendent may make guidelines in respect of any matter referred to in paragraph 610(1)(a).
Even though a foreign company is complying with regulations made under paragraph 610(1)(a) or guidelines made under subsection (3), the Superintendent may, by order, direct the foreign company to increase the margin of its assets over its liabilities that it is required to maintain in Canada or to provide additional liquidity in the forms and the amounts that the Superintendent requires.
A foreign company shall comply with an order made under subsection (4) within the time that the Superintendent specifies in the order.
A foreign company shall, in relation to each class of insurance risks that it is permitted to insure, maintain in Canada, in accordance with the regulations, assets the total value of which shall be determined in accordance with the regulations.
The Superintendent may make guidelines in respect of any matter referred to in paragraph 610(1)(b).
A foreign company shall comply with an order made under subsection (2) within such time as the Superintendent specifies therein.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the maintenance by foreign companies of an adequate margin of assets in Canada over liabilities in Canada and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity;
respecting the maintenance by foreign companies of assets in Canada of a particular value, which regulations may make special provision for associations and exchanges;
prescribing rules for determining the value, location and protection of the assets of foreign companies;
governing the determination of the reserves to be included in the liabilities of foreign companies;
determining the method of calculating the value of interests of foreign companies in real property for the purposes of section 618; and
prescribing anything that is required or authorized by this Part to be prescribed.
A regulation made pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) may provide that the Superintendent may, by order, determine the matters or exercise the discretion that the regulations may specify.
No Canadian financial institution may be appointed as trustee if at the time of the appointment there is a material conflict of interest between the Canadian financial institution’s role as trustee and any other of its roles.
A trust deed must be approved by the Superintendent before it is entered into.
The Superintendent shall determine the value at which assets shall be accepted for the purposes of this Part.
The trustee of a foreign company may deal with the assets in Canada in any manner provided for in the trust deed, but in such a way that the value for the purposes of this Part of the assets in Canada does not fall below that required by this Part.
A foreign company may not vest in trust
securities issued by or debt obligations of the foreign company or one of its affiliates;
real property, or ground rents or mortgages on real property, situated outside Canada;
shares or ownership interests, however designated, in any entity in such number as would constitute a substantial investment in that entity without regard to any shares or ownership interests held by any other entity; or
a loan made in Canada on the security of residential property in Canada for the purpose of purchasing, renovating or improving that property, if the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, would exceed 80 per cent of the value of the property at the time of the loan.
Despite paragraphs (1)(a) and (c), a foreign company may vest in trust a substantial investment in an entity that is primarily engaged in
holding, managing or otherwise dealing with real property; or
holding shares or ownership interests in entities that are primarily engaged in any of the activities referred to in paragraph (a).
Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(d), a foreign company may vest in trust
a loan made or guaranteed under the National Housing Act or any other Act of Parliament by or pursuant to which a different limit on the value of property on the security of which the foreign company may make a loan is established;
a loan if repayment of the amount of the loan that exceeds the maximum amount set out in subsection (1) is guaranteed or insured by a government agency or a private insurer approved by the Superintendent; or
securities issued or guaranteed by an entity that are secured on any residential property, whether in favour of a trustee or otherwise, or a loan made by the foreign company to the entity against the issue of such securities.
Investments
Definitions and Application
A reference in sections 615 to 619 and in regulations made under section 620 to the assets in Canada or the liabilities in Canada of a foreign company does not include liabilities of the foreign company for the policies and amounts in respect of which a segregated fund is maintained pursuant to section 593.
General Constraints on Investments
A foreign company shall, in respect of its assets in Canada, establish and adhere to investment and lending policies, standards and procedures that a reasonable and prudent person would apply in respect of a portfolio of investments and loans to avoid undue risk of loss and obtain a reasonable return.
A foreign company to which subsection 573(4) applies shall, during the period of ninety days following the coming into force of this Part, file with the Superintendent a certified copy of a resolution of its board of directors establishing the investment and lending policies, standards and procedures referred to in subsection (1).
Commercial Lending by Foreign Life Companies
The total accepted value of commercial loans vested in trust by a foreign life company for the classes of life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada for those classes.
The total accepted value of the commercial loans and loans to natural persons vested in trust by a foreign life company for the classes of insurance other than life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance, shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada for those classes.
Consumer and Commercial Lending by Foreign Property and Casualty Companies and Foreign Marine Companies
The total accepted value of the commercial loans and loans to natural persons vested in trust by a foreign property and casualty company, or a foreign marine company, shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada.
Real Property
The total accepted value of interests in real property vested in trust by a foreign life company for the classes of life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada for those classes.
The total accepted value of interests in real property vested in trust by a foreign life company for the classes of insurance other than life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance, shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada for those classes.
The total accepted value of interests in real property vested in trust by a foreign property and casualty company, or a foreign marine company, shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada.
Equities
The total accepted value of the participating shares, within the meaning of Part IX, of any body corporate and any ownership interests, howsoever designated, in any unincorporated entities vested in trust by a foreign life company for the classes of life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada for those classes.
The total accepted value of the participating shares, within the meaning of Part IX, of any body corporate and any ownership interests, howsoever designated, in any unincorporated entities vested in trust by a foreign life company for the classes of insurance, other than life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, credit protection insurance and other approved products insurance, shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada for those classes.
The total accepted value of the participating shares, within the meaning of Part IX, of any body corporate and any ownership interests, howsoever designated, in any unincorporated entities vested in trust by a foreign property and casualty company, or a foreign marine company, shall not at any time exceed the prescribed percentage of the value of its assets in Canada.
Aggregate Limit
The aggregate value of each of the following total accepted values, namely,
shall not at any time exceed the respective prescribed percentage of the value of the assets in Canada.
Self-dealing
A foreign company shall not vest in trust any asset in accordance with this Part if the asset was acquired through a transaction that at the time of acquisition would be prohibited for a company pursuant to section 521.
the transaction was entered into on terms and conditions that are at least as favourable to the foreign company as market terms and conditions, as defined in subsection 534(2); and
the foreign company files a notice of the vesting with the Superintendent on vesting the asset in trust.
Actuaries
Appointment
A foreign company that is required by this Act to provide the Superintendent with the report of an actuary shall without delay appoint a person to be the actuary of the foreign company for its insurance business in Canada.
A foreign company shall, forthwith after the appointment of an actuary of the foreign company, notify the Superintendent in writing of the appointment.
[Repealed]
The chief agent of a foreign company may not be appointed as or hold the position of actuary of the foreign company unless authorized in writing by the Superintendent.
An authorization under subsection (1) ceases to be in effect on the day specified therein but not later than the day that is six months after it is issued, and a person appointed or holding the position of actuary pursuant to the authorization shall not hold that position after that day.
Vacancies
A foreign company may revoke the appointment of the actuary of the foreign company.
A foreign company shall, forthwith after the revocation of the appointment of the actuary of the foreign company, notify the Superintendent in writing of the revocation.
A person ceases to hold office as the actuary of a foreign company when
the person resigns as actuary of the foreign company;
the person ceases to be an actuary;
the person dies; or
the appointment of the person as actuary of the foreign company is revoked by the foreign company.
The resignation of an actuary of a foreign company becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the foreign company or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Where a vacancy occurs in the office of actuary of a foreign company, the foreign company shall forthwith notify the Superintendent in writing of the vacancy and fill the vacancy.
An actuary of a foreign company who resigns or whose appointment is revoked shall submit to the chief agent of the foreign company and the Superintendent a written statement of the circumstances and reasons why the actuary resigned or why, in the actuary’s opinion, the actuary’s appointment was revoked.
Where an actuary of a foreign company resigns or the appointment of an actuary of a foreign company is revoked, no person shall accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as actuary of the foreign company before requesting and receiving from the other actuary the written statement referred to in subsection (1).
A person may accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as actuary of a company if no reply is received from the other actuary within fifteen days after a request under subsection (2) is made.
Valuations and Reports
On the request of the actuary of a foreign company, the present or former directors, chief agents, officers, employees or representatives of the foreign company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
permit access to such records held by the foreign company, and
provide such information and explanations
as are, in the opinion of the actuary, necessary to enable the actuary to perform the duties of actuary of the foreign company.
A person who in good faith makes an oral or written communication under subsection (1) shall not be liable in any civil action arising from having made the communication.
The actuary of a foreign company shall value
the actuarial and other policy liabilities of the foreign company with respect to its insurance business in Canada as at the end of a financial year; and
any other matters specified in any direction that may be made by the Superintendent.
An actuary’s valuation shall be in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice with such changes as may be determined by the Superintendent and any additional directions that may be made by the Superintendent.
The expenses incurred in carrying out a valuation under subsection (1) are payable by the foreign company on being approved in writing by the Superintendent.
The actuary of a foreign company shall meet with the chief agent of the foreign company at least once during each financial year in order to report, in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice, on the financial position of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company, and, where a direction that may be made by the Superintendent so specifies, the expected future financial condition of the foreign company as it affects its insurance business in Canada.
The actuary of a foreign company shall report in writing to the chief agent of the foreign company any matters that have come to the actuary’s attention in the course of carrying out the duties of the actuary and that in the actuary’s opinion have material adverse effects on the financial condition of the foreign company with respect to its insurance business in Canada and require rectification.
An actuary of a foreign company who makes a report under subsection (1) shall forthwith provide a copy of it to the directors of the foreign company and to any person designated by them as responsible for the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company.
Where, in the opinion of the actuary of the foreign company, suitable action is not taken to rectify the matters referred to in subsection (1), the actuary shall forthwith provide a copy of the report to the Superintendent and advise the chief agent of the foreign company that the actuary has done so.
Qualified Privilege
Any oral or written statement or report made under this Act by the actuary or former actuary of a foreign company has qualified privilege.
The actuary or a former actuary of a foreign company who in good faith makes an oral or written statement under subsection 627(1) or section 631 shall not be liable in any civil action seeking indemnification for damages attributable to the actuary or former actuary having made the statement or report.
Auditors
Interpretation
Appointment
A foreign company shall appoint an auditor for its insurance business in Canada.
A foreign company shall, forthwith after the appointment of the auditor of the foreign company, notify the Superintendent in writing of the appointment.
Qualifications
A natural person or firm of accountants is qualified to be an auditor of a foreign company if
in the case of a natural person, the person is an accountant who
is a member in good standing of an institute or association of accountants incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province,
has at least five years experience at a senior level in performing audits of a financial institution,
is ordinarily resident in Canada, and
is independent of the foreign company and its chief agent; and
in the case of a firm of accountants, the member of the firm jointly designated by the firm and the foreign company to conduct the audit of the foreign company on behalf of the firm is qualified in accordance with paragraph (a).
For the purposes of subsection (1),
independence is a question of fact; and
a person is deemed not to be independent of a foreign company if that person, a business partner of that person or a firm of accountants of which that person is a member
is a business partner, director, officer or employee of the foreign company or of any affiliate of the foreign company or is a business partner of any director, officer or employee of the foreign company or of any affiliate of the foreign company,
beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a material interest in the shares of the foreign company or of any affiliate of the foreign company, or
has been a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or receiver and manager of any affiliate of the foreign company within the two years immediately preceding the person’s proposed appointment as auditor of the foreign company.
For the purposes of subsection (2),
in the case of the appointment of a natural person as the auditor of a foreign company, a business partner of the person includes a shareholder of the business partner; and
in the case of the appointment of a firm of accountants as the auditor of a foreign company, a business partner of a member of the firm includes another member of the firm and a shareholder of the firm or of a business partner of the member.
Within 15 days after the appointment of a firm of accountants as auditor of a foreign company, the foreign company and the firm of accountants shall jointly designate a member of the firm who meets the qualifications described in subsection (1) to conduct the audit of the foreign company on behalf of the firm and the foreign company shall without delay notify the Superintendent in writing of the designation.
Where for any reason a member of a firm of accountants designated pursuant to subsection (3) ceases to conduct the audit of the foreign company, the foreign company and the firm of accountants may jointly designate another member of the same firm of accountants who meets the qualifications described in subsection (1) to conduct the audit of the foreign company and the foreign company shall forthwith notify the Superintendent in writing of the designation.
In any case where subsection (4) applies and a designation is not made pursuant to that subsection within thirty days after the designated member ceases to conduct the audit of the foreign company, there shall be deemed to be a vacancy in the office of auditor of the foreign company.
An auditor who ceases to be qualified under section 634 shall resign forthwith after the auditor, where the auditor is a natural person, or any member of the firm of accountants, where the auditor is a firm of accountants, becomes aware that the auditor or the firm has ceased to be so qualified.
Any interested person may apply to a court for an order declaring that an auditor of a foreign company has ceased to be qualified under section 634 and declaring the office of auditor to be vacant.
Vacancies
A foreign company may revoke the appointment of an auditor of the foreign company.
The Superintendent may at any time revoke the appointment of an auditor made under subsection (3) or section 633 or 638 by notice in writing signed by the Superintendent and sent by registered mail to the auditor and to the chief agent of the foreign company addressed to the usual place of business of the auditor and the chief agent.
An auditor of a foreign company ceases to hold office when
the auditor resigns;
the auditor, where the auditor is a natural person, dies; or
the appointment of the auditor is revoked by the foreign company or the Superintendent.
The resignation of an auditor becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the foreign company or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Where a vacancy occurs in the office of auditor of a foreign company, the foreign company shall forthwith fill the vacancy.
Where the foreign company fails to fill a vacancy in accordance with subsection (1), the Superintendent may fill the vacancy.
Where the Superintendent has, pursuant to subsection (2), appointed a firm of accountants to fill a vacancy, the Superintendent shall designate the member of the firm who is to conduct the audit on behalf of the firm.
An auditor of a foreign company who
resigns, or
receives a notice or otherwise learns that another person is to be appointed in the auditor’s stead, whether because of the auditor’s resignation or revocation of appointment,
shall submit to the chief agent of the foreign company and the Superintendent a written statement giving the reasons for the resignation or the reasons why the auditor opposes any proposed action.
Where an auditor of a foreign company has resigned or the appointment of an auditor has been revoked, no person or firm shall accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as auditor of the foreign company until the person or firm has requested and received from the other auditor a written statement of the circumstances and reasons why the other auditor resigned or why, in the other auditor’s opinion, the other auditor’s appointment was revoked.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person or firm may accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as auditor of a foreign company if, within fifteen days after a request under that subsection is made, no reply from the other auditor is received.
Examinations and Reports
The auditor of a foreign company shall make such examination as the auditor considers necessary to enable the auditor to report on the annual return required by subsection 665(2) and on other financial statements required by this Act to be filed with the Superintendent.
The auditor’s examination referred to in subsection (1) shall, except as otherwise specified by the Superintendent, be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the primary source of which is the Handbook of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.
An auditor of a foreign company may, in conducting the examination referred to in subsection (1), use the valuation by the actuary of the foreign company of
the actuarial and other policy liabilities of the foreign company as at the end of a financial year; and
the increase in the actuarial liabilities of the foreign company for a financial year.
On the request of the auditor of a foreign company, the present or former chief agents, directors, officers, employees or representatives of the foreign company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
permit access to such records, assets and security held by the foreign company, or any entity in which the foreign company has a substantial investment, in respect of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company, and
provide such information and explanations
as are, in the opinion of the auditor, necessary to enable the auditor to perform the duties of auditor of the foreign company.
A person who in good faith makes an oral or written communication under subsection (1) shall not be liable in any civil action arising from having made the communication.
The Superintendent may, in writing, require that the auditor of a foreign company report to the Superintendent on the extent of the auditor’s procedures in the examination of the annual return and may, in writing, require that the auditor enlarge or extend the scope of that examination or direct that any other particular procedure be performed in any particular case, and the auditor shall comply with any such requirement of the Superintendent and report to the Superintendent thereon.
In respect of the insurance business in Canada of a foreign company, the Superintendent may, in writing, require that the auditor of the foreign company make a particular examination relating to the adequacy of the procedures adopted by the foreign company for the safety of its creditors and policyholders, or any other examination that, in the Superintendent’s opinion, the public interest may require, and report to the Superintendent on the examination.
In respect of the insurance business in Canada of a foreign company, the Superintendent may direct that a special audit of the foreign company be made if, in the opinion of the Superintendent, it is so required and may appoint for that purpose an accountant or a firm of accountants qualified pursuant to subsection 634(1) to be an auditor of the foreign company.
The auditor of a foreign company shall, not later than the earlier of May 31 in each year and the day in each year on which the auditor is required to make a report under the laws under which the foreign company is incorporated, make a report to the chief agent in writing on the annual return required by subsection 665(2).
In each report required under subsection (1), the auditor shall state whether, in the auditor’s opinion, the annual return presents fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), the financial position of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates and the results of the operations and changes in the financial position of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company for that financial year.
In each report referred to in subsection (2), the auditor shall include such remarks as the auditor considers necessary when
the examination has not been made in accordance with the auditing standards referred to in subsection 641(2);
the annual return has not been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the preceding financial year; or
the annual return does not present fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), the financial position of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates or the results of the operations or changes in the financial position of the foreign company for that financial year.
It is the duty of the auditor of a foreign company to report in writing to the chief agent of the foreign company any transactions or conditions in respect of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company that have come to the auditor’s attention affecting the well-being of the foreign company that in the auditor’s opinion are not satisfactory and require rectification and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the auditor shall, as occasion requires, make a report to the chief agent in respect of transactions in respect of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company that have come to the auditor’s attention and that in the auditor’s opinion have not been within the powers of the foreign company.
Where the auditor of a foreign company makes a report under subsection (1), the auditor shall, at the time of transmitting the report to the chief agent provide the Superintendent with a copy of the report.
Qualified Privilege
Any oral or written statement or report made under this Act by the auditor or a former auditor of a foreign company has qualified privilege.
Records
A foreign company shall prepare and maintain
copies of all orders of the Superintendent in relation to the foreign company;
accounting records respecting its insurance business in Canada; and
with respect to its insurance business in Canada, records showing, for each customer of, or claimant under a policy issued by, the foreign company, the amount owing to the foreign company and the nature of the liabilities of the foreign company to the customer or claimant.
The records described in subsection (1) shall be kept at the chief agency of the foreign company.
Release of Assets
A foreign company that proposes to cease to insure in Canada risks may apply to the Superintendent for the release of its assets in Canada.
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Superintendent may, by order, authorize the release of the assets in Canada of a foreign company if the foreign company
has, in respect of its policies,
obtained their surrender,
transferred them,
caused itself to be reinsured, on an assumption basis, against the risks undertaken under them, or
otherwise discharged its liabilities under them, or provided for their discharge in a manner satisfactory to the Superintendent;
has discharged all of its obligations, other than liabilities under its policies, or provided for them in a manner satisfactory to the Superintendent; and
has provided the Superintendent with proof of the publication, for four consecutive weeks, in the Canada Gazette and in at least one newspaper of general circulation at or near the place where the chief agency of the foreign company is situated, of a notice that it will apply to the Superintendent for the release of its assets in Canada on a day specified in the notice, which must be at least six weeks after the date of the notice, and calling on its creditors and policyholders opposing that release to file their opposition with the Superintendent on or before the day.
The Superintendent may revoke the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of a foreign company if in the opinion of the Superintendent the foreign company is not insuring in Canada risks, or if the foreign company does not
provide information to the Superintendent as required by section 664;
provide the annual return to the Superintendent as required by section 665;
provide any information in its possession or control that is requested for the purpose of any such examination.
[Repealed]
Provincial Companies
Application
Divisions XII to XIV of Part VI, other than subsection 330(2), Parts VIII to XI and Part XX apply to provincial companies.
Subsections 15(1) and (2), sections 254 to 256 and subsections 268(1) and (2) apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to every provincial company for which an order for the commencement and carrying on of business under this Part has been made to the same extent that they are applicable to, or in respect of, a company, but to the extent to which any provision referred to in this section would effect an enlargement, in any respect, of the corporate powers or rights of any provincial company under its incorporating instrument, that provision does not apply to the provincial company.
Order to Commence and Carry on Business
Forthwith on the coming into force of this Part, the Superintendent shall make an order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by every provincial company.
An order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a provincial company may contain such conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act and relate to the business of the provincial company as the Superintendent deems expedient and necessary.
In respect of the order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by a provincial company, the Superintendent may at any time, by further order,
make the order subject to such conditions or limitations that are consistent with this Act and that relate to the business of the provincial company as the Superintendent deems expedient and necessary, or
amend or revoke any authorization contained in the order or any condition or limitation to which the order is subject,
but before making any such further order the Superintendent shall provide the provincial company with an opportunity to make representations regarding that further order.
[Repealed]
A provincial company shall establish and adhere to policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security, including foreign interference.
Every provincial company for which an order has been made under section 657 shall provide the Superintendent with an undertaking in such form as may be required by the Superintendent that it will, so long as the order is not rescinded, submit to and comply with all of the provisions of this Act applicable to it in respect of the classes of insurance specified in the order and any conditions or limitations set out in the order.
A provincial company that deposited securities with the Receiver General pursuant to section 76 or 82 of the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act shall apply for the return of those securities within such period following the coming into force of this section as may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Duties of Directors
The directors of a provincial company shall
appoint the actuary of the provincial company forthwith after the Superintendent makes an order for the provincial company under section 657;
appoint the auditor of the provincial company for the purposes of this Act forthwith after the Superintendent makes an order for the provincial company under section 657; and
establish a conduct review committee consisting of at least three directors who are not affiliated with the company, determined in accordance with regulations made under section 170.
The conduct review committee of a provincial company shall
require the management of the provincial company to establish procedures for complying with Part XI;
review those procedures and their effectiveness in ensuring that the provincial company is complying with Part XI;
if an insurance holding company or a bank holding company that is widely held has a significant interest in any class of shares of the provincial company, establish policies for entering into transactions referred to in section 528.1; and
review the practices of the provincial company to ensure that any transactions with related parties of the provincial company that may have a material effect on the stability or solvency of the provincial company are identified.
A provincial company shall report to the Superintendent on the mandate and responsibilities of the conduct review committee and the procedures established by the committee under paragraph (2)(a).
After each meeting of the conduct review committee of a provincial company, the committee shall report to the directors of the provincial company on all transactions and other matters reviewed by the committee.
Within ninety days after the end of each financial year, the directors of a provincial company shall report to the Superintendent on the proceedings of the conduct review committee and on all transactions and other matters reviewed by the committee during the year.
Corporate Records
A provincial company shall provide the Superintendent with such information, material and evidence, at such times and in such form, as the Superintendent may require, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the information, material and evidence shall include
copies of its incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the provincial company; and
copies of any of the records referred to in section 662.
A provincial company shall, within thirty days after each annual meeting of the provincial company, provide the Superintendent with a return showing
the name, residence and citizenship of each director holding office immediately following the meeting;
the mailing address of each director holding office immediately following the meeting;
the bodies corporate of which each director referred to in paragraph (a) is an officer or director and the firms of which each director is a member;
the names of the directors referred to in paragraph (a) who are officers or employees of the provincial company or any affiliate of the provincial company, and the positions they occupy;
the name of each committee of the provincial company on which each director referred to in paragraph (a) serves;
the date of expiration of the term of each director referred to in paragraph (a); and
the name, address and date of appointment of the auditor of the provincial company.
Where
any information relating to a director or auditor of a provincial company shown in the latest return made to the Superintendent under subsection (2), other than information referred to in paragraph (2)(c) or (d), becomes inaccurate or incomplete,
a vacancy in the position of auditor of the provincial company occurs or is filled by another person, or
a vacancy on the board of directors of the provincial company occurs or is filled,
the provincial company shall forthwith provide the Superintendent with such information as is required to maintain the return in a complete and accurate form.
A provincial company shall prepare and maintain adequate
corporate accounting records; and
records showing, for each customer of, or claimant under a policy issued by, the provincial company, the amount owing to the provincial company and the nature of the liabilities of the provincial company to the customer or claimant.
For the purposes of subsection (1), records includes similar records required by law to be maintained by the provincial company before the coming into force of this section.
Regulation of Companies, Societies, Foreign Companies and Provincial Companies — Superintendent
Interpretation
In the French version of this Part, société means a société, société de secours, société étrangère or société provinciale within the meaning of section 2.
Supervision
Returns
A company, society, foreign company or provincial company shall provide the Superintendent with such information, at such times and in such form as the Superintendent may require.
A company, society or provincial company shall prepare annually a return of the condition and affairs of the company, society or provincial company as at the end of each financial year, showing its assets and liabilities and its income and expenditures during that financial year together with such other information as the Superintendent may deem necessary.
A foreign company, in respect of its insurance business in Canada, shall prepare annually a return of the condition and affairs of the foreign company as at the end of each financial year, showing its assets and liabilities and its income and expenditures during that financial year together with such other information as the Superintendent may deem necessary.
[Repealed]
The annual return shall be prepared in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4).
[Repealed]
The actuary of a company, society, foreign company or provincial company shall make, and the company, society, foreign company or provincial company shall file with its annual return, a report in a form determined by the Superintendent on the reserve referred to in subsection (1).
The auditor of a company, society or provincial company shall attach to the annual return a report stating whether, in the auditor’s opinion, the annual return presents fairly, in accordance with accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), the financial position of the company, society or provincial company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates and the results of the operations and changes in the financial position of the company, society or provincial company for that financial year.
In each report referred to in subsection (3), the auditor shall include such remarks as the auditor considers necessary when
the examination has not been made in accordance with the auditing standards referred to in subsection 346(2);
the annual return has not been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the preceding financial year; or
the annual return does not present fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4), the financial position of the company, society or provincial company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates or the results of the operations or changes in the financial position of the company, society or provincial company for that financial year.
A company shall, within thirty days after each annual meeting of the company, provide the Superintendent with a return showing
the name, residence and citizenship of each director holding office immediately following the meeting;
the mailing address of each director holding office immediately following the meeting;
the bodies corporate of which each director referred to in paragraph (a) is an officer or director and the firms of which each director is a member;
the names of the directors referred to in paragraph (a) who are officers or employees of the company or any affiliate of the company, and the positions they occupy;
the name of each committee of the company on which each director referred to in paragraph (a) serves;
the date of expiration of the term of each director referred to in paragraph (a); and
the name, address and date of appointment of the auditor of the company.
Where
any information relating to a director or auditor of a company shown in the latest return made to the Superintendent under subsection (1), other than information referred to in paragraph (1)(c) or (d), becomes inaccurate or incomplete,
a vacancy in the position of auditor of the company occurs or is filled by another person, or
a vacancy on the board of directors of the company occurs or is filled,
the company shall forthwith provide the Superintendent with such information as is required to maintain the return in a complete and accurate form.
A company shall send to the Superintendent, within thirty days after the coming into effect of a by-law or an amendment to a by-law, a copy of the by-law or amendment.
The Superintendent shall cause a register to be maintained in respect of each company or society for which an order has been made approving the commencement and carrying on of business.
The register in respect of a company shall contain a copy of
the incorporating instrument of the company; and
[Repealed]
The register in respect of a society shall contain a copy of
the incorporating instrument of the society; and
[Repealed]
The register may be maintained in
a bound or loose-leaf form or a photographic film form; or
a system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing any required information in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
Persons are entitled to reasonable access to the register and may make copies of or take extracts from the information in it.
A statement containing information in the register and purporting to be certified by the Superintendent is admissible in evidence in all courts as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, of the facts stated in the statement without proof of the appointment or signature of the Superintendent.
On the application of a company or society that has been incorporated by a special Act of Parliament, the Superintendent may issue a certificate stating that it was incorporated by a special Act of Parliament, and may include with the certificate any information in the Superintendent’s possession that relates to the company’s or society’s incorporation.
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a person who controls a company or any entity that is affiliated with a company to provide the Superintendent with any information or documents that may be specified in the order if the Superintendent believes that the production of the information or documents is necessary in order to be satisfied that
the provisions of this Act are being duly observed and that the company is in a sound financial condition; or
the company has adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security and adheres to those policies and procedures.
Any person to whom a direction has been issued under subsection (1) shall provide the information or documents specified in the order within the time specified in the order and, where the order does not specify a time, the person shall provide the information or documents within a reasonable time.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an entity that controls a company or is affiliated with a company where that entity is a financial institution regulated
by or under an Act of Parliament; or
by or under an Act of the legislature of a province where the Superintendent has entered into an agreement with the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of financial institutions in that province concerning the sharing of information on such financial institutions.
Subject to section 673, all information regarding the business or affairs of a company, society, foreign company or provincial company, or regarding a person dealing with any of them, that is obtained by the Superintendent, or by any person acting under the direction of the Superintendent, as a result of the administration or enforcement of any Act of Parliament, and all information prepared from that information, is confidential and shall be treated accordingly.
Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the Superintendent from disclosing any information
to any government agency or body that regulates or supervises financial institutions, for purposes related to that regulation or supervision,
to any federal government agency or body, for purposes related to the Superintendent’s regulation or supervision of financial institutions, including purposes related to threats to the integrity or security of financial institutions or risks to national security,
to any other agency or body that regulates or supervises financial institutions, for purposes related to that regulation or supervision,
to the Deputy Minister of Finance or any officer of the Department of Finance authorized in writing by the Deputy Minister of Finance or to the Governor of the Bank of Canada or any officer of the Bank of Canada authorized in writing by the Governor of the Bank of Canada, for the purposes of policy analysis related to the regulation of financial institutions,
if the Superintendent is satisfied that the information will be treated as confidential by the agency, body or person to whom it is disclosed.
The Governor in Council may make regulations prohibiting, limiting or restricting the disclosure by companies, societies, foreign companies or provincial companies of prescribed supervisory information.
Prescribed supervisory information shall not be used as evidence in any civil proceedings and is privileged for that purpose.
No person shall by an order of any court, tribunal or other body be required in any civil proceedings to give oral testimony or to produce any document relating to any prescribed supervisory information.
Despite subsection (1),
the Minister, the Superintendent or the Attorney General of Canada may, in accordance with the regulations, if any, use prescribed supervisory information as evidence in any proceedings; and
a company, a society, a foreign company or a provincial company may, in accordance with the regulations, if any, use prescribed supervisory information as evidence in any proceedings in relation to the administration or enforcement of this Act or the Winding-up and Restructuring Act that are commenced by the company, the society, the foreign company, the provincial company, the Minister, the Superintendent or the Attorney General of Canada.
Despite subsections (1) and (2) and section 39.1 of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, a court, tribunal or other body may, by order, require the Minister, the Superintendent, a company, a society, a foreign company or a provincial company to give oral testimony or to produce any document relating to any prescribed supervisory information in any civil proceedings in relation to the administration or enforcement of this Act that are commenced by the Minister, the Superintendent, the Attorney General of Canada, the company, the society, the foreign company or the provincial company.
The Governor in Council may, for the purposes of subsection (3), make regulations respecting the circumstances in which prescribed supervisory information may be used as evidence.
For greater certainty, the disclosure by a company, society, foreign company or provincial company — or by a person who controls one or by an entity that is affiliated with one — to the Superintendent of any information that is subject to a privilege under the law of evidence, solicitor-client privilege or the professional secrecy of advocates and notaries or to litigation privilege does not constitute a waiver of any of those privileges or that secrecy.
The Superintendent shall not disclose any information referred to in subsection (1) to any person whose powers, duties or functions include
the investigation or prosecution of an offence under any Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province; or
the investigation of, or conduct of proceedings in respect of, a violation under an Act referred to in paragraph (a).
The Superintendent shall disclose, at such times and in such manner as the Minister may determine, such information obtained by the Superintendent under this Act as the Minister considers ought to be disclosed for the purposes of the analysis of the financial condition of a company, society, foreign company or provincial company and that
is contained in returns filed pursuant to the Superintendent’s financial regulatory reporting requirements in respect of companies, societies, foreign companies or provincial companies; or
has been obtained as a result of an industry-wide or sectoral survey conducted by the Superintendent in relation to an issue or circumstances that could have an impact on the financial condition of companies, societies, foreign companies or provincial companies.
The Minister shall consult with the Superintendent before making any determination under subsection (1).
A company, society, foreign company or provincial company shall make available to the public such information concerning
the compensation of its executives, as that expression is defined by the regulations, and
its business and affairs for the purposes of the analysis of its financial condition,
in such form and manner and at such times as may be required by or pursuant to such regulations as the Governor in Council may make for the purpose.
Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply to a company, society, foreign company or provincial company that is within such class or classes of companies, societies, foreign companies or provincial companies as may be prescribed.
The Superintendent shall prepare a report, to be included in the report referred to in section 40 of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, respecting the disclosure of information by companies, societies, foreign companies or provincial companies and describing the state of progress made in enhancing the disclosure of information in the financial services industry.
Inspection of Companies, Societies, Foreign Companies and Provincial Companies
The Superintendent, from time to time, but at least once in each calendar year, shall make or cause to be made any examination and inquiry into the business and affairs of each company, society, foreign company and provincial company that the Superintendent considers to be necessary or expedient to determine whether the company, society, foreign company or provincial company is complying with the provisions of this Act, whether the company, society or provincial company or the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company is in a sound financial condition and whether the company, society or provincial company has adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security and adheres to those policies and procedures or the foreign company has adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security in relation to its business in Canada and adheres to those policies and procedures. After the conclusion of each examination and inquiry, the Superintendent shall report on it to the Minister.
[Repealed]
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the circumstances so warrant in the case of a company, a provincial company or a foreign company that is not a fraternal benefit society, the examination and inquiry may be made less frequently than annually but not less frequently than triennially.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the circumstances so warrant in the case of a society or a foreign company that is a fraternal benefit society, the examination and inquiry may be made less frequently than annually.
The Superintendent or a person acting under the Superintendent’s direction
has a right of access to any records, cash, assets and security held by or on behalf of a company, society or provincial company or held by or on behalf of a foreign company in respect of its insurance business in Canada; and
may require the directors, officers, auditor and actuary of a company, society or provincial company or the chief agent, actuary and auditor of a foreign company to provide information and explanations, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so, in respect of the condition and affairs of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company or any entity in which it has a substantial investment.
The Superintendent has all the powers of a person appointed as a commissioner under Part II of the Inquiries Act for the purpose of obtaining evidence under oath, and may delegate those powers to any person acting under the Superintendent’s direction.
Remedial Powers
Prudential Agreements
The Superintendent may enter into an agreement, called a “prudential agreement”, with
a company, society or provincial company, for the purposes of implementing any measure designed to maintain or improve its safety and soundness, establishing adequate policies and procedures to protect it against threats to its integrity or security or maintaining or improving its adherence to those policies and procedures; or
a foreign company, for the purposes of implementing any measure designed to protect the interests of its policyholders and creditors in relation to its insurance business in Canada, establishing adequate policies and procedures to protect it against threats to its integrity or security in relation to its business in Canada or maintaining or improving its adherence to those policies and procedures.
Directions of Compliance
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, a company, society, foreign company or provincial company, or a person with respect to a company, society, foreign company or provincial company, is committing, or is about to commit, an act that is an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the business or affairs of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company, or is pursuing or is about to pursue any course of conduct that is an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the business or affairs of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company, the Superintendent may direct the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person to
cease or refrain from committing the act or pursuing the course of conduct; and
perform such acts as in the opinion of the Superintendent are necessary to remedy the situation.
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, a company, society, or provincial company does not have adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security or does not adhere to those policies or procedures, or a foreign company does not have adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security in relation to its business in Canada or does not adhere to those policies and procedures, the Superintendent may direct the company, society, foreign company or provincial company to take any measures that in the opinion of the Superintendent are necessary to remedy the situation.
Subject to subsection (3), no direction shall be issued to a company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person under subsection (1) or (1.1) unless the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person is provided with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the matter.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the length of time required for representations to be made under subsection (2) might be prejudicial to the public interest, the Superintendent may make a temporary direction with respect to the matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) or subsection (1.1) having effect for a period of not more than 15 days.
Subject to section 677, a temporary direction under subsection (3) continues to have effect after the expiration of the fifteen day period referred to in that subsection if no representations are made to the Superintendent within that period or, if representations have been made, the Superintendent notifies the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person that the Superintendent is not satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for revoking the direction.
[Repealed]
Where a company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person
is contravening this Act, or
has omitted to do any thing under this Act that is required to be done by or on the part of the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person,
the Superintendent may, in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, apply to a court for an order requiring the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or person to comply with the prudential agreement or direction, cease the contravention or do any thing that is required to be done, and on such application the court may so order and make any other order it thinks fit.
An appeal from a decision of a court under subsection (1) lies in the same manner, and to the same court, as an appeal from any other order of the court.
Disqualification and Removal
This section applies only in respect of a company, society or provincial company
that has been notified by the Superintendent that this section applies to it where the company, society or provincial company is subject to measures designed to maintain or improve its safety and soundness, which measures
have been specified by the Superintendent by way of conditions or limitations in respect of the order approving the commencement and carrying on of its business, or
are contained in a prudential agreement entered into under section 675.1 or an undertaking given by the company, society or provincial company to the Superintendent; or
A company, society or provincial company shall provide the Superintendent with the name of
each person who has been nominated for election or appointment as a member of its board of directors,
each person who has been selected by the company, society or provincial company for appointment as a senior officer, and
each person who is newly elected as a director of the company, society or provincial company at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders and who was not proposed for election by anyone involved in the management of the company, society or provincial company,
together with such other information about the background, business record and experience of the person as the Superintendent may require.
The information required by subsection (2) shall be provided to the Superintendent
at least thirty days prior to the date or proposed date of the election or appointment or within such shorter period as the Superintendent may allow; or
in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (2)(c), within fifteen days after the date of the election of the person.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that, on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of a person, he or she is not suitable to hold that position, the Superintendent may, by order
in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or (b), disqualify the person from being elected or appointed as a director of the company, society or provincial company or from being appointed as a senior officer; or
in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (2)(c), remove the person from office as a director of the company, society or provincial company.
In forming an opinion under subsection (4), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the policyholders and creditors of the company, society or provincial company would likely be prejudiced if the person were to take office or continue to hold office, as the case may be.
The Superintendent must in writing notify the person concerned and the company, society or provincial company of any action that the Superintendent proposes to take under subsection (4) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.
Where an order has been made under subsection (4)
disqualifying a person from being elected or appointed to a position, the person shall not be, and the company, society or provincial company shall not permit the person to be, elected or appointed to the position; or
removing a director from office, the person shall not continue to hold, and the company, society or provincial company shall not permit the person to continue to hold, office as a director.
The Superintendent may, by order, remove a person from office as a director or senior officer of a company, society or provincial company if the Superintendent is of the opinion that the person is not suitable to hold that office
on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of the person; or
because the person has contravened or, by action or negligence, has contributed to the contravention of
this Act or the regulations made under it,
a direction made under section 676,
an order made under subsection 515(3),
a condition or limitation in respect of the order approving the commencement and carrying on of business by the company, society or provincial company, or
a prudential agreement entered into under section 675.1 or an undertaking given by the company, society or provincial company to the Superintendent.
In forming an opinion under subsection (1), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the policyholders and creditors of the company, society or provincial company have been or are likely to be prejudiced by the person’s holding office as a director or senior officer.
The Superintendent must in writing notify the person concerned and the company, society or provincial company of any removal order that the Superintendent proposes to make under subsection (1) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that the public interest may be prejudiced by the director or senior officer continuing to exercise the powers or carry out the duties and functions of that office during the period for making representations, the Superintendent may make an order suspending the director or senior officer. The suspension may not extend beyond 10 days after the expiration of that period.
The Superintendent shall, without delay, notify the director or senior officer, as the case may be, and the company, society or provincial company of a removal order or suspension order.
The director or senior officer, as the case may be, ceases to hold that office as of the date the removal order is made or any later date specified in the order.
The director or senior officer, as the case may be, or the company, society or provincial company, as the case may be, may, within 30 days after the date of receipt of notice of the removal order under subsection (5), or within any longer period that the Court allows, appeal the matter to the Federal Court.
The Federal Court, in the case of an appeal, may dismiss the appeal or set aside the removal order.
A removal order is not stayed by an appeal.
This section applies only in respect of a foreign company
that has been notified by the Superintendent that this section applies to it where the foreign company is subject to measures designed to protect the interests of its policyholders and creditors in respect of its insurance business in Canada, which measures
have been specified by the Superintendent by way of conditions or limitations in respect of the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company, or
are contained in a prudential agreement entered into under section 675.1 or an undertaking given by the foreign company to the Superintendent; or
A foreign company shall provide the Superintendent with the name of any person who has been selected by the foreign company for appointment as chief agent together with such other information about the background, business record and experience of the person as the Superintendent may require.
The information required by subsection (2) shall be provided to the Superintendent at least 30 days prior to the date of the appointment or within any shorter period that the Superintendent may allow.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that, on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of a person, he or she is not suitable to hold the position of chief agent, the Superintendent may, by order, disqualify the person from being appointed to that office.
In forming an opinion under subsection (4), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the policyholders and creditors of the foreign company in respect of its insurance business in Canada would likely be prejudiced if the person were to take office.
The Superintendent must in writing notify the person concerned and the foreign company of an order that the Superintendent proposes to make under subsection (4) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.
If an order is made under subsection (4) disqualifying a person from being appointed as chief agent, the person shall not be, and the foreign company shall not permit the person to be, appointed to that position.
The Superintendent may, by order, remove a person from office as the chief agent of a foreign company if the Superintendent is of the opinion that the person is not suitable to hold that office
on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of the person; or
because the person has contravened or, by action or negligence, has contributed to the contravention of
this Act or the regulations made under it,
a direction made under section 676,
a condition or limitation in respect of the order made under subsection 574(1) in respect of the foreign company, or
a prudential agreement entered into under section 675.1 or an undertaking given by the foreign company to the Superintendent.
In forming an opinion under subsection (1), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the policyholders and creditors of the foreign company in respect of its insurance business in Canada have been or are likely to be prejudiced by the person’s holding office as chief agent.
The Superintendent must in writing notify the chief agent and the foreign company of any removal order that the Superintendent proposes to make under subsection (1) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that the public interest is likely to be prejudiced by the chief agent continuing to exercise the powers or carry out the duties and functions of that office during the period for making representations, the Superintendent may make an order suspending the chief agent. The suspension may not extend beyond 10 days after the expiration of that period.
The Superintendent shall, without delay, notify the chief agent and the foreign company of a removal order or suspension order.
The chief agent ceases to hold that office as of the date the removal order is made or any later date specified in the order.
The chief agent or the foreign company may, within 30 days after the date of receipt of notice of the removal order under subsection (5), or within any longer period that the Court allows, appeal the matter to the Federal Court.
The Federal Court, in the case of an appeal, may dismiss the appeal or set aside the removal order.
A removal order is not stayed by an appeal.
Supervisory Intervention
If the circumstances described in any of paragraphs 679(1.1)(a) to (e) or (f.1) to (i) exist in respect of a society, the Superintendent may, by order, subject to any terms and conditions the Superintendent may specify, direct it to transfer all or any portion of its policies to, or cause itself to be reinsured, against all or any portion of the risks undertaken under its policies, by any company, society, foreign company or body corporate incorporated or formed by or under the laws of a province that is authorized to transact the classes of insurance to be so transferred or reinsured.
The society shall comply with the order within the time that the Superintendent specifies in the order or within any further period specified by the Superintendent.
No order shall be issued to a society under subsection (1) unless the society is provided with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the matter.
If the circumstances described in any of paragraphs 679(1.2)(a) to (d) or (f) to (h) exist in respect of a foreign fraternal benefit society, the Superintendent may, by order, subject to any terms and conditions the Superintendent may specify, direct it to transfer all or any portion of its policies in respect of its insurance business in Canada to, or cause itself to be reinsured, against all or any portion of the risks undertaken under those policies, by any company, society, foreign company or body corporate incorporated or formed by or under the laws of a province that is authorized to transact the classes of insurance to be so transferred or reinsured.
The foreign company shall comply with the order within the time that the Superintendent specifies in the order or within any further period specified by the Superintendent.
No order shall be issued to a foreign company under subsection (1) unless the foreign company is provided with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the matter.
take control, for a period not exceeding sixteen days, of the assets of the company, society or provincial company and the assets under its administration or, in the case of a foreign company, of its assets in Canada together with its other assets held in Canada under control of its chief agent, including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada; or
unless the Minister advises the Superintendent that the Minister is of the opinion that it is not in the public interest to do so,
take control, for a period exceeding sixteen days, of the assets of the company, society or provincial company and the assets under its administration or, in the case of a foreign company, of its assets in Canada together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent, including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada,
where control of assets has been taken under paragraph (a), continue the control beyond the sixteen days referred to in that paragraph, or
take control of the company, society or provincial company.
Control by the Superintendent under subsection (1) may be taken in respect of a company, society or provincial company, other than a foreign company, where
the company, society or provincial company has failed to pay its liabilities or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, will not be able to pay its liabilities as they become due and payable;
[Repealed]
the assets of the company, society or provincial company are not, in the opinion of the Superintendent, sufficient to give adequate protection to its policyholders and creditors;
any asset appearing on the books or records of the company, society or provincial company or held under its administration is not, in the opinion of the Superintendent, satisfactorily accounted for;
the regulatory capital of the company, society or provincial company has, in the opinion of the Superintendent, reached a level or is eroding in a manner that may detrimentally affect its policyholders or creditors;
in the case of a company, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the company’s policyholders or creditors may be detrimentally affected because all of the common shares of the company must be disposed of under a direction made by the Minister or because there is a prohibition under this Act in respect of the exercise of the right to vote attached to all of the common shares of the company;
in the opinion of the Superintendent, any other state of affairs exists in respect of the company, society or provincial company that may be materially prejudicial to the interests of the company’s, society’s or provincial company’s policyholders or creditors or the owners of any assets under the company’s, society’s or provincial company’s administration, including where proceedings under a law relating to bankruptcy or insolvency have been commenced in Canada or elsewhere in respect of the holding body corporate of the company or provincial company;
in the opinion of the Superintendent, the continued operation of the company, society or provincial company by its directors or by the officers responsible for its management would be materially prejudicial to its integrity or security; or
in the opinion of the Superintendent, the continued operation of the company, society or provincial company by its directors or by the officers responsible for its management would pose a risk to national security.
Control by the Superintendent under subsection (1) may be taken in respect of a foreign company where
in respect of its insurance business in Canada, it has failed to pay its liabilities or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, will not be able to pay its liabilities as they become due and payable;
[Repealed]
its assets in Canada are not, in the opinion of the Superintendent, sufficient to give adequate protection to its policyholders and creditors in respect of its insurance business in Canada;
any asset relating to its insurance business in Canada appearing on the books or records of the foreign company is not, in the opinion of the Superintendent, satisfactorily accounted for;
in the opinion of the Superintendent, any other state of affairs exists in respect of the foreign company that may be materially prejudicial to the interests of the foreign company’s policyholders or creditors in respect of its insurance business in Canada, or to the interests of the owners of any assets under the foreign company’s administration in Canada, including where proceedings under a law relating to bankruptcy or insolvency have been commenced in Canada or elsewhere in respect of the foreign company or its holding body corporate;
in the opinion of the Superintendent, the continued operation of the foreign company in Canada would be materially prejudicial to the integrity or security of its business in Canada; or
in the opinion of the Superintendent, the continued operation of the foreign company in Canada would pose a risk to national security.
Subject to this Act, the Minister may, for reasons related to national security, direct the Superintendent to
take control, for a period not exceeding 16 days, of the assets of the company, society or provincial company and the assets under its administration or, in the case of a foreign company, of its assets in Canada together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent, including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada;
take control, for a period exceeding 16 days, of the assets of the company, society or provincial company and the assets under its administration or, in the case of a foreign company, of its assets in Canada together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent, including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada;
if control of assets has been taken under paragraph (a), continue the control beyond the 16 days referred to in that paragraph; or
take control of the company, society or provincial company.
The Superintendent must notify a company, society, provincial company or foreign company of any action proposed to be taken in respect of it under paragraph (1)(b) and of its right to make written representations to the Superintendent within the time specified in the notice, not exceeding ten days after it receives the notice.
If the Superintendent takes control of the assets of a company, society, provincial company or foreign company under paragraph (1.21)(a), the Superintendant shall notify the company, society, provincial company or foreign company that control has been taken at the direction of the Minister.
If the Minister is considering whether to exercise the powers under any of paragraphs (1.21)(b) to (d), the Superintendent shall notify the company, society, provincial company or foreign company of the action that is being considered and of its right to make written representations to the Minister within the time specified in the notice, not exceeding 10 days after it receives the notice.
Within 30 days after exercising any of the powers under subsection (1.21), the Minister shall notify
the Committee, as defined in section 2 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act; and
the Review Agency, as defined in section 2 of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act.
If the Superintendent has control under subsection (1) or (1.21) of the assets of a company, society, provincial company or foreign company referred to in that subsection, the Superintendent may do all things necessary or expedient to protect the rights and interests of the policyholders and creditors of the company, society or provincial company or the policyholders and creditors in respect of the foreign company’s insurance business in Canada.
the company, society, provincial company or foreign company shall not make, acquire or transfer any loan or make any purchase, sale or exchange of securities or any disbursement or transfer of cash of any kind without the prior approval of the Superintendent or a representative designated by the Superintendent; and
no director, officer or employee of the company, society, provincial company or foreign company nor the chief agent of the foreign company shall have access to any cash or securities held by the company, society, provincial company or foreign company unless
a representative of the Superintendent accompanies the director, officer or employee or the chief agent, or
the access is previously authorized by the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s representative.
[Repealed]
If the Superintendent takes control of a company, society or provincial company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(iii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(d), the powers, duties, functions, rights and privileges of the directors of the company, society or provincial company and of the officers of the company, society or provincial company responsible for its management are suspended.
If the Superintendent takes control of a company, society or provincial company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(iii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(d), the Superintendent shall manage the business and affairs of the company, society or provincial company and in so doing the Superintendent
may perform any of the duties and functions that the persons referred to in subsection (1) were performing prior to the taking of control; and
has and may exercise any power, right or privilege that any such person had or could have exercised prior to the taking of control.
If the Superintendent takes control of a company, society or provincial company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(iii) or paragraph (1.21)(d), or of the assets of a foreign company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(i) or (ii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(b) or (c), the Superintendent may appoint one or more persons to assist in the management of the company, society or provincial company or of the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company.
Control by the Superintendent under subsection 679(1) of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets in Canada of a foreign company together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada expires on the day on which a notice by the Superintendent is sent to
the directors and officers who conducted the business and affairs of the company, society or provincial company, or
the chief agent in Canada of the foreign company,
stating that the Superintendent is of the opinion that the circumstances leading to the taking of control by the Superintendent have been substantially rectified and that the company, society or provincial company or the foreign company, as the case may be, can resume control of its business and affairs, assets or its insurance business in Canada, as the case may be.
Control by the Superintendent under subsection 679(1.21) of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets in Canada of a foreign company together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada expires on the day on which a notice by the Superintendent is sent to the directors and officers who conducted the business and affairs of the company, society or provincial company, or the chief agent in Canada of the foreign company, stating that the Minister is of the opinion, on the recommendation of the Superintendant, that corrective measures have been taken in response to the reasons related to national security and that the company, society or provincial company or the foreign company, as the case may be, can resume control of its business and affairs, assets or its insurance business in Canada, as the case may be.
The Superintendent may, at any time before the receipt of a request under section 685 to relinquish control of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets in Canada of a foreign company together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada, request the Attorney General of Canada to apply for a winding-up order under section 10.1 of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act in respect of
the company, society or provincial company, if the assets of the company, society or provincial company are under the control of the Superintendent under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(i) or (ii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(b) or (c);
the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company, if the assets in Canada of the foreign company together with its other assets referred to in subparagraph 679(1)(b)(i) or (ii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(b) or (c) are under the control of the Superintendent under those subparagraphs or paragraphs; or
the company, society or provincial company, if it is under the control of the Superintendent under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(iii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(d).
If no action has been taken by the Superintendent under section 684.1 and, after 30 days following the taking of control by the Superintendent under subsection 679(1) or (1.21) of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets of a company, society or provincial company or of the assets in Canada of a foreign company together with its other assets held in Canada under the control of its chief agent including all amounts received or receivable in respect of its insurance business in Canada, the Superintendent receives from the board of directors of the company, society or provincial company or, in case of a foreign company, its chief agent, a notice in writing requesting the Superintendent to relinquish control, the Superintendent shall, not later than 12 days after receipt of the notice,
comply with the request; or
request the Attorney General of Canada to apply for a winding-up order under section 10.1 of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act in respect of the company, society or provincial company or the insurance business in Canada of the foreign company.
Special Assessments of Companies, Societies, Foreign Companies and Provincial Companies
The Superintendent shall, before December 31 in each year,
ascertain the total amount of expenses incurred during the immediately preceding fiscal year in
exercising control of a company, society or provincial company,
exercising control of the assets of a foreign company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(i) or (ii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(b) or (c),
carrying out as liquidator the winding-up of a company, society or provincial company or of the insurance business in Canada of a foreign company,
including amounts paid as interest charges on money borrowed by or on behalf of the company, society or provincial company to meet its requirements for liquid funds or as the cost of terminating leases or employment contracts or other similar expenses; and
ascertain the portion of the expenses described in paragraph (a) that were incurred by the company, society, foreign company or provincial company in respect of its policies of accident and sickness insurance, its policies of life insurance and annuity and its other policies by multiplying those expenses by A/D, B/D and C/D, respectively, where A, B and C represent the total of the gross premium income of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company, as determined by the Superintendent, in respect of its policies of accident and sickness insurance, its policies of life insurance and annuities, and its other policies, respectively, during the period referred to in the description of D, and D represents the total of the gross premium income of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company, as determined by the Superintendent, during the period of five calendar years preceding the first to occur of the calendar year in which the Superintendent took control of the company, society or provincial company, or in the case of a foreign company, the assets, and that in which a winding-up order was issued in respect of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company.
As soon as possible after ascertaining the portions described in paragraph 686(1)(b), the Superintendent shall, subject to this section and to the extent and in the manner that the Governor in Council may prescribe, assess those portions against each company, society, foreign company and provincial company, other than the company, society, foreign company or provincial company in respect of which the expenses were incurred, in the following proportion: A/B where A represents the net premiums during the immediately preceding calendar year of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company from policies of accident and sickness insurance, policies of life insurance and annuities, or other policies; and B represents the total net premiums during the immediately preceding calendar year of all companies, societies, foreign companies and provincial companies, other than the company, society, foreign company or provincial company in respect of which the expenses were incurred, from policies of accident and sickness insurance, policies of life insurance and annuities, or other policies.
Subsection 23(4) and section 23.2 of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, in respect of an assessment under section 687.
special insurance[Repealed, 2007, c. 6, s. 309]
The Superintendent may, from among the companies, societies, foreign companies and provincial companies that are subject to an assessment under section 687 on account of the control of a company, society or provincial company or control of the assets of a foreign company, appoint a committee of not more than six members to advise the Superintendent in respect of assets, management and all other matters pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of the Superintendent in exercising that control.
[Repealed]
[Repealed]
If the Superintendent has taken control of a company, society or provincial company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(iii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(d) and the control expires or is relinquished under section 684 or paragraph 685(a), the Superintendent may direct that the company, society or provincial company be liable for repayment of all or part of the expenses resulting from the taking of control of the company, society or provincial company and assessed against and paid by other companies, societies, provincial companies and foreign companies under section 687, together with any interest in respect of the expenses at any rate that is specified by the Superintendent.
If the Superintendent has taken control of the assets of a foreign company under subparagraph 679(1)(b)(i) or (ii) or paragraph 679(1.21)(b) or (c) and the control expires or is relinquished under section 684 or paragraph 685(a), the Superintendent may direct that the foreign company be liable for repayment of all or part of the expenses resulting from the taking of control of the assets of the foreign company and assessed against and paid by other companies, societies, foreign companies and provincial companies under section 687, together with any interest in respect of the expenses at any rate that is specified by the Superintendent.
Any amount paid to or recovered by Her Majesty under section 691 of this Act or paragraph 161(1)(d) or (6)(c) or subparagraph 161(8)(b)(iv) of the Winding-up and Restructuring Act in respect of a company, society, foreign company or provincial company shall be applied to the extent and the manner that may be prescribed.
Regulation of Companies and Foreign Companies — Commissioner
In the French version of this Part, société means a société or société étrangère within the meaning of section 2.
A company or foreign company shall provide the Commissioner with the information at the times and in the form that the Commissioner may require for the purposes of the administration of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act and the consumer provisions.
Subject to subsection (2), information regarding the business or affairs of a company or foreign company or regarding persons dealing with any of them that is obtained by the Commissioner or by any person acting under the direction of the Commissioner, in the course of the exercise or performance of powers, duties and functions referred to in subsection 5(1) of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act, and any information prepared from that information, is confidential and shall be treated accordingly.
If the Commissioner is satisfied that the information will be treated as confidential by the agency, body or person to whom it is disclosed, subsection (1) does not prevent the Commissioner from disclosing it
to any government agency or body that regulates or supervises financial institutions, for purposes related to that regulation or supervision;
to any other agency or body that regulates or supervises financial institutions, for purposes related to that regulation or supervision;
to the Deputy Minister of Finance or any officer of the Department of Finance authorized in writing by the Deputy Minister of Finance or to the Governor of the Bank of Canada or any officer of the Bank of Canada authorized in writing by the Governor of the Bank of Canada, for the purposes of policy analysis related to the regulation of financial institutions.
The Commissioner, from time to time, but at least once in each calendar year, shall make or cause to be made any examination and inquiry that the Commissioner considers necessary for the purposes of satisfying the Commissioner that the applicable consumer provisions are being complied with and, after the conclusion of each examination and inquiry, shall report on it to the Minister.
The Commissioner or a person acting under the Commissioner’s direction in carrying out his or her duties under subsection (1)
has a right of access to any records, including electronic records, of a company or foreign company; and
may require the directors or officers of a company or foreign company to provide information and explanations, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so, in respect of any matter subject to examination or inquiry under subsection (1).
The Commissioner, in carrying out his or her duties in relation to consumer provisions, has all the powers of a person appointed as a commissioner under Part II of the Inquiries Act for the purpose of obtaining evidence under oath, and may delegate those powers to any person acting under the Commissioner’s direction.
The Commissioner may enter into an agreement, called a “compliance agreement”, with a company or foreign company for the purposes of implementing any measure designed to further compliance by it with the consumer provisions.
Insurance Holding Companies
Purpose
The purpose of this Part is to provide for the incorporation, formation and regulation of insurance holding companies that are holding bodies corporate of life companies.
[Repealed]
Interpretation
The following definitions apply in this Part.
affairs, with respect to an insurance holding company, means the relationships among the insurance holding company and its affiliates and the shareholders, directors and officers of the insurance holding company and its affiliates, but does not include the business of the insurance holding company or any of its affiliates. (affaires internes)
complainant, in relation to an insurance holding company or any matter concerning an insurance holding company, means
a registered holder or beneficial owner, and a former registered holder or beneficial owner, of a security of the insurance holding company or any of its affiliates;
a director or an officer, or a former director or officer, of the insurance holding company or any of its affiliates; or
subordinated indebtedness means an instrument evidencing an indebtedness of an insurance holding company that by its terms provides that the indebtedness will, in the event of the insolvency or winding-up of the insurance holding company, be subordinate in right of payment to all liabilities of the insurance holding company except those liabilities that, by their terms, rank equally with or are subordinate to such indebtedness. (titre secondaire)
A reference in a provision in this Part to a provision in any other Part is deemed to be a reference to that provision as it has been made applicable by this Part in respect of insurance holding companies.
A reference in a provision of another Part to a provision that has been made applicable in respect of insurance holding companies by this Part is to be read as including a reference to that provision as it has been made applicable in respect of insurance holding companies.
Status and Powers
An insurance holding company has the capacity of a natural person and, subject to this Act, the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person.
An insurance holding company shall not carry on any business or exercise any power that it is restricted by this Act from carrying on or exercising, or exercise any of its powers in a manner contrary to this Act.
An insurance holding company may carry on business throughout Canada.
Subject to this Act, an insurance holding company has the capacity to carry on its business, conduct its affairs and exercise its powers in any jurisdiction outside Canada to the extent and in the manner that the laws of that jurisdiction permit.
An insurance holding company shall establish and adhere to policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security, including foreign interference.
No act of an insurance holding company, including any transfer of property to or by an insurance holding company, is invalid by reason only that the act or transfer is contrary to the insurance holding company’s incorporating instrument or this Act.
It is not necessary for an insurance holding company to pass a by-law in order to confer any particular power on the insurance holding company or its directors.
The shareholders of an insurance holding company are not, as shareholders, liable for any liability, act or default of the insurance holding company except as otherwise provided by this Act.
No person is affected by or is deemed to have notice or knowledge of the contents of a document concerning an insurance holding company by reason only that the document has been filed with the Superintendent or the Minister or is available for inspection at an office of the insurance holding company.
No insurance holding company and no guarantor of an obligation of an insurance holding company may assert against a person dealing with the insurance holding company or against a person who has acquired rights from the insurance holding company that
the insurance holding company’s incorporating instrument or any by-laws of the insurance holding company have not been complied with;
the persons named as directors of the insurance holding company in the most recent return sent to the Superintendent under section 994 are not the directors of the insurance holding company;
the place named in the incorporating instrument or by-laws of the insurance holding company is not the place where the head office of the insurance holding company is situated;
a person held out by the insurance holding company as a director, officer or representative of the insurance holding company has not been duly appointed or has no authority to exercise the powers and perform the duties that are customary in the business of the insurance holding company or usual for a director, officer or representative; or
a document issued by any director, officer or representative of the insurance holding company with actual or usual authority to issue the document is not valid or not genuine.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a person who has or ought to have knowledge of a situation described in that subsection by virtue of their relationship to the insurance holding company.
The Governor in Council may, by order, extend by up to six months the time during which insurance holding companies may continue to carry on business. No more than one order may be made under this subsection.
The order is not a regulation for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act. However, it shall be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette.
If Parliament dissolves on the day set out in subsection (1) or on any day within the six-month period before that day or on any day within an extension ordered under subsection (2), insurance holding companies may continue to carry on business until the end of the 180th day after the first day of the first session of the next Parliament.
Incorporation, Continuance and Discontinuance
Formalities of Incorporation
On the application of one or more persons made in accordance with this Part, the Minister may, subject to this Division, issue letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company.
Letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company may not be issued if the application therefor is made by or on behalf of
Her Majesty in right of Canada or in right of a province, an agency of Her Majesty in either of those rights, or an entity controlled by Her Majesty in either of those rights;
the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof;
an agency of the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof; or
an entity, other than a foreign institution or any subsidiary of a foreign institution, that is controlled by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof.
If a proposed insurance holding company would be a subsidiary of a foreign institution that is engaged in the insurance business, letters patent to incorporate the insurance holding company may not be issued unless the Minister is satisfied that, if the application is made by a non-WTO Member foreign institution, treatment as favourable for insurance holding companies to which this Act applies exists or will be provided in the jurisdiction in which the foreign institution principally carries on business, either directly or through a subsidiary.
Nothing in subsection (1) affects the operation of Part XII of the Bank Act.
An application for letters patent to incorporate an insurance holding company setting out the names of the first directors of the insurance holding company shall be filed with the Superintendent, together with such other information, material and evidence as the Superintendent may require.
Before issuing letters patent to incorporate an insurance holding company, the Minister shall take into account all matters that the Minister considers relevant to the application, including
the nature and sufficiency of the financial resources of the applicant or applicants as a source of continuing financial support for the company that is proposed to be its subsidiary;
the soundness and feasibility of the plans of the applicant or applicants for the future conduct and development of the business of the company that is proposed to be its subsidiary;
the business record and experience of the applicant or applicants;
the character and integrity of the applicant or applicants or, if the applicant or any of the applicants is a body corporate, its reputation for being operated in a manner that is consistent with the standards of good character and integrity;
whether the insurance holding company will be operated responsibly by persons with the competence and experience suitable for involvement in the operation of a financial institution;
the impact of any integration of the businesses and operations of the applicant or applicants with those of the insurance holding company and its affiliates on the conduct of those businesses and operations; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
There shall be set out in the letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company
the name of the insurance holding company;
the province in which the head office of the insurance holding company is to be situated; and
the date that the insurance holding company came, or is to come, into existence.
The Minister may set out in the letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company any provision not contrary to this Act that the Minister considers advisable in order to take into account the particular circumstances of the proposed insurance holding company.
The Minister may impose such terms and conditions in respect of the issuance of letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company as the Minister considers necessary or appropriate.
If the Minister, under section 708, issues letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company on the application of a life company, including a converted company, there may, on the request of the company, and with the approval of the Minister, be included in the letters patent of incorporation of the insurance holding company a provision deeming shares of the insurance holding company to be issued, on a share for share basis, to all shareholders of the company in exchange for all the issued and outstanding shares of the company.
Shares of an insurance holding company deemed to be issued under subsection (1) are subject to the same designation, rights, privileges and restrictions or conditions and, subject to any agreement to the contrary, to the same charges, encumbrances and other restrictions as the shares of the company for which they are exchanged and the shares of the company, on the issuance of the letters patent, become the property of the insurance holding company free and clear of any charge, encumbrance or other restriction.
An exchange of shares of a company referred to in subsection (1) under a provision included in the letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company does not deprive a person who was a holder of shares of the company immediately before the exchange of any right or privilege with respect to the shares or relieve the person of any liability in respect of the shares, but that right or privilege must be exercised in accordance with this Act.
Despite subsection (3), no share of an insurance holding company that is deemed to be issued under a provision included in the letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company may subsequently be transferred or voted contrary to this Act.
No provision described in subsection (1) may be included in letters patent issued under section 708 unless the application for the letters patent is accompanied by evidence that the request for the provision was approved by a special resolution of the shareholders and the policyholders of the company who are entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders and policyholders called to consider the application.
If, under a provision included in the letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company, a share exchange is deemed to have taken place, the insurance holding company shall, within ninety days after the issuance of the letters patent, make provision for the issue of share certificates representing shares of the insurance holding company and for the exchange of those certificates for share certificates representing the shares of the company that were outstanding on the effective date of the letters patent.
On application, made in accordance with the regulations, by a life company, including a converted company, to give effect to a proposal to incorporate an insurance holding company as the holding body corporate of the company, to continue a body corporate as an insurance holding company of the company or to amalgamate two or more bodies corporate and continue those bodies corporate as an insurance holding company of the company — and to make any other fundamental change to the company, including an exchange of any or all of the shares of the company for shares of the insurance holding company —, the Minister may, to give effect to the proposal,
despite any provision of the Act specified in regulations made under paragraph (2)(e), give any approval that the Minister considers necessary.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting applications referred to in subsection (1), including their form and the information to be contained in them, and authorizing the Superintendent to require additional information in respect of such applications;
respecting proposals to which subsection (1) applies, including the information to be contained in the proposals and the times within which the transactions involved in them must occur;
respecting the procedures to be followed by the company that makes an application under subsection (1);
respecting the approval, confirmation or authorization, if any, of all or any portion of proposals to which subsection (1) applies, and including the approval of shareholders and policyholders and including the terms and conditions of those approvals, confirmations or authorizations and their effect; and
specifying provisions of the Act for the purpose of paragraph (1)(b).
The Superintendent shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette a notice of the issuance of letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company.
The first directors of an insurance holding company are the directors named in the application for letters patent to incorporate the insurance holding company.
An insurance holding company comes into existence on the date provided therefor in its letters patent.
Continuance
A body corporate incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act or any other Act of Parliament, including a company but not including a federal credit union, may apply to the Minister for letters patent continuing the body corporate as an insurance holding company under this Part.
A body corporate incorporated otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament may, if so authorized by the laws of the jurisdiction where it is incorporated, apply to the Minister for letters patent continuing the body corporate as an insurance holding company under this Part.
A copy of the special resolution referred to in subsection (2) shall be filed with the application.
On the day set out in the letters patent continuing a body corporate as an insurance holding company under subsection 721(1),
the body corporate becomes an insurance holding company as if it had been incorporated under this Part; and
the letters patent are deemed to be the incorporating instrument of the continued insurance holding company.
Where a body corporate is continued as an insurance holding company under this Part, the Superintendent shall without delay send a copy of the letters patent to the appropriate official or public body in the jurisdiction in which the body corporate was authorized to apply to be continued under this Part.
The Superintendent shall publish in the Canada Gazette a notice of the issuance of letters patent continuing a body corporate as an insurance holding company under this Part.
Where a body corporate is continued as an insurance holding company under this Part,
the property of the body corporate continues to be the property of the insurance holding company;
the insurance holding company continues to be liable for the obligations of the body corporate;
an existing cause of action or claim by or against the body corporate or any liability of the body corporate to prosecution is unaffected;
a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding pending by or against the body corporate may continue to be prosecuted by or against the insurance holding company;
a conviction against, or any ruling, order or judgment in favour of or against, the body corporate may be enforced by or against the insurance holding company;
a person who, on the day the body corporate becomes an insurance holding company, is the holder of a security issued by the body corporate is not deprived of any right or privilege available to the person at that time in respect of the security or relieved of any liability in respect of it, but any such right or privilege may be exercised only in accordance with this Act; and
the by-laws of the body corporate, except those that are in conflict with this Act, continue as the by-laws of the insurance holding company.
Despite any other provision of this Act or the regulations, the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, by order, grant to an insurance holding company in respect of which letters patent were issued under subsection 721(1) permission to
engage in a business activity specified in the order that the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to engage in and that the body corporate continued as the insurance holding company was engaging in at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
continue to have issued and outstanding debt obligations the issue of which is not authorized by this Act if the debt obligations were outstanding at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
hold assets that the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to hold, if the assets were held by the body corporate continued as the insurance holding company at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
acquire and hold assets that the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to acquire or hold, if the body corporate continued as the insurance holding company was obliged, at the time the application for the letters patent was made, to acquire those assets; and
maintain outside Canada any records or registers required by this Act to be maintained in Canada.
The permission granted under subsection (1) shall be expressed to be granted for a period specified in the order not exceeding
with respect to any activity described in paragraph (1)(a), thirty days after the effective date of the letters patent or, where the activity is conducted pursuant to an agreement existing on the effective date of the letters patent, the expiration of the agreement;
with respect to any matter described in paragraph (1)(b), ten years; and
with respect to any matter described in any of paragraphs (1)(c) to (e), two years.
The Minister shall not grant to an insurance holding company any permission
with respect to matters described in paragraph (1)(b), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the effective date of the letters patent of continuance issued to continue the insurance holding company under this Part, unless the Minister is satisfied on the basis of evidence on oath provided by an officer of the insurance holding company that the insurance holding company will not be able at law to redeem at the end of the ten years the outstanding debt obligations to which the permission relates; and
with respect to matters described in paragraphs (1)(c) and (d), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the effective date of the letters patent of continuance issued to continue the insurance holding company under this Part.
Discontinuance
An insurance holding company may apply to be continued only as a body corporate under any other Act of Parliament or any Act of the legislature of a province, and it may do so only with the approval in writing of the Minister.
No approval referred to in subsection (1) may be given to an insurance holding company unless the Minister is satisfied that the application of the insurance holding company has been authorized by a special resolution.
For the purpose of this section, insurance holding company without a life company subsidiary means an insurance holding company that does not, at any time within one year after it came into existence, have a subsidiary that is a life company or that does not, for a period of one year, have a subsidiary that is a life company.
An insurance holding company without a life company subsidiary must, within thirty days after becoming an insurance holding company without a life company subsidiary, apply to be continued under subsection 726(1).
Except for the sole purpose of winding up its affairs, an insurance holding company without a life company subsidiary that has no other subsidiary that fails to make an application under subsection (2) within the time provided for in that subsection ceases to exist on the expiration of that period.
On the day specified by the Minister, this Act ceases to apply to the body corporate continued under the other Act of Parliament or under the Act of the legislature of a province.
Where a special resolution authorizing the application under subsection 726(1) so states, the directors of an insurance holding company may, without further approval of the shareholders, withdraw the application before it is acted on.
Corporate Name
An insurance holding company may not be incorporated under this Part with a name
that is prohibited by an Act of Parliament;
that is, in the opinion of the Superintendent, deceptively misdescriptive;
that is the same as or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, substantially the same as or confusingly similar to any existing
trademark or trade name, or
corporate name of a body corporate,
except where the trademark or trade name is being changed or the body corporate is being dissolved or is changing its corporate name and consent to the use of the trademark, trade name or corporate name is signified to the Superintendent in such manner as the Superintendent may require;
that is the same as or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, substantially the same as or confusingly similar to the known name under or by which any entity carries on business or is identified; or
be incorporated with, or change its name to, substantially the same name as that of the affiliated entity; or
subject to any terms and conditions that may be prescribed, carry on business under or identify itself by a name, other than its corporate name, that is substantially the same as the corporate name of the affiliated entity or that is another name under which or with which the affiliated entity carries on business or otherwise identifies itself.
An insurance holding company may not be incorporated or continued with, or change its name to or carry on business or identify itself by, a name that is substantially the same as that of a company unless the name contains words that, in the opinion of the Superintendent, indicate to the public that the insurance holding company is distinct from any company that is a subsidiary of the insurance holding company.
The name of an insurance holding company may be set out in its letters patent in an English form, a French form, an English form and a French form or in a combined English and French form, and the insurance holding company may use and be legally designated by any such form.
Despite any other provision of this Act and subject to the regulations, every insurance holding company shall have as part of its name, the abbreviations “ihc” or “spa”.
An insurance holding company may identify itself outside Canada by its name in any language and the insurance holding company may use and be legally designated by any such form of its name outside Canada.
If an insurance holding company is carrying on business under or identifying itself by a name other than its corporate name, the Superintendent may, by order, direct the insurance holding company not to use that other name if the Superintendent is of the opinion that that other name is a name referred to in any of paragraphs 730(a) to (e).
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the use of the abbreviations “ihc” or “spa” in the name of insurance holding companies.
The Superintendent may, on request, reserve for ninety days a name for a proposed insurance holding company or for an insurance holding company that intends to change its name.
If through inadvertence or otherwise an insurance holding company
comes into existence or is continued with a name, or
on an application to change its name, is granted a name
Where an insurance holding company has been directed under subsection (1) to change its name and has not, within sixty days after the service of the direction, changed its name to a name that is not prohibited by this Part, the Superintendent may revoke the name of the insurance holding company and assign to it a name and, until changed in accordance with section 849 or 851, the name of the insurance holding company is thereafter the name so assigned.
Despite subsection 47(1), a subsidiary of an insurance holding company may, with the approval in writing of the Superintendent, use the word “assurance”, “assurances”, “insurance” or “lifeco” or any word or words of import equivalent to any of those words in its name.
In this section, reserved name means a name that includes as part thereof the word “assurance”, “assurances”, “insurance”, “lifeco”, “fiduciaire”, “fiduciary”, “fiducie”, “trust”, “trustco”, “loan”, “loanco” or “prêt” or any word or words of import equivalent to any of those words.
No person, other than a financial institution, who
is carrying on business in Canada under a reserved name, and
has control or acquires control of an insurance holding company,
shall control the insurance holding company one year after the date of acquisition of the control.
No person, other than a financial institution, who
controls an entity that is not a financial institution that carries on business in Canada under a reserved name, and
has control or acquires control of an insurance holding company,
shall control the insurance holding company one year after the date of the acquisition of the control.
Despite subsection (3), where a financial institution controls an entity that
is not a financial institution,
carries on business in Canada under a reserved name, and
acquires control of an insurance holding company,
the entity shall not control the insurance holding company one year after the date on which the entity acquires control of the insurance holding company.
Publication of Information
The Superintendent shall, within sixty days after the end of each year, cause a notice to be published in the Canada Gazette, showing
the name of every insurance holding company; and
the province in which the head office of the insurance holding company is situated.
Organization and Commencement
After letters patent incorporating an insurance holding company are issued, a meeting of the directors of the insurance holding company shall be held at which the directors may, subject to this Division,
make by-laws;
adopt forms of share certificates and corporate records;
authorize the issue of shares of the insurance holding company;
appoint officers;
appoint an auditor to hold office until the meeting called under subsection 740(1);
make banking arrangements; and
deal with any other matters necessary to organize the insurance holding company.
After the meeting referred to in subsection 739(1) is held, the directors of the insurance holding company shall without delay call a meeting of the shareholders of the insurance holding company.
The shareholders of an insurance holding company shall, by resolution at the meeting of shareholders called under subsection (1),
approve, amend or reject any by-law made by the directors of the insurance holding company;
subject to section 803, elect directors to hold office for a term expiring not later than the close of the third annual meeting of shareholders following the election; and
appoint an auditor to hold office until the close of the first annual meeting of shareholders.
A director named in the application for letters patent to incorporate an insurance holding company holds office until the election of directors at the meeting of shareholders called under subsection 740(1).
Capital Structure
Share Capital
Subject to this Part and the by-laws of the insurance holding company, shares of an insurance holding company may be issued at such times and to such persons and for such consideration as the directors of the insurance holding company may determine.
Shares of an insurance holding company shall be in registered form and shall be without nominal or par value.
If a body corporate is continued as an insurance holding company under this Part, shares with nominal or par value issued by the body corporate before it was so continued are deemed to be shares without nominal or par value.
If any right of a holder of a share with nominal or par value of a body corporate continued as an insurance holding company under this Part, other than a voting right, was stated or expressed in terms of the nominal or par value of the share immediately before the continuance under this Part that right is thereafter deemed to be the same right stated or expressed without reference to the nominal or par value of the share.
An insurance holding company shall have one class of shares, to be designated as “common shares”, which are non-redeemable and in which the rights of the holders thereof are equal in all respects, and those rights include
the right to vote at all meetings of shareholders except where only holders of a specified class of shares are entitled to vote;
the right to receive dividends declared on those shares; and
the right to receive the remaining property of the insurance holding company on dissolution.
No insurance holding company shall designate more than one class of its shares as “common shares” or any variation of that term.
A body corporate continued as an insurance holding company under this Part that is not in compliance with subsection (2) on the date letters patent continuing it as an insurance holding company are issued shall, within twelve months after that date, redesignate its shares to comply with that subsection.
The by-laws of an insurance holding company may provide for more than one class of shares and, if they so provide, shall set out
the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of each class; and
the maximum number, if any, of shares of any class that the insurance holding company is authorized to issue.
Where a by-law referred to in subsection (1) is made, the directors of the insurance holding company shall submit the by-law to the shareholders at the next meeting of shareholders.
The by-laws of an insurance holding company may, subject to any limitations set out in them, authorize the issue of any class of shares in one or more series and may
fix the maximum number of shares in each series and determine the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to them; and
authorize the directors to do anything referred to in paragraph (a).
If any cumulative dividend or amounts payable on return of capital in respect of a series of shares are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the same class participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends and return of capital.
Where voting rights are attached to any series of a class of shares, the shares of every other series of that class shall have the same voting rights.
No rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached to a series of shares authorized under this section confer on the series a priority in respect of dividends or return of capital over any other series of shares of the same class that are then outstanding.
If the directors exercise their authority under paragraph (1)(b), the directors shall, before the issue of shares of the series, send to the Superintendent particulars of the series of shares and a copy of the by-law that granted the authority to the directors.
Where voting rights are attached to a share of an insurance holding company, the voting rights may confer only one vote in respect of that share.
Shares issued by an insurance holding company are non-assessable and the shareholders are not liable to the insurance holding company or to its creditors in respect thereof.
No share of any class of shares of an insurance holding company shall be issued until it is fully paid for in money or, with the approval of the Superintendent, in property.
When issuing shares, an insurance holding company may provide that any aspect of the shares relating to money or involving the payment of or the liability to pay money be in a currency other than the currency of Canada.
An insurance holding company shall maintain a separate stated capital account for each class and series of shares it issues.
An insurance holding company shall record in the appropriate stated capital account the full amount of any consideration it receives for any shares it issues.
in exchange for
property of a person who immediately before the exchange did not deal with the insurance holding company at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act,
shares of or another interest in a body corporate that immediately before the exchange or because of it did not deal with the insurance holding company at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act, or
property of a person who immediately before the exchange dealt with the insurance holding company at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act if the person, the insurance holding company and all of the holders of shares in the class or series of shares so issued consent to the exchange;
under an agreement referred to in subsection 858(1); or
to shareholders of an amalgamating body corporate who receive the shares in addition to or instead of securities of the amalgamated insurance holding company.
On the issuance of a share, an insurance holding company shall not add to the stated capital account in respect of the share an amount greater than the amount of the consideration it receives for the share.
Where an insurance holding company that has issued any outstanding shares of more than one class or series proposes to add to a stated capital account that it maintains in respect of a class or series of shares an amount that was not received by the insurance holding company as consideration for the issue of shares, the addition must be approved by special resolution unless all the issued and outstanding shares are of not more than two classes of convertible shares referred to in subsection 759(4).
Where a body corporate is continued as an insurance holding company under this Part, the insurance holding company shall record in the stated capital account maintained for each class and series of shares then outstanding an amount that is equal to the aggregate of
the aggregate amount paid up on the shares of each class and series of shares immediately before the body corporate was so continued, and
the amount of the contributed surplus of the insurance holding company that is attributable to those shares.
The amount of any contributed surplus recorded in the stated capital account pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) shall be deducted from the contributed surplus account of the insurance holding company.
Any amount unpaid in respect of a share issued by a body corporate before it was continued as an insurance holding company under this Part and paid after it was so continued shall be recorded in the stated capital account maintained by the insurance holding company for the shares of that class or series.
Where the by-laws of an insurance holding company so provide, no shares of any class shall be issued unless the shares have first been offered to the shareholders holding shares of that class, and those shareholders have a pre-emptive right to acquire the offered shares in proportion to their holdings of the shares of that class, at such price and on such terms as those shares are to be offered to others.
Despite the existence of a pre-emptive right, a shareholder of an insurance holding company has no pre-emptive right in respect of shares of a class to be issued
for a consideration other than money;
as a share dividend; or
pursuant to the exercise of conversion privileges, options or rights previously granted by the insurance holding company.
Despite the existence of a pre-emptive right, a shareholder of an insurance holding company has no pre-emptive right in respect of shares to be issued
where the issue of shares to the shareholder is prohibited by this Part; or
where, to the knowledge of the directors of the insurance holding company, the offer of shares to a shareholder whose recorded address is in a country other than Canada ought not to be made unless the appropriate authority in that country is provided with information in addition to that submitted to the shareholders at the last annual meeting.
An insurance holding company may issue conversion privileges, options or rights to acquire securities of the insurance holding company, and shall set out the conditions thereof
in the documents that evidence the conversion privileges, options or rights; or
in the securities to which the conversion privileges, options or rights are attached.
Conversion privileges, options and rights to acquire securities of an insurance holding company may be made transferable or non-transferable, and options and rights to acquire such securities may be made separable or inseparable from any securities to which they are attached.
Where an insurance holding company has granted privileges to convert any securities issued by the insurance holding company into shares, or into shares of another class or series, or has issued or granted options or rights to acquire shares, if the by-laws limit the number of authorized shares, the insurance holding company shall reserve and continue to reserve sufficient authorized shares to meet the exercise of such conversion privileges, options and rights.
hold shares of the insurance holding company or of any body corporate that controls the insurance holding company;
hold any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the insurance holding company;
permit any of its subsidiaries to hold any shares of the insurance holding company or of any body corporate that controls the insurance holding company; or
permit any of its subsidiaries to hold any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the insurance holding company.
Subject to subsection (2) and to its by-laws, an insurance holding company may, with the consent of the Superintendent, purchase, for the purpose of cancellation, any shares issued by it, or redeem any redeemable shares issued by it at prices not exceeding the redemption price thereof calculated according to a formula stated in its by-laws or the conditions attaching to the shares.
An insurance holding company shall not make any payment to purchase or redeem any shares issued by it if there are reasonable grounds for believing that it is, or the payment would cause it to be, in contravention of subsection 992(1), any regulation made under subsection 992(2) or any order made under subsection 992(3).
An insurance holding company may accept from any shareholder a share of the insurance holding company surrendered to it as a gift, but may not extinguish or reduce a liability in respect of an amount unpaid on any such share except in accordance with section 757.
An insurance holding company may permit its subsidiaries to hold, in the capacity of a personal representative, shares of the insurance holding company or of any body corporate that controls the insurance holding company or ownership interests in any unincorporated entity that controls the insurance holding company, but only if the subsidiary does not have a beneficial interest in the shares or ownership interests.
An insurance holding company may permit its subsidiaries to hold, by way of a security interest, shares of the insurance holding company or of any body corporate that controls the insurance holding company or any ownership interests of any entity that controls the insurance holding company if the security interest is nominal or immaterial when measured by criteria established by the insurance holding company that have been approved in writing by the Superintendent.
An insurance holding company may permit any of its subsidiaries to acquire shares of the insurance holding company through the issuance of those shares by the insurance holding company to the subsidiary if the conditions prescribed for the purposes of this subsection are met before the subsidiary acquires the shares.
After a subsidiary has acquired shares under the purported authority of subsection (1), the conditions prescribed for the purposes of this subsection must be met.
If an insurance holding company permits any of its subsidiaries to acquire shares of the insurance holding company under the purported authority of subsection (1) and one or more of the conditions prescribed for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) were not met, are not met or cease to be met, as the case may be, then, despite section 702 and subsection 749(2), the insurance holding company must comply with the prescribed requirements.
Subject to subsection (2), where an insurance holding company purchases shares of the insurance holding company or fractions thereof or redeems or otherwise acquires shares of the insurance holding company, the insurance holding company shall cancel those shares.
If a subsidiary of an insurance holding company, through the realization of security, acquires any shares of the insurance holding company or of any body corporate that controls the insurance holding company or any ownership interests in an unincorporated entity that controls the insurance holding company, the insurance holding company shall cause its subsidiary to, within six months after the day of the realization, sell or otherwise dispose of the shares or ownership interests.
The stated capital of an insurance holding company may be reduced by special resolution.
An insurance holding company shall not reduce its stated capital by special resolution if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the insurance holding company is, or the reduction would cause the insurance holding company to be, in contravention of subsection 992(1), any regulation made under subsection 992(2) or any order made under subsection 992(3).
A special resolution to reduce the stated capital of an insurance holding company shall specify the stated capital account or accounts from which the reduction of stated capital effected by the special resolution will be deducted.
A special resolution to reduce the stated capital of an insurance holding company has no effect until it is approved in writing by the Superintendent.
Subsection (4) does not apply if
the reduction in the stated capital is made solely as a result of changes made to the accounting principles referred to in subsection 331(4); and
there is to be no return of capital to shareholders as a result of the reduction.
No approval to reduce the stated capital of an insurance holding company may be given by the Superintendent unless application therefor is made within three months after the time of the passing of the special resolution and a copy of the special resolution, together with a notice of intention to apply for approval, has been published in the Canada Gazette.
In addition to evidence of the passing of a special resolution to reduce the stated capital of an insurance holding company and of the publication thereof, statements showing
the number of the insurance holding company’s shares issued and outstanding,
the results of the voting by class of shares of the insurance holding company,
the insurance holding company’s assets and liabilities, and
the reason why the insurance holding company seeks the reduction of capital
shall be submitted to the Superintendent at the time of the application for approval of the special resolution.
Where any money or property was paid or distributed to a shareholder or other person as a consequence of a reduction of capital made contrary to section 757, a creditor of the insurance holding company may apply to a court for an order compelling the shareholder or other person to pay the money or deliver the property to the insurance holding company.
No person holding shares in the capacity of a personal representative and registered on the records of the insurance holding company as a shareholder and therein described as the personal representative of a named person is personally liable under subsection (1), but the named person is subject to all the liabilities imposed by that subsection.
An action to enforce a liability imposed by subsection (1) may not be commenced more than two years after the date of the act complained of.
This section does not affect any liability that arises under section 841.
On a purchase, redemption or other acquisition by an insurance holding company of shares or fractions thereof issued by it, the insurance holding company shall deduct from the stated capital account maintained for the class or series of shares so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired an amount equal to the result obtained by multiplying the stated capital in respect of the shares of that class or series by the number of shares of that class or series so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired and dividing by the number of shares of that class or series outstanding immediately before the purchase, redemption or other acquisition.
An insurance holding company shall adjust its stated capital account or accounts in accordance with any special resolution referred to in section 757.
On a conversion of outstanding shares of an insurance holding company into shares of another class or series, or on a change of outstanding shares of the insurance holding company into shares of another class or series, the insurance holding company shall
deduct from the stated capital account maintained for the class or series of shares converted or changed an amount equal to the result obtained by multiplying the stated capital of the shares of that class or series by the number of shares of that class or series converted or changed, and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class or series immediately before the conversion or change; and
record the result obtained under paragraph (a) and any additional consideration received pursuant to the conversion or change in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the class or series of shares into which the shares have been converted or changed.
For the purposes of subsection (3) and subject to the insurance holding company’s by-laws, where an insurance holding company issues two classes of shares and there is attached to each class a right to convert a share of one class into a share of the other class and a share is so converted, the amount of stated capital attributable to a share in either class is the aggregate of the stated capital of both classes divided by the number of outstanding shares of both classes immediately before the conversion.
Shares issued by an insurance holding company and converted into shares of another class or series, or changed under subsection 851(1) into shares of another class or series, become issued shares of the class or series of shares into which the shares have been converted or changed.
On a conversion of any debt obligation of an insurance holding company into shares of a class or series of shares, the insurance holding company shall
deduct from the liabilities of the insurance holding company the nominal value of the debt obligation being converted; and
record the result obtained under paragraph (a) and any additional consideration received for the conversion in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the class or series of shares into which the debt obligation has been converted.
The directors of an insurance holding company may declare and an insurance holding company may pay a dividend by issuing fully paid shares of the insurance holding company or options or rights to acquire fully paid shares of the insurance holding company and, subject to subsection (4), the directors of an insurance holding company may declare and an insurance holding company may pay a dividend in money or property, and, where a dividend is to be paid in money, the dividend may be paid in a currency other than the currency of Canada.
The directors of an insurance holding company shall notify the Superintendent of the declaration of a dividend at least 15 days before the day fixed for its payment.
If shares of an insurance holding company are issued in payment of a dividend, the insurance holding company shall record in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the shares of the class or series issued in payment of the dividend the declared amount of the dividend stated as an amount of money.
The directors of an insurance holding company shall not declare and an insurance holding company shall not pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the insurance holding company is, or the payment would cause the insurance holding company to be, in contravention of subsection 992(1), any regulation made under subsection 992(2) or any order made under subsection 992(3).
Subordinated Indebtedness
An insurance holding company shall not issue subordinated indebtedness unless the subordinated indebtedness is fully paid for in money or, with the approval of the Superintendent, in property.
A person shall not in any prospectus, advertisement, correspondence or literature relating to any subordinated indebtedness issued or to be issued by an insurance holding company refer to the subordinated indebtedness otherwise than as subordinated indebtedness.
When issuing subordinated indebtedness, an insurance holding company may provide that any aspect of the subordinated indebtedness relating to money or involving the payment of or the liability to pay money in relation thereto be in a currency other than that of Canada including, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the payment of any interest thereon.
Security Certificates and Transfers
references to “company” in those sections are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”;
references to “this Act” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Part”;
references to “Part VII” in those sections are to be read as references to “Division 7 of Part XVII”;
references to “this Part” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Division”;
paragraph 92(1)(a) is to be read without reference to the words “other than section 427”;
Corporate Governance
Shareholders
Place of Meetings
Meetings of shareholders of an insurance holding company shall be held at the place within Canada provided for in the by-laws of the insurance holding company or, in the absence of any such provision, at the place within Canada that the directors determine.
Unless the by-laws provide otherwise, any person who is entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders may participate in the meeting by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting if the insurance holding company makes one available. A person who is participating in a meeting by one of those means is deemed for the purposes of this Part to be present at the meeting.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the manner of and conditions for participating in a meeting by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
Calling Meetings
The directors of an insurance holding company
shall, after the meeting called under subsection 740(1), call the first annual meeting of shareholders of the insurance holding company, which meeting must be held not later than six months after the end of the first financial year of the insurance holding company;
shall subsequently call an annual meeting of shareholders, which meeting must be held not later than six months after the end of each financial year; and
may at any time call a special meeting of shareholders.
Despite subsection (1), the insurance holding company may apply to the court for an order extending the time for calling an annual meeting.
The insurance holding company shall give notice of the application to the Superintendent before any hearing concerning the application and shall provide the Superintendent with a copy of any order that is issued.
The Superintendent is entitled to appear and be heard in person or by counsel at any hearing concerning the application.
Record Dates
The directors may in advance fix a record date, that is within the prescribed period, for the determination of shareholders for any purpose, including for a determination of which shareholders are entitled to
receive payment of a dividend;
participate in a liquidation distribution;
receive notice of a meeting of shareholders; or
vote at a meeting of shareholders.
If no record date is fixed,
the record date for the determination of shareholders who are entitled to receive notice of a meeting of shareholders is
at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which the notice is given, or
if no notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held; and
the record date for the determination of shareholders for any other purpose, other than to establish a shareholder’s right to vote, is at the close of business on the day on which the directors pass a resolution in respect of that purpose.
If a record date is fixed and unless notice of the record date is waived in writing by every holder of a share of the class or series affected whose name is set out in the securities register at the close of business on the day on which the directors fix the record date, notice of the record date shall be given within the prescribed period by
advertisement in a newspaper in general circulation in the place where the insurance holding company’s head office is situated and in each place in Canada where the insurance holding company has a transfer agent or where a transfer of its shares may be recorded; and
written notice to each stock exchange in Canada on which the insurance holding company’s shares are listed for trading.
Notices of Meetings
Notice of the time and place of a meeting of shareholders of an insurance holding company shall be sent within the prescribed period to
each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting;
each director;
the auditor of the insurance holding company; and
the Superintendent.
In the case of an insurance holding company that is not a distributing insurance holding company, notice may be sent within any shorter period specified in its by-laws.
An insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies shall set out in the notice of a meeting the number of eligible votes, as defined under subsection 793(1), that may be cast at the meeting as of the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive the notice of meeting, or, if there are to be separate votes of shareholders at the meeting, the number of eligible votes, as defined in that subsection, in respect of each separate vote to be held at the meeting.
An insurance holding company is not required under subsection (1) to send to a person notice of a meeting if the person waives notice of the meeting. That waiver may be in any manner.
A person who attends a meeting of shareholders is deemed to have waived notice of the meeting, except where the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
In addition to the notice required under subsection (1), where any class of shares of an insurance holding company is publicly traded on a recognized stock exchange in Canada, notice of the time and place of the meeting of shareholders shall be published once a week for at least four consecutive weeks before the date of the meeting in a newspaper in the place where the head office of the insurance holding company is situated and in each place in Canada where the insurance holding company has a transfer agent or where a transfer of the insurance holding company’s shares may be recorded.
Failure to receive a notice of a meeting of shareholders does not deprive a shareholder of the right to vote at the meeting.
If a meeting of shareholders is adjourned for less than thirty days, it is not necessary, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, to give notice of the adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the earliest meeting that is adjourned.
If a meeting of shareholders is adjourned by one or more adjournments for a total of thirty days or more, notice of the continuation of the meeting shall be given as for an original meeting but, unless the meeting is adjourned by one or more adjournments for a total of more than ninety days, subsection 788(1) does not apply.
All matters dealt with at a special meeting of shareholders or at an annual meeting of shareholders are deemed to be special business, except that special business does not include consideration of
the financial statements;
the auditor’s report;
the election of directors; or
the remuneration of directors and reappointment of the incumbent auditor.
Notice of a meeting of shareholders at which special business is to be transacted must
state the nature of the special business in sufficient detail to permit a shareholder to form a reasoned judgment thereon; and
contain the text of any special resolution to be submitted to the meeting.
Shareholder Proposals
submit to the insurance holding company notice of any matter that they propose to raise at the meeting (in this section and section 771 referred to as a “proposal”); and
discuss at the meeting any matter in respect of which they would have been entitled to submit a proposal.
To be eligible to submit a proposal a person shall
for at least the prescribed period be the registered holder or beneficial owner of at least the prescribed number of the insurance holding company’s outstanding shares; or
have the support of persons who, in the aggregate and including or not including the person who submits the proposal, have for at least the prescribed period been the registered holders or beneficial owners of at least the prescribed number of the insurance holding company’s outstanding shares.
A proposal is to be accompanied by the following information:
the name and address of the person submitting the proposal and the names and addresses of their supporters, if any; and
the number of shares held or owned by the person and their supporters and the date that the shares were acquired.
If the insurance holding company requests within the prescribed period that a person provide proof that they are eligible to submit a proposal, the person shall within the prescribed period provide proof that they meet the requirements of subsection (1.1).
An insurance holding company shall attach any proposal of a shareholder submitted for consideration at a meeting of shareholders to the notice of the meeting.
At the request of the person who submits a proposal, the insurance holding company shall attach to the notice of the meeting the person’s statement in support of the proposal and their name and address. The statement and proposal together are not to exceed the prescribed maximum number of words.
A proposal may include nominations for the election of directors if it is signed by one or more registered holders or beneficial owners of shares representing in the aggregate not less than 5% of the shares of the insurance holding company or 5% of the shares of a class of its shares entitled to vote at the meeting at which the proposal is to be presented.
the proposal is not submitted to the insurance holding company at least the prescribed number of days before the anniversary date of the notice of meeting that was sent to shareholders in respect of the previous annual meeting of shareholders;
it clearly appears that the primary purpose of the proposal is to enforce a personal claim or redress a personal grievance against the insurance holding company or its directors, officers or security holders;
it clearly appears that the proposal does not relate in a significant way to the business or affairs of the insurance holding company;
the person submitting the proposal failed within the prescribed period before the insurance holding company receives their proposal to present, in person or by proxy, at a meeting of shareholders a proposal that at their request had been attached to the notice of the meeting;
substantially the same proposal was set out in or attached to a dissident’s proxy circular or a notice of a meeting relating to, and presented to shareholders at, a meeting of shareholders held within the prescribed period before the receipt of the proposal and did not receive the prescribed minimum amount of support at the meeting; or
If a person who submits a proposal fails to continue to hold or own shares in accordance with paragraph (1.1)(a) or, as the case may be, does not continue to have the support of persons who are in the aggregate the registered holders or beneficial owners of the prescribed number of shares in accordance with paragraph (1.1)(b) until the end of the meeting, the insurance holding company is not required to attach any proposal submitted by that person to a notice of a meeting for any meeting held within the prescribed period after the day of the meeting.
If an insurance holding company refuses to attach a proposal to a notice of a meeting, it shall in writing notify the person submitting the proposal of its intention not to attach the proposal and of the reasons for the refusal. It shall notify the person within the prescribed period after either the day on which it receives the proposal or, if it has requested proof under subsection 770(1.4), the day on which it receives the proof.
On the application of a person submitting a proposal who claims to be aggrieved by an insurance holding company’s refusal under subsection (1), a court may restrain the holding of the meeting at which the proposal is sought to be presented and make any further order that it thinks fit.
An insurance holding company or any person claiming to be aggrieved by a proposal may apply to a court for an order permitting the insurance holding company not to attach the proposal to the notice of the meeting, and the court, if it is satisfied that subsection 770(5) applies, may make such order as it thinks fit.
Shareholder List
An insurance holding company shall prepare an alphabetical list of shareholders entitled to receive notice of a meeting, showing the number of shares held by each shareholder
if a record date is fixed under paragraph 766(1)(c), no later than 10 days after that date; and
if no record date is fixed, on the record date determined under paragraph 766(2)(a).
The insurance holding company shall prepare an alphabetical list of shareholders entitled to vote as of the record date showing the number of shares held by each shareholder
if a record date is fixed under paragraph 766(1)(d), no later than 10 days after that date; and
A shareholder may examine the list of shareholders
during usual business hours at the head office of the insurance holding company or at the place where its central securities register is maintained; and
at the meeting of shareholders for which the list was prepared.
Quorum
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a quorum of shareholders is present at a meeting of shareholders if the holders of a majority of the shares who are entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or represented by proxyholders.
If a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present may, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, proceed with the business of the meeting, notwithstanding that a quorum is not present throughout the meeting.
If a quorum is not present at the opening of a meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place but may not transact any other business.
If an insurance holding company has only one shareholder, or only one holder of any class or series of shares, the shareholder present in person or represented by a proxyholder constitutes a meeting of shareholders or a meeting of shareholders of that class or series.
Voting
Subject to section 793, if a share of an insurance holding company entitles the holder of the share to vote at a meeting of shareholders, that share entitles the shareholder to one vote at the meeting.
If an entity is a shareholder of an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company shall recognize any natural person authorized by a resolution of the directors or governing body or similar authority of the entity to represent it at meetings of shareholders of the insurance holding company.
A natural person authorized under subsection (1) to represent an entity may exercise on behalf of the entity all the powers the entity could exercise if the entity were a natural person who was a shareholder.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, if two or more persons hold shares jointly, one of those holders present at a meeting of shareholders may in the absence of the others vote the shares, but if two or more of those persons who are present in person or represented by proxyholder vote, they shall vote as one on the shares jointly held by them.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, voting at a meeting of shareholders shall take place by show of hands except when a ballot is demanded by a shareholder or proxyholder entitled to vote at the meeting.
A shareholder or proxyholder may demand a ballot either before or after any vote by show of hands.
Despite subsection (1) and unless the by-laws provide otherwise, any vote referred to in that subsection may be held entirely by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility if the insurance holding company makes one available.
Unless the by-laws provide otherwise, any person who is participating in a meeting of shareholders under subsection 764(2) and entitled to vote at that meeting may vote by means of the telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that the insurance holding company has made available for that purpose.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the manner of and conditions for voting at a meeting of shareholders by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility.
Resolution in lieu of Meeting
a resolution in writing signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of shareholders is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the shareholders; and
a resolution in writing dealing with all matters required by this Part to be dealt with at a meeting of shareholders, and signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote at that meeting, satisfies all the requirements of this Part relating to meetings of shareholders.
A copy of every resolution referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept with the minutes of the meetings of shareholders.
Unless a ballot is demanded, an entry in the minutes of a meeting that the chairperson declared a resolution to be carried or defeated is in the absence of evidence to the contrary proof of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
Requisitioned Meetings
Shareholders who together hold not less than 5 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of an insurance holding company that carry the right to vote at a meeting sought to be held may requisition the directors to call a meeting of shareholders for the purposes stated in the requisition.
A requisition referred to in subsection (1)
must state the business to be transacted at the meeting and must be sent to each director and to the head office of the insurance holding company; and
may consist of several documents of like form, each signed by one or more shareholders.
On receipt of a requisition referred to in subsection (1), the directors shall call a meeting of shareholders to transact the business stated in the requisition, unless
the directors have called a meeting of shareholders and have given notice thereof under section 767; or
If the directors do not call a meeting within twenty-one days after receiving a requisition referred to in subsection (1), any shareholder who signed the requisition may call the meeting.
A meeting called under this section shall be called as nearly as possible in the manner in which meetings are to be called pursuant to the by-laws and this Part.
Unless the shareholders otherwise resolve at a meeting called under subsection (4), the insurance holding company shall reimburse the shareholders for any expenses reasonably incurred by them in requisitioning, calling and holding the meeting.
Powers of the Court
A court may, on the application of a director, a shareholder who is entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or the Superintendent, order a meeting to be called, held or conducted in the manner that the court directs if
it is impracticable to call the meeting within the time or in the manner in which it is to be called;
it is impracticable to conduct the meeting in the manner required by this Part or the by-laws; or
the court thinks that the meeting ought to be called, held or conducted within the time or in the manner that it directs for any other reason.
[Repealed]
Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), a court may order that the quorum required by the by-laws or this Part be varied or dispensed with at a meeting called, held and conducted pursuant to this section.
A meeting called, held and conducted pursuant to this section is for all purposes a meeting of shareholders of the insurance holding company duly called, held and conducted.
An insurance holding company or a shareholder or director of an insurance holding company may apply to a court to resolve any dispute in respect of the election or appointment of a director or an auditor of the insurance holding company.
On an application under subsection (1), a court may make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order restraining a director or auditor whose election or appointment is challenged from acting pending determination of the dispute;
an order declaring the result of the disputed election or appointment;
an order requiring a new election or appointment, and including in the order directions for the management of the business and affairs of the insurance holding company until a new election is held or the new appointment is made; and
an order determining the voting rights of shareholders and persons claiming to own shares.
The Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of an application referred to in subsection (1).
Pooling Agreements
A written agreement between two or more shareholders may provide that in exercising voting rights the shares held by them will be voted as provided in the agreement.
Proxies and Restrictions on Voting
Proxies
The following definitions apply in this Subdivision.
intermediary means a person who holds a security on behalf of another person who is not the registered holder of the security, and includes
a securities broker or dealer required to be registered to trade or deal in securities under the laws of any jurisdiction;
a securities depositary;
a financial institution;
in respect of a clearing agency, a securities dealer, trust company, association within the meaning of section 2 of the Cooperative Credit Associations Act, bank or other person, including another clearing agency, on whose behalf the clearing agency or its nominee holds securities of an issuer;
a trustee or administrator of a self-administered retirement savings plan, retirement income fund or education savings plan or another similar self-administered savings or investment plan that is registered under the Income Tax Act;
registrant[Repealed, 2005, c. 54, s. 322]
solicitation
includes
a request for a proxy whether or not accompanied by or included in a form of proxy,
a request to execute or not to execute or, in Quebec, to sign or not to sign a form of proxy or to revoke a proxy,
the sending of a form of proxy or other communication to a shareholder under circumstances reasonably calculated to result in the procurement, withholding or revocation of a proxy, and
the sending of a form of proxy to a shareholder under subsection 788(1); but
does not include
the sending of a form of proxy in response to an unsolicited request made by or on behalf of a shareholder,
the performance of administrative acts or professional services on behalf of a person soliciting a proxy,
the sending by an intermediary of the documents referred to in subsection 791(1),
a solicitation by a person in respect of shares of which they are the beneficial owner,
a prescribed public announcement by a shareholder of how they intend to vote and the reasons for that decision,
a communication for the purposes of obtaining the support of persons in accordance with paragraph 770(1.1)(b), or
a communication, other than a solicitation by or on behalf of the management of an insurance holding company, that is made to shareholders in the prescribed circumstances. (sollicitation)
solicitation by or on behalf of the management of an insurance holding company means a solicitation by any person pursuant to a resolution or instruction of, or with the acquiescence of, the directors or a committee of the directors of the insurance holding company. (sollicitation effectuée par la direction d’une société de portefeuille d’assurances ou pour son compte)
A shareholder who is entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may, by executing a form of proxy, appoint a proxyholder or one or more alternate proxyholders, who are not required to be shareholders, to attend and act at the meeting in the manner and to the extent authorized by the proxy and with the authority conferred by the proxy.
A form of proxy shall be executed by a shareholder or by a shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing to do so.
No appointment of a proxyholder provides authority for the proxyholder to act in respect of the appointment of an auditor or the election of a director unless a nominee proposed in good faith for the appointment or election is named in the form of proxy, a management proxy circular, a dissident’s proxy circular or a proposal under subsection 770(1).
A form of proxy must indicate, in bold-face type, that the shareholder by whom or on whose behalf it is executed may appoint a proxyholder, other than a person designated in the form of proxy, to attend and act on the shareholder’s behalf at a meeting to which the proxy relates, and must contain instructions as to the manner in which the shareholder may do so.
A proxy is valid only at the meeting in respect of which it is given or at a continuation of the meeting after an adjournment.
A shareholder may revoke a proxy
by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing to do so
at the head office of the insurance holding company at any time up to and including the last business day before the day of a meeting, or a continuation of a meeting after an adjournment, at which the proxy is to be used, or
with the chairperson of the meeting on the day of the meeting or a continuation of the meeting after an adjournment; or
in any other manner permitted by law.
The directors may specify, in a notice calling a meeting of shareholders or a continuation of a meeting of shareholders after an adjournment, a time before which executed forms of proxy to be used at the meeting or the continued meeting must be deposited with the insurance holding company or its transfer agent.
The time specified for the deposit of forms of proxy may not precede the meeting or the continued meeting by more than forty-eight hours, excluding Saturdays and holidays.
Subject to subsections (2) and 768(2), the management of an insurance holding company shall, concurrently with sending notice of a meeting of shareholders, send a form of proxy that is in accordance with the regulations to each shareholder entitled to receive notice of the meeting under section 767.
The management of an insurance holding company is not required to send a form of proxy under subsection (1) if the insurance holding company
is not a distributing insurance holding company; and
has 50 or fewer shareholders who are entitled to vote at a meeting, two or more joint holders of a share being counted as one shareholder.
A person shall not solicit proxies unless a proxy circular that is in accordance with the regulations is sent to the auditor of the insurance holding company, to each shareholder whose proxy is solicited and, in the case set out in paragraph (b), to the bank as follows:
in the case of solicitation by or on behalf of the management of an insurance holding company, a management proxy circular, either as an appendix to or as a separate document accompanying the notice of the meeting; and
in the case of any other solicitation, a dissident’s proxy circular stating the purposes of the solicitation.
Despite subsection (1), a person may solicit proxies, other than by or on behalf of the management of the insurance holding company, without sending a dissident’s proxy circular, if the total number of shareholders whose proxies are solicited is 15 or fewer, with two or more joint holders being counted as one shareholder.
Despite subsection (1), a person may solicit proxies, other than by or on behalf of the management of the insurance holding company, without sending a dissident’s proxy circular if the solicitation is, in the prescribed circumstances, conveyed by public broadcast, speech or publication.
A person who sends a management proxy circular or dissident’s proxy circular shall concurrently send to the Superintendent a copy of it together with the form of proxy, any other documents for use in connection with the meeting and, in the case of a management proxy circular, a copy of the notice of meeting.
The Superintendent shall publish in a publication generally available to the public, a notice of a decision made by the Superintendent granting an exemption under subsection (3).
A person who solicits a proxy and is appointed proxyholder shall attend in person or cause an alternate proxyholder to attend every meeting in respect of which the proxy is valid, and the proxyholder or alternate proxyholder shall comply with the directions of the shareholder who executed the form of proxy.
A proxyholder or an alternate proxyholder has the same rights as the appointing shareholder to speak at a meeting of shareholders in respect of any matter, to vote by way of ballot at the meeting and, except where a proxyholder or an alternate proxyholder has conflicting instructions from more than one shareholder, to vote at the meeting in respect of any matter by way of a show of hands.
Despite subsections (1) and (2) and unless a shareholder or proxyholder demands a ballot, if the chairperson of a meeting of shareholders declares to the meeting that, if a ballot were conducted, the total number of votes attached to shares represented at the meeting by proxy required to be voted against what, to the knowledge of the chairperson, would be the decision of the meeting on a matter or group of matters is less than 5% of all the votes that might be cast by shareholders in person or by proxy,
the chairperson may conduct the vote in respect of that matter or group of matters by way of a show of hands; and
a proxyholder or alternate proxyholder may vote in respect of that matter or group of matters by way of a show of hands.
Shares of an insurance holding company that are registered in the name of an intermediary or an intermediary’s nominee and not beneficially owned by the intermediary may not be voted unless the intermediary sends to the beneficial owner
a copy of the notice of the meeting, annual statement, management proxy circular and dissident’s proxy circular and any other documents, other than the form of proxy, that were sent to shareholders by or on behalf of any person for use in connection with the meeting; and
a written request for voting instructions except if the intermediary has already received written voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
The intermediary shall send the documents referred to in subsection (1) without delay after they receive the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a).
An intermediary or a proxyholder appointed by them may not vote shares that the intermediary does not beneficially own and that are registered in the name of the intermediary or their nominee unless the intermediary or proxyholder, as the case may be, receives written voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
A person by or on behalf of whom a solicitation is made shall on request and without delay provide the intermediary, at the person’s expense, with the necessary number of copies of the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a).
The intermediary shall vote or appoint a proxyholder to vote any shares referred to in subsection (1) in accordance with any written voting instructions received from the beneficial owner.
If a beneficial owner so requests and provides an intermediary with the appropriate documentation, the intermediary shall appoint the beneficial owner or a nominee of the beneficial owner as proxyholder.
Nothing in this Subdivision gives an intermediary the right to vote shares that they are otherwise prohibited from voting.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the powers that may be granted by a shareholder in a form of proxy;
respecting proxy circulars and forms of proxy, including the form and content of those documents; and
If a form of proxy, management proxy circular or dissident’s proxy circular contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact that is required to be contained in it or that is necessary to make a statement contained in it not misleading in light of the circumstances in which the statement is made, an interested person or the Superintendent may apply to a court and the court may make any order it thinks fit including
an order restraining the solicitation or the holding of the meeting, or restraining any person from implementing or acting on a resolution passed at the meeting, to which the form of proxy, management proxy circular or dissident’s proxy circular relates;
an order requiring correction of any form of proxy or proxy circular and a further solicitation; and
an order adjourning the meeting.
Where a person other than the Superintendent is an applicant under subsection (1), the applicant shall give to the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent is entitled to appear and to be heard in person or by counsel.
Restrictions on Voting
In this section, eligible votes means the total number of votes that may be cast by or on behalf of shareholders on a vote of shareholders or a vote of holders of a class or series of shares, as the case may be, in respect of any particular matter, calculated without regard to subsection (2).
At a meeting of shareholders of an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies, no person and no entity controlled by any person may, in respect of any vote of shareholders or holders of any class or series of shares of the company, cast votes in respect of any shares beneficially owned by the person or the entity that are, in aggregate, more than 20 per cent of the eligible votes that may be cast in respect of that vote.
No person who is a proxyholder for a person or for an entity controlled by a person may cast votes to which the proxy relates that the person or entity may not cast by reason of subsection (2).
If, with respect to any insurance holding company, a person contravenes subsection (2) or (3), the Minister may, by order, direct the shareholder of the shares to which the contravention relates or any person controlled by that shareholder to dispose of any number of shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by any of those persons that the Minister specifies in the order, within the time specified in the order and in the proportion, if any, as between the shareholder and the persons controlled by that shareholder that is specified in the order.
If the Minister makes an order under subsection (6), the person to whom the order relates may not, in person or by proxy, exercise any voting rights that are attached to shares of the company beneficially owned by the person.
Subsection (7) shall cease to apply in respect of a person when the shares to which the order relates have been disposed of.
For the purpose of this section, a person is entitled to rely on the number of eligible votes set out in a notice of a meeting under subsection 767(2).
For the purpose of this section, the Minister may, with respect to a particular insurance holding company, designate two or more persons who are parties to an agreement, commitment or understanding referred to in section 9 to be a single person.
Directors and Officers
Duties
Subject to this Act, the directors of an insurance holding company shall manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the insurance holding company.
Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the directors of an insurance holding company shall
establish procedures to resolve conflicts of interest, including techniques for the identification of potential conflict situations and for restricting the use of confidential information;
designate a committee of the board of directors to monitor the procedures referred to in paragraph (b); and
establish investment and lending policies, standards and procedures in accordance with section 968.
Paragraph (2)(a) does not apply to the directors of an insurance holding company if
the audit committee of the Canadian financial institution referred to in paragraph (a) performs for and on behalf of the insurance holding company all the functions that would otherwise be required to be performed by the audit committee of the insurance holding company under this Part.
Every director and officer of an insurance holding company in exercising any of the powers of a director or an officer and discharging any of the duties of a director or an officer shall
act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the insurance holding company; and
exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
Every director, officer and employee of an insurance holding company shall comply with this Act, the regulations, the insurance holding company’s incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the insurance holding company.
No provision in any contract, in any resolution or in the by-laws of an insurance holding company relieves any director, officer or employee of the insurance holding company from the duty to act in accordance with this Act and the regulations or relieves a director, officer or employee from liability for a breach thereof.
Qualification and Number — Directors
An insurance holding company shall have at least seven directors.
At least one half of the directors of an insurance holding company that is a subsidiary of a foreign institution and a majority of the directors of any other insurance holding company must be, at the time of each director’s election or appointment, resident Canadians.
The following persons are disqualified from being directors of an insurance holding company:
a person who is less than eighteen years of age;
a person who is of unsound mind and has been so found by a court in Canada or elsewhere;
a person who has the status of a bankrupt;
a person who is not a natural person;
a person who is an officer, director, employee or agent of — or any other person acting on behalf of — an eligible agent within the meaning of section 406.1;
[Repealed]
a minister of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in right of a province; and
a person who is an agent or employee of the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof.
A director of an insurance holding company is not required to hold shares of the insurance holding company.
No more than 15 per cent of the directors of an insurance holding company may, at each director’s election or appointment, be employees of the insurance holding company or a subsidiary of the insurance holding company, except that up to four persons who are employees of the insurance holding company or a subsidiary of the insurance holding company may be directors of the insurance holding company if those directors constitute not more than one half of the directors of the insurance holding company.
Election and Tenure — Directors
A by-law made pursuant to subsection (1) that provides for a minimum and maximum number of directors may provide that the number of directors to be elected at any annual meeting of the shareholders be such number as is fixed by the directors prior to the annual meeting.
The election or appointment of a person as a director is subject to the following:
the person was present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place and did not refuse to hold office as a director; or
the person was not present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place but
consented in writing to hold office as a director before the election or appointment or within 10 days after it, or
acted as a director after the election or appointment.
Except where this Part or the by-laws of an insurance holding company provide for cumulative voting, the insurance holding company may, by by-law, provide that the directors be elected for terms of one, two or three years.
A director elected for a term of one, two or three years holds office until the close of the first, second or third annual meeting of shareholders, as the case may be, following the election of the director.
A director who is not elected for an expressly stated term of office ceases to hold office at the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders following the election of the director.
It is not necessary that all directors elected at a meeting of shareholders hold office for the same term.
If a by-law of an insurance holding company provides that the directors be elected for a term of two or three years, it may also provide that the term of office of each director be for the whole of that term, or that, as nearly as may be, one half of the directors retire each year if the term is two years, and that one third of the directors retire each year if the term is three years.
Where a director of an insurance holding company is elected or appointed for a term of more than one year, the insurance holding company shall comply with subsection 796(2) and section 799 at each annual meeting of shareholders during the director’s term of office as if that director were elected or appointed on that date.
Except where this Part or the by-laws of an insurance holding company provide for cumulative voting, the persons, to the number authorized to be elected, who receive the greatest number of votes at an election of directors of an insurance holding company shall be the directors thereof.
If, at any election of directors referred to in subsection (1), two or more persons receive an equal number of votes and there are not sufficient vacancies remaining to enable all the persons receiving an equal number of votes to be elected, the directors who receive a greater number of votes or the majority of them shall, in order to complete the full number of directors, determine which of the persons so receiving an equal number of votes are to be elected.
Where this Part or the by-laws provide for cumulative voting,
there shall be a stated number determined by by-law, and not a minimum and maximum number, of directors;
each shareholder entitled to vote at an election of directors to be elected by cumulative voting has the right to cast a number of votes equal to the number of votes attached to the shares held by the shareholder multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by cumulative voting, and the shareholder may cast all such votes in favour of one candidate or distribute them among the candidates in any manner;
a separate vote shall be taken with respect to each candidate nominated for a position that is to be filled by cumulative voting unless a resolution is passed unanimously permitting two or more persons to be elected by a single vote;
if a shareholder has voted for more than one candidate without specifying the distribution of the votes among the candidates, the shareholder is deemed to have distributed the votes equally among the candidates for whom the shareholder voted;
if the number of candidates nominated exceeds the number of positions to be filled, the candidates who receive the least number of votes shall be eliminated until the number of candidates remaining equals the number of positions to be filled;
each director elected by cumulative voting ceases to hold office at the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders following the director’s election;
a director may be removed from office only if the number of votes cast in favour of a motion to remove the director is greater than the product of the number of directors required by the by-laws and the number of votes cast against the motion; and
the number of directors required by the by-laws may be decreased only if the number of votes cast in favour of a motion to decrease the number of directors is greater than the product of the number of directors required by the by-laws and the number of votes cast against the motion.
Where the aggregate of the voting shares beneficially owned by a person and any entities controlled by the person carries more than 10 per cent of the voting rights attached to all the outstanding voting shares of an insurance holding company, the directors shall be elected by cumulative voting.
Subsection (2) does not apply if all the voting shares of the insurance holding company that are outstanding are beneficially owned by
one person;
one person and one or more entities controlled by that person; or
one or more entities controlled by the same person.
Where this Part or the by-laws of an insurance holding company provide for cumulative voting, the shareholders of the insurance holding company shall
at the first annual meeting of shareholders held not earlier than ninety days following the date that cumulative voting is required under subsection (2) or provided for in the by-laws, and
at each succeeding annual meeting,
elect the stated number of directors to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders following their election.
Nothing in this Part precludes the holders of any class or series of shares of an insurance holding company from having an exclusive right to elect one or more directors.
A director who has completed a term of office is, if otherwise qualified, eligible for re-election.
Incomplete Elections and Director Vacancies
If, immediately after the time of any purported election or appointment of directors, the board of directors would fail to comply with subsection 796(2) or section 799, the purported election or appointment of all persons purported to be elected or appointed at that time is void unless the directors, within forty-five days after the discovery of the non-compliance, develop a plan, approved by the Superintendent, to rectify the non-compliance.
If, at the close of a meeting of shareholders of an insurance holding company, the shareholders have failed to elect the number or minimum number of directors required by this Part or the by-laws of an insurance holding company, the purported election of directors at the meeting
is valid if the directors purported to be elected and those incumbent directors, if any, whose terms did not expire at the close of the meeting, together constitute a quorum; or
is void if the directors purported to be elected and those incumbent directors, if any, whose terms did not expire at the close of the meeting, together do not constitute a quorum.
where paragraph 805(2)(a) applies, the directors referred to in that paragraph; or
Despite subsections 801(2) and (3) and paragraphs 803(1)(f) and 807(1)(a), where a plan to rectify the non-compliance referred to in subsection 805(1) has not been approved by the Superintendent by the end of the forty-five day period referred to in that subsection, the board of directors shall, until their successors are elected or appointed, consist solely of the persons who were the incumbent directors immediately before the meeting at which the purported election or appointment referred to in that subsection occurred.
Where the directors fail to call a special meeting required by subsection (3), the meeting may be called by any shareholder.
A director ceases to hold office
at the close of the annual meeting at which the director’s term of office expires;
when the director dies or resigns;
when the director is removed under section 808; or
The resignation of a director of an insurance holding company becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the insurance holding company by the director or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Subject to paragraph 803(1)(g) and this section, the shareholders of an insurance holding company may by resolution at a special meeting remove any director or all the directors from office.
If the holders of any class or series of shares of an insurance holding company have the exclusive right to elect one or more directors, a director so elected may be removed only by a resolution at a meeting of the shareholders of that class or series.
A director who
resigns,
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of removing the director from office, or
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of directors or shareholders at which another person is to be appointed or elected to fill the office of director, whether because of the director’s resignation or removal or because the director’s term of office has expired or is about to expire,
is entitled to submit to the insurance holding company a written statement giving the reasons for the resignation or the reasons why the director opposes any proposed action or resolution.
Where a director resigns as a result of a disagreement with the other directors or the officers of an insurance holding company, the director shall submit to the insurance holding company and the Superintendent a written statement setting out the nature of the disagreement.
An insurance holding company shall forthwith on receipt of a director’s statement referred to in subsection 809(1) relating to a matter referred to in paragraph 809(1)(b) or (c), or a director’s statement referred to in subsection 809(2), send a copy thereof to each shareholder entitled to receive a notice of meetings and to the Superintendent, unless the statement is attached to a notice of a meeting.
No insurance holding company or person acting on its behalf incurs any liability by reason only of circulating a director’s statement in compliance with subsection (1).
The by-laws of an insurance holding company may provide that a vacancy among the directors is to be filled only by vote of
the shareholders; or
the holders of any class or series of shares having an exclusive right to elect one or more directors if the vacancy occurs among the directors elected by the holders of that class or series.
Despite section 819 but subject to subsection (2) and sections 811 and 813, a quorum of directors may fill a vacancy among the directors except a vacancy resulting from a change in the by-laws by which the number or the minimum or maximum number of directors is increased or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors provided for in the by-laws.
Despite sections 811 and 819, where by reason of a vacancy the number of directors or the composition of the board of directors fails to meet any of the requirements of section 796 or 799, the directors who, in the absence of any by-law, would be empowered to fill that vacancy shall do so forthwith.
the remaining directors elected by the holders of that class or series of shares may fill the vacancy except one resulting from an increase in the number or the minimum or maximum number of directors for that class or series or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors provided for in the by-laws for that class or series;
if there are no such remaining directors and paragraph (b) does not apply, any holder of shares of that class or series may call a meeting of the holders thereof for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy holds office for the unexpired term of the director’s predecessor in office.
The directors may appoint one or more additional directors if the by-laws of the insurance holding company allow them to do so and the by-laws determine the minimum and maximum numbers of directors.
A director appointed under subsection (1) holds office for a term expiring not later than the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the insurance holding company.
The total number of directors appointed under subsection (1) may not exceed one third of the number of directors elected at the previous annual meeting of shareholders of the insurance holding company.
Meetings of the Board
The directors shall meet at least four times during each financial year.
The directors may meet at any place unless the by-laws provide otherwise.
The notice for the meetings must be given as required by the by-laws.
A notice of a meeting of directors shall specify each matter referred to in section 832 that is to be dealt with at the meeting but, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, need not otherwise specify the purpose of or the business to be transacted at the meeting.
A director may in any manner waive notice of a meeting of directors and the attendance of a director at a meeting of directors is a waiver of notice of that meeting except where the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
Notice of an adjourned meeting of directors is not required to be given if the time and place of the adjourned meeting was announced at the original meeting.
The number of directors constituting a quorum at any meeting of directors or a committee of directors shall be
a majority of the minimum number of directors required by this Part for the board of directors or a committee of directors; or
such greater number of directors than the number calculated pursuant to paragraph (a) as may be established by the by-laws of the insurance holding company.
A director who is present at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors but is not, in accordance with subsection 837(1), present at any particular time during the meeting is considered to be present for the purposes of this section.
The directors of an insurance holding company shall not transact business at a meeting of directors unless
in the case of an insurance holding company that is the subsidiary of a foreign institution, at least one half of the directors present are resident Canadians; and
in the case of any other insurance holding company, a majority of the directors present are resident Canadians.
Despite subsection (1), the directors of an insurance holding company may transact business at a meeting of directors without the required proportion of directors who are resident Canadians if
a director who is a resident Canadian unable to be present approves, in writing or by telephonic, electronic or other communications facilities, the business transacted at the meeting; and
there would have been present the required proportion of directors who are resident Canadians had that director been present at the meeting.
Subject to the by-laws of an insurance holding company, a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors may be held by means of such telephonic, electronic or other communications facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
A director participating in a meeting by any means referred to in subsection (1) is deemed for the purposes of this Part to be present at that meeting.
A resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of directors is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of directors.
A copy of the resolution referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept with the minutes of the proceedings of the directors.
A resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of a committee of directors, other than a resolution of the audit committee in carrying out its duties under subsection 829(3), is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of that committee.
A copy of the resolution referred to in subsection (3) shall be kept with the minutes of the proceedings of that committee.
Unless a ballot is demanded, an entry in the minutes of a meeting that the chairperson declared a resolution to be carried or defeated is in the absence of evidence to the contrary proof of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
A director of an insurance holding company who is present at a meeting of directors or a committee of directors is deemed to have consented to any resolution passed or action taken at that meeting unless
the director requests that the director’s dissent be entered or the director’s dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting;
the director sends a written dissent to the secretary of the meeting before the meeting is adjourned; or
the director sends the director’s dissent by registered mail or delivers it to the head office of the insurance holding company immediately after the meeting is adjourned.
A director of an insurance holding company who votes for or consents to a resolution is not entitled to dissent under subsection (1).
A director of an insurance holding company who is not present at a meeting at which a resolution is passed or action taken is deemed to have consented thereto unless, within seven days after the director becomes aware of the resolution, the director
causes the director’s dissent to be placed with the minutes of the meeting; or
sends the director’s dissent by registered mail or delivers it to the head office of the insurance holding company.
An insurance holding company shall keep a record of the attendance at each meeting of directors and each committee meeting of directors.
An insurance holding company shall attach to the notice of each annual meeting it sends to its shareholders a statement showing, in respect of the financial year immediately preceding the meeting, the total number of directors’ meetings and directors’ committee meetings held during the financial year and the number of those meetings attended by each director.
Where in the opinion of the Superintendent it is necessary, the Superintendent may, by notice in writing, require an insurance holding company to hold a meeting of directors of the insurance holding company to consider the matters set out in the notice.
The Superintendent may attend and be heard at a meeting referred to in subsection (1).
By-laws
Unless this Part otherwise provides, the directors of an insurance holding company may by resolution make, amend or repeal any by-law that regulates the business or affairs of the insurance holding company.
The directors shall submit a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, that is made under subsection (1) to the shareholders at the next meeting of shareholders, and the shareholders may, by resolution, confirm or amend the by-law, amendment or repeal.
Unless this Part otherwise provides, a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, is effective from the date of the resolution of the directors under subsection (1) until it is confirmed, confirmed as amended or rejected by the shareholders under subsection (2) or until it ceases to be effective under subsection (4) and, where the by-law is confirmed, or confirmed as amended, it continues in effect in the form in which it was so confirmed.
If a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, is rejected by the shareholders, or is not submitted to the shareholders by the directors as required under subsection (2), the by-law, amendment or repeal ceases to be effective from the date of its rejection or the date of the next meeting of shareholders, as the case may be, and no subsequent resolution of the directors to make, amend or repeal a by-law having substantially the same purpose or effect is effective until it is confirmed, or confirmed as amended, by the shareholders.
Any matter provided for in the incorporating instrument of a body corporate continued as an insurance holding company at the time of continuance that, under this Part, would be provided for in the by-laws of an insurance holding company is deemed to be provided for in the by-laws of the insurance holding company.
Committees of the Board
The directors of an insurance holding company may appoint from their number, in addition to the committees referred to in subsection 794(2), such other committees as they deem necessary and, subject to section 832, delegate to those committees such powers of the directors, and assign to those committees such duties, as the directors consider appropriate.
The audit committee of an insurance holding company shall consist of at least three directors.
None of the members of the audit committee may be officers or employees of the insurance holding company or of any of its subsidiaries.
The audit committee of an insurance holding company shall
review the annual statement of the insurance holding company before the annual statement is approved by the directors;
review such returns of the insurance holding company as the Superintendent may specify;
require the management of the insurance holding company to implement and maintain appropriate internal control procedures;
review, evaluate and approve those procedures;
review such investments and transactions that could adversely affect the well-being of the insurance holding company as the auditor or any officer of the insurance holding company may bring to the attention of the committee;
meet with the auditor to discuss the annual statement and the returns and transactions referred to in this subsection; and
meet with the chief internal auditor of the insurance holding company, or the officer or employee of the insurance holding company acting in a similar capacity, and with management of the insurance holding company, to discuss the effectiveness of the internal control procedures established for the insurance holding company.
In the case of the annual statement and returns of an insurance holding company that under this Part must be approved by the directors of the insurance holding company, the audit committee of the insurance holding company shall report thereon to the directors before the approval is given.
The audit committee of an insurance holding company may call a meeting of the directors of the insurance holding company to consider any matter of concern to the committee.
Directors and Officers — Authority
The directors of an insurance holding company shall appoint from their number a chief executive officer who must be ordinarily resident in Canada and, subject to section 832, may delegate to that officer any of the powers of the directors.
The directors of an insurance holding company may, subject to the by-laws, designate the offices of the insurance holding company, appoint officers thereto, specify the duties of those officers and delegate to them powers, subject to section 832, to manage the business and affairs of the insurance holding company.
Subject to section 799, a director of an insurance holding company may be appointed to any office of the insurance holding company.
Two or more offices of an insurance holding company may be held by the same person.
The directors of an insurance holding company may not delegate any of the following powers, namely, the power to
submit to the shareholders a question or matter requiring the approval of the shareholders;
fill a vacancy among the directors, on a committee of directors or in the office of auditor, or appoint additional directors;
issue or cause to be issued securities, including an issue of shares of a series that is authorized in accordance with section 745, except in accordance with any authorization made by the directors;
declare a dividend;
authorize the redemption or other acquisition by the insurance holding company pursuant to section 754 of shares issued by the insurance holding company;
authorize the payment of a commission on a share issue;
approve a management proxy circular;
except as provided in this Part, approve the annual statement of the insurance holding company and any other financial statements issued by the insurance holding company; or
adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.
Subject to this section and the by-laws, the directors of an insurance holding company may fix the remuneration of the directors, officers and employees of the insurance holding company.
No remuneration shall be paid to a director as director until a by-law fixing the aggregate of all amounts that may be paid to all directors in respect of directors’ remuneration during a fixed period of time has been confirmed by special resolution.
An act of a director or an officer of an insurance holding company is valid notwithstanding a defect in the director’s qualification or an irregularity in the director’s election or in the appointment of the director or officer.
An act of the board of directors of an insurance holding company is valid notwithstanding a defect in the composition of the board or an irregularity in the election of the board or in the appointment of a member of the board.
A director of an insurance holding company is entitled to attend and to be heard at every meeting of shareholders.
Conflicts of Interest
A director or officer of an insurance holding company shall disclose to the insurance holding company, in writing or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of directors or a meeting of a committee of directors, the nature and extent of any interest they have in a material contract or material transaction with the insurance holding company, whether entered into or proposed, if they
are a party to the contract or transaction;
are a director or officer of a party to the contract or transaction or a person acting in a similar capacity; or
have a material interest in a party to the contract or transaction.
The disclosure shall be made in the case of a director
at the meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, at which the proposed contract or transaction is first considered;
if at the time of the meeting referred to in paragraph (a) the director was not interested in the proposed contract or transaction, at the first one after they become interested in it;
if the director becomes interested after a contract or transaction is entered into, at the first one after they become interested; or
if a person who is interested in a contract or transaction becomes a director, at the first one after they become a director.
The disclosure required by subsection (1) shall be made in the case of an officer who is not a director
immediately after they become aware that the contract, transaction, proposed contract or proposed transaction is to be considered or has been considered at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors;
if they become interested after the contract or transaction is entered into, immediately after they become interested; or
if a person who is interested in a contract or transaction becomes an officer, immediately after they become an officer.
If the material contract or material transaction, whether entered into or proposed, is one that in the ordinary course of the insurance holding company’s business would not require approval by the directors or shareholders, the director or officer shall disclose to the insurance holding company, in writing or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors, the nature and extent of their interest immediately after they become aware of the contract or transaction.
A director who is required to make a disclosure under subsection 836(1) shall not be present at any meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, while the contract or transaction is being considered or vote on any resolution to approve it unless the contract or transaction
relates primarily to their remuneration as a director, officer, employee or agent of the insurance holding company, an entity controlled by the insurance holding company or an entity in which the insurance holding company has a substantial investment;
is with an affiliate of the insurance holding company.
A director who knowingly contravenes subsection (1) ceases to hold office as director and is not eligible, for a period of five years after the date on which the contravention occurred, for election or appointment as a director of any insurance holding company, any bank holding company or any financial institution that is incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament.
An act of the board of directors of an insurance holding company or of a committee of the board of directors is not invalid because a person acting as a director had ceased under subsection (2) to hold office as a director.
For the purposes of subsection 836(1), a general notice to the directors declaring that a director or officer is to be regarded as interested for any of the following reasons in a contract or transaction entered into with a party, is a sufficient declaration of interest in relation to any contract or transaction with that party:
the director or officer has a material interest in the party; or
there has been a material change in the nature of the director’s or officer’s interest in the party.
The shareholders of the insurance holding company may examine the portions of any minutes of meetings of directors or committees of directors that contain disclosures under subsection 836(1), or the portions of any other documents that contain those disclosures, during the usual business hours of the insurance holding company.
A contract or transaction for which disclosure is required under subsection 836(1) is not invalid and a director or officer is not accountable to the insurance holding company or its shareholders for any profit realized from it by reason only of the director’s or officer’s interest in the contract or transaction or the fact that the director was present or was counted to determine whether a quorum existed at the meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, that considered it if
the directors approved the contract or transaction; and
the contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the insurance holding company at the time that it was approved.
Even if the conditions set out in subsection (1) are not met, a director or officer acting honestly and in good faith is not accountable to the insurance holding company or its shareholders for any profit realized from a contract or transaction for which disclosure was required and the contract or transaction is not invalid by reason only of the director’s or officer’s interest in it if
the contract or transaction is approved or confirmed by special resolution at a meeting of shareholders;
disclosure of the interest was made to the shareholders in a manner sufficient to indicate its nature before the contract or transaction was approved or confirmed; and
the contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the insurance holding company at the time that it was approved or confirmed.
If a director or officer of an insurance holding company fails to comply with any of sections 836 to 839, a court, on application of the insurance holding company or any of its shareholders, may set aside the contract or transaction on any terms that the court thinks fit and may require the director or officer to account to the insurance holding company for any profit or gain realized on it.
Liability, Exculpation and Indemnification
Directors of an insurance holding company who vote for or consent to a resolution of the directors authorizing the issue of a share contrary to subsection 748(1) or the issue of subordinated indebtedness contrary to section 762 for a consideration other than money are jointly and severally, or solidarily, liable to the insurance holding company to make good any amount by which the consideration received is less than the fair equivalent of the money that the insurance holding company would have received if the share or subordinated indebtedness had been issued for money on the date of the resolution.
Directors of an insurance holding company who vote for or consent to a resolution of the directors authorizing any of the following are jointly and severally, or solidarily, liable to restore to the insurance holding company any amounts so distributed or paid and not otherwise recovered by the insurance holding company and any amounts in relation to any loss suffered by the insurance holding company:
a redemption or purchase of shares contrary to section 754;
a reduction of capital contrary to section 757;
a payment of a dividend contrary to section 761; or
a payment of an indemnity contrary to section 846.
A director who has satisfied a judgment in relation to the director’s liability under section 841 is entitled to contribution from the other directors who voted for or consented to the unlawful act on which the judgment was founded.
Where an application is made to a court under subsection (2), the court may, where it is satisfied that it is equitable to do so,
order an insurance holding company to return or issue shares to a person from whom the insurance holding company has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired shares; or
make any further order it thinks fit.
An action to enforce a liability imposed by section 841 may not be commenced after two years from the date of the resolution authorizing the action complained of.
Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the directors of an insurance holding company are jointly and severally, or solidarily, liable to each employee of the insurance holding company for all debts not exceeding six months wages payable to the employee for services performed for the insurance holding company while they are directors.
A director is not liable under subsection (1) unless
the insurance holding company has been sued for the debt within six months after it has become due and execution has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part;
the insurance holding company has commenced liquidation and dissolution proceedings or has been dissolved and a claim for the debt has been proven within six months after the earlier of the date of commencement of the liquidation and dissolution proceedings and the date of dissolution; or
the insurance holding company has made an assignment or a bankruptcy order has been made against it under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and a claim for the debt has been proven within six months after the date of the assignment or bankruptcy order.
A director is not liable under subsection (1) unless the director is sued for a debt referred to in that subsection while a director or within two years after the director has ceased to be a director.
Where execution referred to in paragraph (2)(a) has issued, the amount recoverable from a director is the amount remaining unsatisfied after execution.
Where a director of an insurance holding company pays a debt referred to in subsection (1) that is proven in liquidation and dissolution or bankruptcy proceedings, the director is entitled to any preference that the employee would have been entitled to and, where a judgment has been obtained, the director is entitled to an assignment of the judgment.
A director of an insurance holding company who has satisfied a claim under this section is entitled to a contribution from the other directors of the insurance holding company who are liable for the claim.
A director, officer or employee of an insurance holding company is not liable under section 841 or 844 and has fulfilled their duty under subsection 795(2) if they exercised the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in comparable circumstances, including reliance in good faith on
financial statements of the insurance holding company that were represented to them by an officer of the insurance holding company or in a written report of the auditor of the insurance holding company fairly to reflect the financial condition of the insurance holding company; or
a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by them.
A director or officer of an insurance holding company has fulfilled their duty under subsection 795(1) if they relied in good faith on
financial statements of the insurance holding company that were represented to them by an officer of the insurance holding company or in a written report of the auditor of the insurance holding company fairly to reflect the financial condition of the insurance holding company; or
a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by them.
An insurance holding company may indemnify a director or officer of the insurance holding company, a former director or officer of the insurance holding company or another person who acts or acted, at the insurance holding company’s request, as a director or officer of or in a similar capacity for another entity against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by them in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which they are involved because of that association with the insurance holding company or other entity.
An insurance holding company may not indemnify a person under subsection (1) unless
the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of, as the case may be, the insurance holding company, or the other entity for which they acted at the insurance holding company’s request as a director or officer or in a similar capacity; and
in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, the person had reasonable grounds for believing that their conduct was lawful.
An insurance holding company may with the approval of a court indemnify a person referred to in subsection (1) or advance amounts to them under subsection (2) — in respect of an action by or on behalf of the insurance holding company or other entity to procure a judgment in its favour to which the person is made a party because of the association referred to in subsection (1) with the insurance holding company or other entity — against all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with that action if they fulfil the conditions set out in subsection (3).
Despite subsection (1), a person referred to in that subsection is entitled to be indemnified by the insurance holding company in respect of all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defence of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding to which the person is subject because of the association referred to in subsection (1) with the insurance holding company or other entity described in that subsection if the person
was not judged by the court or other competent authority to have committed any fault or omitted to do anything that they ought to have done; and
fulfils the conditions set out in subsection (3).
An insurance holding company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person referred to in section 846 against any liability incurred by the person
in the capacity of a director or an officer of the insurance holding company, except where the liability relates to a failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the insurance holding company; or
in the capacity of a director or officer of another entity or while acting in a similar capacity for another entity, if they act or acted in that capacity at the insurance holding company’s request, except if the liability relates to a failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the entity.
An insurance holding company or a person referred to in section 846 may apply to a court for an order approving an indemnity under that section and the court may so order and make any further order it thinks fit.
An applicant under subsection (1) shall give the Superintendent written notice of the application and the Superintendent is entitled to appear and to be heard at the hearing of the application in person or by counsel.
On an application under subsection (1), the court may order notice to be given to any interested person and that person is entitled to appear and to be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
Fundamental Changes
Amendments — Letters Patent
On the application of an insurance holding company duly authorized by special resolution, the Minister may approve a proposal to add, change or remove any provision that is permitted by this Part to be set out in the incorporating instrument of the insurance holding company.
On receipt of an application referred to in section 849, the Minister may issue letters patent to effect the proposal.
Letters patent issued pursuant to subsection (1) become effective on the day stated in the letters patent.
Amendments — By-laws
change the maximum number, if any, of shares of any class that the insurance holding company is authorized to issue;
create new classes of shares;
change the designation of any or all of the insurance holding company’s shares, and add, change or remove any rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions, including rights to accrued dividends, in respect of any or all of the insurance holding company’s shares, whether issued or unissued;
change the shares of any class or series, whether issued or unissued, into a different number of shares of the same class or series or into the same or a different number of shares of other classes or series;
divide a class of shares, whether issued or unissued, into series and fix the maximum number of shares, if any, in each series and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto;
authorize the directors to divide any class of unissued shares into series and fix the maximum number of shares, if any, in each series and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto;
authorize the directors to change the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to unissued shares of any series;
change the name of the insurance holding company; or
change the place in Canada where the head office of the insurance holding company is to be situated.
The directors shall submit a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, that is made under subsection (1) to the shareholders entitled to vote, and the shareholders may, by special resolution, confirm, amend or reject the by-law, amendment or repeal.
increase or decrease any maximum number of authorized shares of that class, or increase any maximum number of authorized shares of a class having rights or privileges equal or superior to the shares of that class;
effect an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of all or part of the shares of that class;
add, change or remove the rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached to the shares of that class and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
remove or change prejudicially rights to accrued dividends or rights to cumulative dividends,
add, remove or change prejudicially redemption rights,
reduce or remove a dividend preference or a liquidation preference, or
add, remove or change prejudicially conversion privileges, options, voting, transfer or pre-emptive rights, or rights to acquire securities of the insurance holding company, or sinking fund provisions;
increase the rights or privileges of any class of shares having rights or privileges equal or superior to the shares of that class;
create a new class of shares equal or superior to the shares of that class;
make any class of shares having rights or privileges inferior to the shares of that class equal or superior to the shares of that class; or
effect an exchange or create a right of exchange of all or part of the shares of another class into the shares of that class.
The holders of a series of shares of a class are entitled to vote separately as a series under subsection (1) if that series is affected by an addition or amendment to the by-laws in a manner different from other shares of the same class.
A proposed addition or amendment to the by-laws referred to in subsection 852(1) is adopted when the holders of the shares of each class or series entitled to vote separately thereon as a class or series have approved the addition or amendment by a special resolution.
Where a special resolution referred to in subsection 851(2) so states, the directors may, without further approval of the shareholders, revoke the special resolution.
Subject to subsection (2), a director or a shareholder who is entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders of an insurance holding company may, in accordance with sections 770 and 771, make a proposal to make an application referred to in section 849 or to make, amend or repeal the by-laws referred to in subsection 851(1) of the insurance holding company.
Notice of a meeting of shareholders at which a proposal to amend the incorporating instrument or to make, amend or repeal the by-laws of an insurance holding company to effect any of the changes referred to in subsection 851(1) is to be considered must set out the proposal.
No amendment to the incorporating instrument or by-laws of an insurance holding company affects an existing cause of action or claim or liability to prosecution in favour of or against the insurance holding company or its directors or officers, or any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which the insurance holding company or any of its directors or officers are a party.
Amalgamation
On the joint application of two or more bodies corporate incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament, including a company or an insurance holding company but not including a mutual company or a federal credit union, the Minister may issue letters patent amalgamating and continuing the applicants as one insurance holding company.
Each applicant proposing to amalgamate shall enter into an amalgamation agreement.
Every amalgamation agreement shall set out the terms and means of effecting the amalgamation and, in particular,
the name of the amalgamated insurance holding company and the province in which its head office is to be situated;
the name and place of ordinary residence of each proposed director of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
the manner in which any shares of each applicant are to be converted into shares or other securities of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
if any shares of an applicant are not to be converted into shares or other securities of the amalgamated insurance holding company, the amount of money or securities that the holders of those shares are to receive in addition to or in lieu of shares or other securities of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
the manner of payment of money in lieu of the issue of fractional shares of the amalgamated insurance holding company or of any other body corporate that are to be issued in the amalgamation;
the proposed by-laws of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
details of any other matter necessary to perfect the amalgamation and to provide for the subsequent management and operation of the amalgamated insurance holding company; and
the proposed effective date of the amalgamation.
If shares of one of the applicants are held by or on behalf of another of the applicants, other than shares held in the capacity of a personal representative or by way of security, the amalgamation agreement must provide for the cancellation of those shares when the amalgamation becomes effective without any repayment of capital in respect thereof, and no provision shall be made in the agreement for the conversion of those shares into shares of the amalgamated insurance holding company.
An amalgamation agreement must be submitted to the Superintendent for approval and any approval of the agreement under subsection 860(4) by the shareholders of an applicant is invalid unless, before the date of the approval, the Superintendent has approved the agreement in writing.
The directors of each applicant shall submit an amalgamation agreement for approval to a meeting of the shareholders of the body corporate of which they are directors and to the holders of each class or series of shares.
Each share of an applicant carries the right to vote in respect of an amalgamation agreement whether or not it otherwise carries the right to vote.
The holders of shares of a class or series of shares of each applicant are entitled to vote separately as a class or series in respect of an amalgamation agreement if the agreement contains a provision that, if it were contained in a proposed amendment to the by-laws or incorporating instrument of the applicant, would entitle those holders to vote separately as a class or series.
Subject to subsection (3), an amalgamation agreement is approved when it has been approved by special resolution by the shareholders of each applicant body corporate.
An amalgamation agreement may provide that, at any time before the issue of letters patent of amalgamation, the agreement may be terminated by the directors of an applicant even though the agreement has been approved by the shareholders of all or any of the applicant bodies corporate.
are incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament, and
are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the insurance holding company
if
the amalgamation is approved by a resolution of the directors of the insurance holding company and of each amalgamating subsidiary, and
the resolutions provide that
the shares of each amalgamating subsidiary will be cancelled without any repayment of capital in respect thereof,
the letters patent of amalgamation and the by-laws of the amalgamated insurance holding company will be the same as the incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the amalgamating insurance holding company that is the holding body corporate, and
no securities will be issued by the amalgamated insurance holding company in connection with the amalgamation.
Two or more bodies corporate that
are incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament, and
are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the same holding body corporate
at least one of the applicants is an insurance holding company,
the amalgamation is approved by a resolution of the directors of each of the applicants, and
the resolutions provide that
the shares of all applicants, except those of one of the applicants that is an insurance holding company, will be cancelled without any repayment of capital in respect thereof,
the letters patent of amalgamation and the by-laws of the amalgamated insurance holding company will be the same as the incorporating instrument and the by-laws of the amalgamating insurance holding company whose shares are not cancelled, and
the stated capital of the amalgamating insurance holding companies and bodies corporate whose shares are cancelled will be added to the stated capital of the amalgamating insurance holding company whose shares are not cancelled.
Subject to subsection (2), unless an amalgamation agreement is terminated in accordance with subsection 860(5), the applicants shall, within three months after the approval of the agreement in accordance with subsection 860(4) or the approval of the directors in accordance with subsection 861(1) or (2), jointly apply to the Minister for letters patent of amalgamation continuing the applicants as one insurance holding company.
No application for the issue of letters patent under subsection (1) may be made unless
notice of intention to make such an application has been published at least once a week for a period of four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation at or near the place where the head office of each applicant is situated; and
the application is supported by satisfactory evidence that the applicants have complied with the requirements of this Part relating to amalgamations.
Before issuing letters patent of amalgamation continuing the applicants as one insurance holding company, the Minister shall take into account all matters that the Minister considers relevant to the application, including
the sources of continuing financial support for any company that will be a subsidiary of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
the soundness and feasibility of the plans of the applicants for the future conduct and development of the business of any company that will be a subsidiary of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
the business record and experience of the applicants;
the reputation of the applicants for being operated in a manner that is consistent with the standards of good character and integrity;
whether the amalgamated insurance holding company will be operated responsibly by persons with the competence and experience suitable for involvement in the operation of a financial institution;
the impact of any integration of the operations and businesses of the applicants on the conduct of those operations and businesses;
if the insurance holding company is an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(5) applies or an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(6) applied at any time, the opinion of the Superintendent regarding the extent to which the proposed corporate structure of the amalgamated insurance holding company and its affiliates may affect the supervision and regulation of any company that will be its subsidiary, having regard to
the nature and extent of the proposed financial services activities to be carried out by the affiliates of the amalgamated insurance holding company, and
the nature and degree of supervision and regulation applying to the proposed financial services activities to be carried out by the affiliates of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
The Minister may not, before January 1, 2002, issue letters patent under section 863 amalgamating a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) or (11) applies, a company to which subsection 407(5) or (12) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) or (13) applies with any other body corporate.
If one of the applicants for letters patent of amalgamation is a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies, or a company to which subsection 407(5) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies, the Minister may not issue the letters patent of amalgamation unless the amalgamated insurance holding company is widely held.
If one of the applicants for letters patent of amalgamation is a converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies, a company to which subsection 407(5) applies or an insurance holding company to which subsection 407(6) applies and the letters patent of amalgamation are issued, the amalgamated insurance holding company is deemed to be an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies.
Where an application has been made to the Minister in accordance with section 862, the Minister may issue letters patent of amalgamation continuing the applicants as one insurance holding company.
Where letters patent are issued pursuant to this section, section 713 applies with such modifications as the circumstances require in respect of the issue of the letters patent.
The Superintendent shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette notice of the issuance of letters patent pursuant to subsection (1).
If an insurance holding company, or any director, officer, employee or agent of an insurance holding company, is contravening or has failed to comply with any term or condition made in respect of the issuance of letters patent of amalgamation, the Minister may, in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, apply to a court for an order directing the insurance holding company, or the director, officer, employee or agent to comply with the term or condition, cease the contravention or do any thing that is required to be done, and on the application the court may so order and make any other order it thinks fit.
An appeal from an order of a court under this section lies in the same manner as, and to the same court to which, an appeal may be taken from any other order of the court.
On the day provided for in the letters patent issued under section 863,
the amalgamation of the applicants and their continuance as one insurance holding company become effective;
the property of each applicant continues to be the property of the amalgamated insurance holding company;
the amalgamated insurance holding company continues to be liable for the obligations of each applicant;
any existing cause of action, claim or liability to prosecution is unaffected;
any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding pending by or against an applicant may be continued to be prosecuted by or against the amalgamated insurance holding company;
any conviction against, or ruling, order or judgment in favour of or against, an applicant may be enforced by or against the amalgamated insurance holding company;
if any director or officer of an applicant continues as a director or officer of the amalgamated insurance holding company, any disclosure by that director or officer of a material interest in any contract made to the applicant shall be deemed to be disclosure to the amalgamated insurance holding company; and
the letters patent of amalgamation are the incorporating instrument of the amalgamated insurance holding company.
Any deemed disclosure under paragraph (1)(g) shall be recorded in the minutes of the first meeting of directors of the amalgamated insurance holding company.
Despite any other provision of this Act or the regulations, the Minister may, by order, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, grant to an insurance holding company in respect of which letters patent were issued under subsection 863(1) permission to
engage in a business activity specified in the order that the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to engage in and that one or more of the amalgamating bodies corporate was engaging in at the time application for the letters patent was made;
continue to have issued and outstanding debt obligations the issue of which is not authorized by this Act if the debt obligations were outstanding at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
hold assets that the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to hold, if the assets were held by one or more of the amalgamating bodies corporate at the time the application for the letters patent was made;
acquire and hold assets that the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted by this Act to acquire or hold, if one or more of the amalgamating bodies corporate were obliged, at the time the application for the letters patent was made, to acquire those assets; and
maintain outside Canada any records or registers required by this Act to be maintained in Canada.
The permission granted under subsection (1) shall be expressed to be granted for a period specified in the order not exceeding
with respect to any matter described in paragraph (1)(a), thirty days after the date of issue of the letters patent or, where the activity is conducted pursuant to an agreement existing on the date of issue of the letters patent, the expiration of the agreement;
with respect to any matter described in paragraph (1)(b), ten years; and
with respect to any matter described in any of paragraphs (1)(c) to (e), two years.
Subject to subsection (4), the Minister, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, may by order renew a permission granted by order under subsection (1) with respect to any matter described in any of paragraphs (1)(b) to (d) for any further period or periods that the Minister considers necessary.
The Minister shall not grant to an insurance holding company any permission
with respect to matters described in paragraph (1)(b), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the effective date of the letters patent of amalgamation issued to effect the amalgamation, unless the Minister is satisfied on the basis of evidence on oath provided by an officer of the insurance holding company that the insurance holding company will not be able at law to redeem at the end of the ten years the outstanding debt obligations to which the permission relates; and
with respect to matters described in paragraphs (1)(c) and (d), that purports to be effective more than ten years after the effective date of the letters patent of amalgamation issued to effect the amalgamation.
Transfer of Business
At the meeting referred to in the notice, the shareholders may authorize the sale, lease or exchange and may fix or authorize the directors to fix any of the sale’s, lease’s or exchange’s terms and conditions.
Each share of the insurance holding company carries the right to vote in respect of the proposal whether or not the share otherwise carries the right to vote.
The holders of shares of a class or series of shares of the insurance holding company are entitled to vote separately as a class or series in respect of the proposal if the shares of the class or series are affected by the proposed transaction in a manner different from the shares of another class or series.
For the purpose of subsection (1), the proposal is not approved unless the holders of the shares of each class or series of shares entitled to vote separately on the proposal have approved the proposal by special resolution.
Where a special resolution under subsection (6) approving a proposed transaction so states, the directors of an insurance holding company may, subject to the rights of third parties, abandon the transaction without further approval of the shareholders.
Head Office and Corporate Records
An insurance holding company shall at all times have a head office in the province specified in its incorporating instrument or by-laws.
The directors of an insurance holding company may change the address of the head office within the province specified in the incorporating instrument or by-laws.
An insurance holding company shall send to the Superintendent, within fifteen days after any change of address of its head office, a notice of the change of address.
An insurance holding company shall prepare and maintain records containing
its incorporating instrument and by-laws and all amendments to them;
minutes of meetings and resolutions of shareholders;
In addition to the records described in subsection (1), an insurance holding company shall prepare and maintain adequate
corporate accounting records; and
records containing minutes of meetings and resolutions of the directors and any committee thereof.
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) and subsection (2),
in the case of a body corporate continued as an insurance holding company under this Part, records includes similar records required by law to be maintained by the body corporate before it was so continued; and
in the case of a body corporate amalgamated and continued as an insurance holding company under this Part, records includes similar records required by law to be maintained by the body corporate before it was so amalgamated.
The records described in section 869 shall be kept at the head office of the insurance holding company or at such other place in Canada as the directors think fit.
Where any of the records described in section 869 are not kept at the head office of an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company shall notify the Superintendent of the place where the records are kept.
The records described in section 869 shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by the directors.
Shareholders and creditors of an insurance holding company and their personal representatives may examine the records referred to in subsection 869(1) during the usual business hours of the insurance holding company and may take extracts from them free of charge or have copies of them made on payment of a reasonable fee. If the insurance holding company is a distributing insurance holding company, any other person may on payment of a reasonable fee examine those records during the usual business hours of the insurance holding company and take extracts from them or have copies of them made.
Every shareholder of an insurance holding company is entitled, on request made not more often than once in each calendar year, to receive free of charge one copy of the by-laws of the insurance holding company.
An insurance holding company may make the information contained in records referred to in subsection 869(1) available to persons by any system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing the records in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
A person who is entitled to a basic list of shareholders of an insurance holding company (in this section referred to as the “applicant”) may request the insurance holding company to furnish the applicant with a basic list within ten days after receipt by the insurance holding company of the affidavit referred to in subsection (2) and, on payment of a reasonable fee by the applicant, the insurance holding company shall comply with the request.
A request under subsection (1) must be accompanied by an affidavit containing
the name and address of the applicant,
the name and address for service of the entity, if the applicant is an entity, and
and, if the applicant is an entity, the affidavit shall be made by a director or an officer of the entity, or any person acting in a similar capacity.
A shareholder or creditor of an insurance holding company or their personal representative — or if the insurance holding company is a distributing insurance holding company, any person — is entitled to a basic list of shareholders of the insurance holding company.
A basic list of shareholders of an insurance holding company consists of a list of shareholders that is made up to a date not more than ten days before the receipt of the affidavit referred to in subsection (2) and that sets out
the names of the shareholders of the insurance holding company;
the number of shares owned by each shareholder; and
the address of each shareholder as shown in the records of the insurance holding company.
A person requiring an insurance holding company to supply a basic list of shareholders may, if the person states in the accompanying affidavit that supplemental lists are required, request the insurance holding company or its agent, on payment of a reasonable fee, to provide supplemental lists of shareholders setting out any changes from the basic list in the names and addresses of the shareholders and the number of shares owned by each shareholder for each business day following the date to which the basic list is made up.
An insurance holding company or its agent shall provide a supplemental list of shareholders required under subsection (5)
within ten days following the date the basic list is provided, where the information relates to changes that took place prior to that date; and
within ten days following the day to which the supplemental list relates, where the information relates to changes that took place on or after the date the basic list was provided.
A person requiring an insurance holding company to supply a basic list or a supplemental list of shareholders may also require the insurance holding company to include in that list the name and address of any known holder of an option or right to acquire shares of the insurance holding company.
A list of shareholders obtained under section 871 shall not be used by any person except in connection with
an effort to influence the voting of shareholders of the insurance holding company;
an offer to acquire shares of the insurance holding company; or
any other matter relating to the affairs of the insurance holding company.
A register or other record required or authorized by this Part to be prepared and maintained by an insurance holding company
may be in a bound or loose-leaf form or in a photographic film form; or
may be entered or recorded by any system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing any required information in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
Registers and records maintained in one form may be converted to any other form.
An insurance holding company and its agents shall take reasonable precautions to
prevent loss or destruction of,
prevent falsification of entries in,
facilitate detection and correction of inaccuracies in, and
ensure that unauthorized persons do not have access to or use of information in,
the registers and records required or authorized by this Part to be prepared and maintained.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that it is incompatible with the fulfilment of the Superintendent’s responsibilities under this Act for an insurance holding company to maintain, in another country, copies of records referred to in section 869 or of its central securities register or for an insurance holding company to process, in another country, information or data relating to the preparation and maintenance of those records or of its central securities register — or if the Superintendent is advised by the Minister that, in the opinion of the Minister, it is not in the national interest for an insurance holding company to do any of those activities in another country — the Superintendent shall direct the insurance holding company to not maintain those copies, or to not process the information or data, as the case may be, in that other country or to maintain those copies or to process the information or data only in Canada.
Where an insurance holding company referred to in subsection 870(1.1) or 274(3) maintains records referred to in section 869 or the central securities register at a place outside Canada, the Superintendent may, in the case referred to in paragraph (a), and shall, in the case referred to in paragraph (b), by order, direct the insurance holding company to maintain a copy of those records or register at any place in Canada as the directors think fit
if the Superintendent is of the opinion that he or she does not have immediate, direct, complete and ongoing access to those records or register; or
if the Superintendent is advised by the Minister that the Minister is of the opinion that it is not in the national interest for the insurance holding company not to maintain a copy of those records or register at any place in Canada.
An insurance holding company shall retain
the records of the insurance holding company referred to in subsection 869(1);
the central securities register referred to in subsection 271(1).
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the records, papers and documents to be retained by an insurance holding company, including the length of time those records, papers and documents are to be retained, and what constitutes immediate, direct, complete and ongoing access, for the purpose of paragraph 876(1.1)(a).
Securities Registers
references to “company” in those sections are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”; and
Corporate Name and Seal
An insurance holding company shall set out its name in legible characters in all contracts, negotiable instruments and other documents evidencing rights or obligations with respect to other parties that are issued or made by or on behalf of the insurance holding company.
An insurance holding company may adopt a corporate seal and change one that it adopted.
A document executed on behalf of an insurance holding company is not invalid merely because a corporate seal is not affixed to it.
Insiders
references to “company” in those sections are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”;
references to “this Act” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Part”; and
references to “this Division” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Subdivision”.
Prospectus
Going-private Transactions and Squeeze-out Transactions
references to “company” are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”;
references to “this Act” are to be read as references to “this Part”;
the reference to “section 242” in paragraph 300(10)(c) is to be read as a reference to “section 854”; and
Compulsory Acquisitions
references to “company” in those sections are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”; and
references to “this Division” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Subdivision”.
Trust Indentures
references to “company” in those sections are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”;
references to “this Act” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Part”;
references to “this Division” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Subdivision”; and
references to “subordinated indebtedness” in those sections are to be read as references to “subordinated indebtedness” as defined in subsection 700(1).
Financial Statements
The financial year of an insurance holding company ends, at the election of the insurance holding company in its by-laws, on the expiration of the thirty-first day of October or the thirty-first day of December in each year.
If, in any year, an insurance holding company comes into existence after the first day of July, its first financial year ends, at its election in its by-laws, on the expiration of the thirty-first day of October or the thirty-first day of December in the next calendar year.
The directors of an insurance holding company shall place before the shareholders at every annual meeting
a comparative annual financial statement relating separately to
the financial year immediately preceding the meeting, and
the financial year, if any, immediately preceding the financial year referred to in subparagraph (i);
the report of the auditor of the insurance holding company; and
any further information respecting the financial position of the insurance holding company and the results of its operations required by the by-laws of the insurance holding company to be placed before the shareholders at the annual meeting.
With respect to each of the financial years to which it relates, the annual statement of an insurance holding company must contain the prescribed statements and any information that is in the opinion of the directors necessary to present fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection (4), the financial position of the insurance holding company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates and the results of the operations and changes in the financial position of the insurance holding company for that financial year.
An insurance holding company shall include with its annual statement
a list of the subsidiaries of the insurance holding company, other than subsidiaries that are not required to be listed by the regulations and subsidiaries acquired pursuant to section 975 or pursuant to a realization of security in accordance with section 976 and which the insurance holding company would not otherwise be permitted to hold, showing, with respect to each subsidiary,
its name and the address of its head or principal office,
the book value of the aggregate of any shares of the subsidiary beneficially owned by the insurance holding company and by other subsidiaries of the insurance holding company, and
the percentage of the voting rights attached to all the outstanding voting shares of the subsidiary that is carried by the aggregate of any voting shares of the subsidiary beneficially owned by the insurance holding company and by other subsidiaries of the insurance holding company; and
such other information as may be prescribed in such form as may be prescribed.
The financial statements referred to in subsection (1), paragraph (3)(a) and subsection 889(1) shall, except as otherwise specified by the Superintendent, be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the primary source of which is the Handbook of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. A reference in any provision of this Act to the accounting principles referred to in this subsection shall be construed as a reference to those generally accepted accounting principles with any specifications so made.
The valuation of the amount, if any, shown in the balance sheet that is included in the annual statement of an insurance holding company in respect of the actuarial and other policy liabilities of the insurance holding company shall be in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice with such changes as may be determined by the Superintendent and any additional directions that may be made by the Superintendent.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting subsidiaries that are not required to be listed for the purposes of paragraph (3)(a).
The directors of an insurance holding company shall approve the annual statement and their approval shall be evidenced by the signature or a printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced facsimile of the signature of
the chief executive officer or, in the event of that officer’s absence or inability to act, any other officer of the insurance holding company authorized by the directors to sign in the stead of the chief executive officer; and
one director, if the signature required by paragraph (a) is that of a director, or two directors if the signature required by that paragraph is that of an officer who is not a director.
An insurance holding company shall not publish copies of an annual statement unless it is approved and signed in accordance with subsection (1).
An insurance holding company shall keep at its head office a copy of the current financial statements of each subsidiary of the insurance holding company.
Subject to this section, the shareholders of an insurance holding company and their personal representatives may, on request therefor, examine the statements referred to in subsection (1) during the usual business hours of the insurance holding company and may take extracts therefrom free of charge.
An insurance holding company may refuse to permit an examination under subsection (2) by any person.
Within fifteen days after a refusal under subsection (3), the insurance holding company shall apply to a court for an order barring the right of the person concerned to make an examination under subsection (2) and the court shall either order the insurance holding company to permit the examination or, if it is satisfied that the examination would be detrimental to the insurance holding company or to any other body corporate the financial statements of which would be subject to examination, bar the right and make any further order it thinks fit.
An insurance holding company shall give the Superintendent and the person seeking to examine the statements referred to in subsection (1) notice of an application to a court under subsection (4), and the Superintendent and the person may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
An insurance holding company shall, no later than 21 days before the date of each annual meeting or before the signing of a resolution under paragraph 779(1)(b) in lieu of the annual meeting, send to each shareholder a copy of the documents referred to in subsections 887(1) and (3) unless that time period is waived by the shareholder.
An insurance holding company is not required to comply with subsection (1) with respect to shareholders who have informed the insurance holding company, in writing, that they do not wish to receive the annual statement.
Where an insurance holding company is required to comply with subsection (1) and the insurance holding company does not comply with that subsection, the annual meeting at which the annual statement is to be considered shall be adjourned until that subsection has been complied with.
If an insurance holding company’s shareholders sign a resolution under paragraph 779(1)(b) in lieu of an annual meeting, the insurance holding company shall send a copy of the documents referred to in subsections 887(1) and (3) to the Superintendent not later than thirty days after the signing of the resolution.
Auditors
Interpretation
The following definitions apply in this Subdivision.
firm of accountants means a partnership, the members of which are accountants engaged in the practice of accounting, or a body corporate that is incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province and engaged in the practice of accounting. (cabinet de comptables)
member, in relation to a firm of accountants, means
an accountant who is a partner in a partnership, the members of which are accountants engaged in the practice of accounting; or
an accountant who is an employee of a firm of accountants. (membre)
Appointment
The shareholders of an insurance holding company shall, by ordinary resolution at the first meeting of shareholders and at each succeeding annual meeting, appoint a firm of accountants to be the auditor of the insurance holding company until the close of the next annual meeting.
The remuneration of the auditor may be fixed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders but, if not so fixed, shall be fixed by the directors.
Qualifications
A firm of accountants is qualified to be an auditor of an insurance holding company if
two or more members of the firm are accountants who
are members in good standing of an institute or association of accountants incorporated by or under an Act of the legislature of a province,
have at least five years experience at a senior level in performing audits of a financial institution,
are ordinarily resident in Canada, and
are independent of the insurance holding company; and
the member of the firm who is jointly designated by the firm and the insurance holding company to conduct the audit of the insurance holding company on behalf of the firm is qualified in accordance with paragraph (a).
For the purposes of subsection (1),
independence is a question of fact; and
a member of a firm of accountants is deemed not to be independent of an insurance holding company if that member, a business partner of that member or the firm of accountants
is a business partner, director, officer or employee of the insurance holding company or of any affiliate of the insurance holding company or is a business partner of any director, officer or employee of the insurance holding company or of any affiliate of the insurance holding company,
beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a material interest in the shares of the insurance holding company or of any affiliate of the insurance holding company, or
has been a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or receiver and manager of any affiliate of the insurance holding company within the two years immediately preceding the person’s proposed appointment as auditor of the insurance holding company, other than an affiliate that is a subsidiary of the insurance holding company acquired pursuant to section 975 or through a realization of a security pursuant to section 976.
For the purposes of subsection (2), a business partner of a member of a firm of accountants includes
another member of the firm; and
a shareholder of the firm or of a business partner of the member.
Within fifteen days after the appointment of a firm of accountants as auditor of an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company and the firm of accountants shall jointly designate a member of the firm who meets the qualifications described in subsection (1) to conduct the audit of the insurance holding company on behalf of the firm and the insurance holding company shall forthwith notify the Superintendent in writing of the designation.
Where for any reason a member of a firm of accountants designated pursuant to subsection (3) ceases to conduct the audit of the insurance holding company, the insurance holding company and the firm of accountants may jointly designate another member of the same firm of accountants who meets the qualifications described in subsection (1) to conduct the audit of the insurance holding company and the insurance holding company shall forthwith notify the Superintendent in writing of the designation.
In any case where subsection (4) applies and a designation is not made pursuant to that subsection within thirty days after the designated member ceases to conduct the audit of the insurance holding company, there shall be deemed to be a vacancy in the office of auditor of the insurance holding company.
An auditor that ceases to be qualified under section 894 shall resign without delay after any member of the firm of accountants becomes aware that the firm has ceased to be so qualified.
Any interested person may apply to a court for an order declaring that an auditor of an insurance holding company has ceased to be qualified under section 894 and declaring the office of auditor to be vacant.
Vacancies
The shareholders of an insurance holding company may, by ordinary resolution at a special meeting, revoke the appointment of an auditor.
The Superintendent may at any time revoke the appointment of an auditor made under subsection (3) or 893(1) or section 898 by notice in writing signed by the Superintendent and sent by registered mail to the auditor and to the insurance holding company addressed to the usual place of business of the auditor and the insurance holding company.
An auditor of an insurance holding company ceases to hold office when
the auditor resigns; or
the appointment of the auditor is revoked by the shareholders or the Superintendent.
The resignation of an auditor becomes effective at the time a written resignation is sent to the insurance holding company or at the time specified in the resignation, whichever is later.
Subject to subsection 896(3), where a vacancy occurs in the office of auditor of an insurance holding company, the directors shall forthwith fill the vacancy, and the auditor so appointed holds office for the unexpired term of office of the predecessor of that auditor.
Where the directors fail to fill a vacancy in accordance with subsection (1), the Superintendent may fill the vacancy and the auditor so appointed holds office for the unexpired term of office of the predecessor of that auditor.
Where the Superintendent has, pursuant to subsection (2), appointed a firm of accountants to fill a vacancy, the Superintendent shall designate the member of the firm who is to conduct the audit of the insurance holding company on behalf of the firm.
The auditor of an insurance holding company is entitled to receive notice of every meeting of shareholders and, at the expense of the insurance holding company, to attend and be heard at those meetings on matters relating to the duties of the auditor.
If a director or a shareholder of an insurance holding company, whether or not the shareholder is entitled to vote at the meeting, gives written notice, not less than ten days before a meeting of shareholders, to an auditor or former auditor of the insurance holding company that the director or shareholder wishes the auditor’s attendance at the meeting, the auditor or former auditor shall attend the meeting at the expense of the insurance holding company and answer questions relating to the auditor’s or former auditor’s duties as auditor.
A director or shareholder who gives notice under subsection (2) shall send concurrently a copy of the notice to the insurance holding company and the insurance holding company shall forthwith send a copy thereof to the Superintendent.
The Superintendent may attend and be heard at any meeting referred to in subsection (2).
An auditor of an insurance holding company who
resigns,
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of revoking the appointment of the auditor, or
receives a notice or otherwise learns of a meeting of directors or shareholders at which another person is to be appointed in the auditor’s stead, whether because of the auditor’s resignation or revocation of appointment or because the auditor’s term of office has expired or is about to expire,
shall submit to the insurance holding company and the Superintendent a written statement giving the reasons for the resignation or the reasons why the auditor opposes any proposed action.
In the case of a proposed replacement of an auditor whether because of removal or the expiry of their term, the insurance holding company shall make a statement of the reasons for the proposed replacement and the proposed replacement auditor may make a statement in which they comment on those reasons.
If an auditor of an insurance holding company has resigned or the appointment of an auditor has been revoked, no firm shall accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as auditor of the insurance holding company until the firm has requested and received from the other auditor a written statement of the circumstances and reasons why the other auditor resigned or why, in the other auditor’s opinion, the other auditor’s appointment was revoked.
Despite subsection (1), a firm may accept an appointment or consent to be appointed as auditor of an insurance holding company if, within fifteen days after a request under that subsection is made, no reply from the other auditor is received.
Examinations and Reports
The auditor of an insurance holding company shall make such examination as the auditor considers necessary to enable the auditor to report on the annual statement and on other financial statements required by this Part to be placed before the shareholders, except such annual statements or parts thereof as relate to the period referred to in subparagraph 887(1)(a)(ii).
The auditor’s examination referred to in subsection (1) shall, except as otherwise specified by the Superintendent, be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the primary source of which is the Handbook of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.
On the request of the auditor of an insurance holding company, the present or former directors, officers, employees or representatives of the insurance holding company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
permit access to such records, assets and security held by the insurance holding company or any entity in which the insurance holding company has a substantial investment, and
provide such information and explanations
as are, in the opinion of the auditor, necessary to enable the auditor to perform the duties of auditor of the insurance holding company.
On the request of the auditor of an insurance holding company, the directors of the insurance holding company shall, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so,
obtain from the present or former directors, officers, employees and representatives of any entity in which the insurance holding company has a substantial investment the information and explanations that such persons are reasonably able to provide and that are, in the opinion of the auditor, necessary to enable the auditor to perform the duties of auditor of the insurance holding company; and
provide the auditor with the information and explanations so obtained.
The Superintendent may, in writing, require that the auditor of an insurance holding company report to the Superintendent on the extent of the auditor’s procedures in the examination of the annual statement and may, in writing, require that the auditor enlarge or extend the scope of that examination or direct that any other particular procedure be performed in any particular case, and the auditor shall comply with any such requirement of the Superintendent and report to the Superintendent thereon.
The Superintendent may, in writing, require that the auditor of an insurance holding company make a particular examination to determine whether any procedures adopted by the insurance holding company may be prejudicial to the interests of depositors, policyholders or creditors of any federal financial institution that is affiliated with the insurance holding company, or any other examination as, in the Superintendent’s opinion, the public interest may require, and report to the Superintendent thereon.
The Superintendent may direct that a special audit of an insurance holding company be made if, in the opinion of the Superintendent, it is so required and may appoint for that purpose a firm of accountants qualified under subsection 894(1) to be an auditor of the insurance holding company.
The auditor shall, not less than twenty-one days before the date of the annual meeting of the shareholders of the insurance holding company, make a report in writing to them on the annual statement.
In each report required under subsection (1), the auditor shall state whether, in the auditor’s opinion, the annual statement presents fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 887(4), the financial position of the insurance holding company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates and the results of the operations and changes in the financial position of the insurance holding company for that financial year.
In each report referred to in subsection (2), the auditor shall include such remarks as the auditor considers necessary when
the examination has not been made in accordance with the auditing standards referred to in subsection 902(2);
the annual statement has not been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the preceding financial year; or
the annual statement does not present fairly, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 887(4), the financial position of the insurance holding company as at the end of the financial year to which it relates or the results of the operations or changes in the financial position of the insurance holding company for that financial year.
The auditor of an insurance holding company shall, if required by the shareholders, audit and report to them on any financial statement submitted to them by the directors, and the report shall state whether, in the auditor’s opinion, the financial statement presents fairly the information required by the shareholders.
A report of the auditor made under subsection (1) shall be attached to the financial statement to which it relates and a copy of the statement and report shall be sent by the directors to every shareholder and to the Superintendent.
An insurance holding company shall take all necessary steps to ensure that
its auditor is the auditor of each of its subsidiaries; and
in the case of a subsidiary with more than one auditor, the auditor of the insurance holding company is one of the subsidiary’s auditors.
Subsection (1) applies in the case of a subsidiary that carries on its operations in a country other than Canada unless the laws of that country do not permit the appointment of the auditor of the insurance holding company as the auditor of that subsidiary.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of any particular subsidiary where the insurance holding company, after having consulted its auditor, is of the opinion that the total assets of the subsidiary are not a material part of the total assets of the insurance holding company.
The auditor of an insurance holding company is entitled to receive notice of every meeting of the audit committee of the insurance holding company and, at the expense of the insurance holding company, to attend and be heard at that meeting.
If so requested by a member of the audit committee, the auditor shall attend every meeting of the audit committee held during the member’s term of office.
The auditor of an insurance holding company or a member of the audit committee may call a meeting of the audit committee.
The chief internal auditor of an insurance holding company or any officer or employee of the insurance holding company acting in a similar capacity shall, at the request of the auditor of the insurance holding company and on receipt of reasonable notice, meet with the auditor.
A director or an officer of an insurance holding company shall forthwith notify the audit committee and the auditor of the insurance holding company of any error or misstatement of which the director or officer becomes aware in an annual statement or other financial statement on which the auditor or any former auditor has reported.
If the auditor or a former auditor of an insurance holding company is notified or becomes aware of an error or misstatement in an annual statement or other financial statement on which the auditor reported and in the auditor’s opinion the error or misstatement is material, the auditor or former auditor shall inform each director of the insurance holding company accordingly.
Where under subsection (2) the auditor or a former auditor of an insurance holding company informs the directors of an error or misstatement in an annual statement or other financial statement, the directors shall
prepare and issue a revised annual statement or financial statement; or
otherwise inform the shareholders and the Superintendent of the error or misstatement.
Qualified Privilege
Any oral or written statement or report made under this Part by the auditor or a former auditor of an insurance holding company has qualified privilege.
Remedial Actions
Subject to subsection (2), a complainant or the Superintendent may apply to a court for leave to bring an action under this Part in the name and on behalf of an insurance holding company or any of its subsidiaries, or to intervene in an action under this Part to which the insurance holding company or a subsidiary of the insurance holding company is a party, for the purpose of prosecuting, defending or discontinuing the action on behalf of the insurance holding company or the subsidiary.
No action may be brought and no intervention in an action may be made under subsection (1) by a complainant unless the court is satisfied that
the complainant has, not less than 14 days before bringing the application or as otherwise ordered by the court, given notice to the directors of the insurance holding company or the insurance holding company’s subsidiary of the complainant’s intention to apply to the court under subsection (1) if the directors of the insurance holding company or the insurance holding company’s subsidiary do not bring, diligently prosecute or defend or discontinue the action;
the complainant is acting in good faith; and
it appears to be in the interests of the insurance holding company or the subsidiary that the action be brought, prosecuted, defended or discontinued.
A complainant under subsection (1) shall give the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
In connection with an action brought or intervened in under subsection 912(1), the court may at any time make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order authorizing the Superintendent, the complainant or any other person to control the conduct of the action;
an order giving directions for the conduct of the action;
an order directing that any amount adjudged payable by a defendant in the action be paid, in whole or in part, directly to former and present security holders of the insurance holding company who are entitled to participate in its profits or of the subsidiary instead of to the insurance holding company or to the subsidiary; and
an order requiring the insurance holding company or the subsidiary to pay reasonable legal fees incurred by the Superintendent or the complainant in connection with the action.
Despite subsection (1), the court may not make any order in relation to any matter that would, under this Part, require the approval of the Minister or the Superintendent.
An application made or an action brought or intervened in under this Subdivision need not be stayed or dismissed by reason only that it is shown that an alleged breach of a right or duty owed to the insurance holding company or its subsidiary has been or might be approved by the shareholders of the insurance holding company or subsidiary or both, but evidence of approval by the shareholders may be taken into account by the court in making an order under section 913.
An application made or an action brought or intervened in under this Subdivision shall not be stayed, discontinued, settled or dismissed for want of prosecution without the approval of the court given on such terms as the court thinks fit and, if the court determines that the interests of any complainant might be substantially affected by any stay, discontinuance, settlement or dismissal, the court may order any party to the application or action to give notice to the complainant.
In an application made or an action brought or intervened in under this Subdivision, the court may at any time order the insurance holding company or its subsidiary to pay to the complainant interim costs, including legal fees and disbursements, but the complainant may be held accountable by the court for those interim costs on final disposition of the application or action.
If the name of a person is alleged to be or to have been wrongly entered or retained in, or wrongly deleted or omitted from, the securities register or any other record of an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company, a security holder of the insurance holding company or any aggrieved person may apply to a court for an order that the securities register or record be rectified.
An applicant under this section shall give the Superintendent notice of the application and the Superintendent may appear and be heard in person or by counsel at the hearing of the application.
In connection with an application under this section, the court may make any order it thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
an order requiring the securities register or other record of the insurance holding company to be rectified;
an order restraining an insurance holding company from calling or holding a meeting of shareholders or paying a dividend to shareholders before the rectification;
an order determining the right of a party to the proceedings to have the party’s name entered or retained in, or deleted or omitted from, the securities register or records of the insurance holding company, whether the issue arises between two or more security holders or alleged security holders, or between the insurance holding company and any security holder or alleged security holder; and
an order compensating a party who has incurred a loss.
Liquidation and Dissolution
Interpretation
In this Subdivision, court means a court having jurisdiction in the place where the insurance holding company has its head office.
Application
This Subdivision does not apply to an insurance holding company that is an insolvent person or a bankrupt as those terms are defined in subsection 2(1) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Any proceedings taken under this Subdivision to dissolve or to liquidate and dissolve an insurance holding company shall be stayed if the insurance holding company is at any time found in a proceeding under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to be an insolvent person as defined in subsection 2(1) of that Act.
The Winding-up and Restructuring Act does not apply to an insurance holding company.
A liquidator appointed under this Subdivision to wind up the business of an insurance holding company shall provide the Superintendent with such information relating to the business and affairs of the insurance holding company in such form as the Superintendent requires.
Simple Liquidation
An insurance holding company that has no property and no liabilities may, if authorized by a special resolution of the shareholders or, if there are no shareholders, by a resolution of all the directors, apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the insurance holding company.
Where the Minister has received an application under subsection (1) and is satisfied that all the circumstances so warrant, the Minister may issue letters patent dissolving the insurance holding company.
An insurance holding company in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (2) ceases to exist on the day stated in the letters patent.
The voluntary liquidation and dissolution of an insurance holding company, other than an insurance holding company referred to in subsection 920(1),
may be proposed by its directors; or
A notice of any meeting of shareholders at which the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of an insurance holding company is to be proposed shall set out the terms of the proposal.
Where the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of an insurance holding company is proposed, the insurance holding company may apply to the Minister for letters patent dissolving the insurance holding company if authorized by a special resolution of the shareholders or, where the insurance holding company has issued more than one class of shares, by special resolution of each class of shareholders whether or not those shareholders are otherwise entitled to vote.
No action directed toward the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of an insurance holding company shall be taken by an insurance holding company, other than as provided in sections 921 and 922, until an application made by the insurance holding company pursuant to section 922 has been approved by the Minister.
Where the Minister is satisfied on the basis of an application made under section 922 that the circumstances warrant the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of an insurance holding company, the Minister may, by order, approve the application.
Where the Minister has approved an application made pursuant to section 922 with respect to an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company shall not carry on business except to the extent necessary to complete its voluntary liquidation.
Where the Minister has approved an application made pursuant to section 922 with respect to an insurance holding company, the insurance holding company shall
cause notice of the approval to be sent to each known claimant against and creditor of the insurance holding company;
publish notice of the approval once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Canada Gazette and once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers in general circulation in each province in which the insurance holding company transacted any business within the preceding twelve months;
proceed to collect its property, dispose of property that is not to be distributed in kind to its shareholders, discharge or provide for all its obligations and do all other acts required to liquidate its business; and
An insurance holding company in respect of which letters patent are issued under subsection (1) is dissolved and ceases to exist on the day stated in the letters patent.
Court-supervised Liquidation
references to “company” in those sections are to be read as references to “insurance holding company”;
references to “this Part” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Division”;
references to “this Division” in those sections are to be read as references to “this Subdivision”;
those sections are to be read without reference to “policyholder”;
Ownership
No person, or entity controlled by a person, shall, without the approval of the Minister, purchase or otherwise acquire any share of an insurance holding company or purchase or otherwise acquire control of any entity that holds any share of an insurance holding company if
the acquisition would cause the person to have a significant interest in any class of shares of the insurance holding company; or
where the person has a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company, the acquisition would increase the significant interest of the person in that class of shares.
If the entity that would result from an amalgamation, a merger or a reorganization would have a significant interest in a class of shares of an insurance holding company, the entity is deemed to be acquiring a significant interest in that class of shares of the insurance holding company through an acquisition for which the approval of the Minister is required under subsection (1).
On application by an insurance holding company, other than an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection (4) or (6) applies, the Superintendent may exempt from the application of subsection (1) and section 934 any class of non-voting shares of the insurance holding company if the aggregate book value of the shares of the class is not more than 30 per cent of the aggregate book value of all the outstanding shares of the insurance holding company.
If an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies controls a life company and a person becomes a major shareholder of the life company or of any entity that also controls the life company, the insurance holding company must to do all things necessary to ensure that, on the day that is one year after the person became a major shareholder of the life company or entity that controls the life company,
the insurance holding company no longer controls the life company; or
the life company or the entity that controls the life company does not have any major shareholder other than the insurance holding company or any entity that the insurance holding company controls.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a life company with equity of less than two hundred and fifty million dollars, or any other amount that may be prescribed.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the insurance holding company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
Despite subsection 928(1), if an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies controls a life company in respect of which subsection 928(1) does not apply by reason of subsection 928(2) and the equity of the life company reaches two hundred and fifty million dollars or more or any other amount that is prescribed and on the day the equity of the life company reaches two hundred and fifty million dollars or more, or the prescribed amount, as the case may be, a person is a major shareholder of the life company or of any entity that also controls the life company, the insurance holding company must do all things necessary to ensure that, on the day that is three years after that day,
the insurance holding company no longer controls the life company; or
the life company or the entity that controls the life company does not have any major shareholder other than the insurance holding company or any entity that the insurance holding company controls.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the insurance holding company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
If an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(6) applies controls a life company and a person acquires a significant interest in any class of shares of the life company or of any entity that also controls the life company, the insurance holding company must to do all things necessary to ensure that, on the day that is one year after the person acquired the significant interest in the class of shares of the life company or entity that controls the life company,
the insurance holding company no longer controls the life company; or
no person has a significant interest in any class of shares of the life company or the entity that controls the life company, other than the insurance holding company or any entity that the insurance holding company controls.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a life company with equity of less than two hundred and fifty million dollars, or any other amount that may be prescribed.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that the insurance holding company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with subsection (1) on the required day, the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which it must comply with that subsection.
No person who has a significant interest in any class of shares of a widely held insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies may have a significant interest in any class of shares of a subsidiary of the insurance holding company that is a life company or an insurance holding company.
No person who has a significant interest in any class of shares of an insurance holding company may have a significant interest in any class of shares of
a widely held converted company in respect of which subsection 407(4) applies that controls the insurance holding company;
a widely held company to which subsection 407(5) applies that controls the insurance holding company; or
a widely held insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 407(6) applies that controls the insurance holding company.
No person shall acquire control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), of an insurance holding company without the approval of the Minister.
If the entity that would result from an amalgamation, a merger or a reorganization would control, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), an insurance holding company, the entity is deemed to be acquiring control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the insurance holding company through an acquisition for which the approval of the Minister is required under subsection (1).
No insurance holding company shall, unless the acquisition of the share has been approved by the Minister, record in its securities register a transfer or issue of any share of the insurance holding company to any person or to any entity controlled by a person if
the transfer or issue of the share would cause the person to have a significant interest in any class of shares of the insurance holding company; or
where the person has a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company, the transfer or issue of the share would increase the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the insurance holding company.
Despite section 934, if, as a result of a transfer or issue of shares of a class of shares of an insurance holding company to a person, other than an eligible agent, the total number of shares of that class registered in the securities register of the insurance holding company in the name of that person would not exceed 5,000 and would not exceed 0.1% of the outstanding shares of that class, the insurance holding company is entitled to assume that no person is acquiring or increasing a significant interest in that class of shares of the insurance holding company as a result of that issue or transfer of shares.
Despite subsections 927(1) and (2) and section 934, the approval of the Minister is not required in respect of an insurance holding company, other than an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies, if a person with a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company or an entity controlled by a person with a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company purchases or otherwise acquires shares of that class, or acquires control of any entity that holds any share of that class, and the number of shares of that class purchased or otherwise acquired, or the acquisition of control of the entity, as the case may be, would not increase the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the insurance holding company to a percentage that is greater than the percentage referred to in subsection (2) or (3), whichever is applicable.
Subject to subsection (3), for the purposes of subsection (1), the percentage is 5 percentage points in excess of the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the insurance holding company on the day of the most recent purchase or acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, for which approval was given by the Minister.
If a person has a significant interest in a class of shares of an insurance holding company and the person’s percentage of that class has decreased after the date of the most recent purchase or other acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, for which approval was given by the Minister, the percentage for the purposes of subsection (1) is the percentage that is the lesser of
5 percentage points in excess of the significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the insurance holding company on the day of the most recent purchase or other acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, for which approval was given by the Minister, and
10 percentage points in excess of the lowest significant interest of the person in that class of shares of the insurance holding company at any time after the day of the most recent purchase or other acquisition by the person or any entity controlled by the person, other than the entity referred to in subsection (1), of shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, or of control of an entity that held shares of that class of shares of the insurance holding company, for which approval was given by the Minister.
Subsection (1) does not apply if the purchase or other acquisition of shares or the acquisition of control referred to in that subsection would
result in the acquisition of control of the insurance holding company by the person referred to in that subsection;
where the person controls the insurance holding company but the voting rights attached to the aggregate of any voting shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by the person and by entities controlled by the person do not exceed 50 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the insurance holding company, cause the voting rights attached to that aggregate to exceed 50 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the insurance holding company;
result in the acquisition of a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company by an entity controlled by the person and the acquisition of that investment is not exempted by the regulations; or
result in an increase in a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company by an entity controlled by the person by a percentage that is greater than the percentage referred to in subsection (2) or (3), whichever is applicable, and the increase is not exempted by the regulations.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
exempting from the application of paragraph (4)(c) the acquisition of a significant interest in a class of shares of the insurance holding company by an entity controlled by the person; and
the Superintendent has, by order, directed the insurance holding company to increase its capital and shares of the insurance holding company are issued and acquired in accordance with the terms and conditions, if any, that may be specified in the order; or
a person, other than an eligible agent, who controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(a), the insurance holding company acquires additional shares of the insurance holding company.
the purchase or other acquisition of such number or percentage of shares of an insurance holding company as may be required in a particular transaction or series of transactions; or
the purchase or other acquisition of up to a specified number or percentage of shares of an insurance holding company within a specified period.
Every insurance holding company shall, from and after the day determined under this section in respect of that insurance holding company, have, and continue to have, voting shares that carry at least 35 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the insurance holding company and that are
shares of one or more classes of shares that are listed and posted for trading on a recognized stock exchange in Canada; and
shares none of which is beneficially owned by a person who is a major shareholder of the insurance holding company in respect of the voting shares of the insurance holding company or by any entity that is controlled by a person who is a major shareholder of the insurance holding company in respect of such shares.
If the insurance holding company has equity of four billion dollars or more on the day it comes into existence, the day referred to in subsection (1) is the day that is three years after that day and, in the case of any other insurance holding company, the day referred to in subsection (1) is the day that is three years after the day of the first annual meeting of the shareholders of the insurance holding company held after the equity of the insurance holding company first reaches four billion dollars.
If general market conditions so warrant and the Minister is satisfied that an insurance holding company has used its best efforts to be in compliance with this section on the day determined under subsection (2), the Minister may specify a later day as the day from and after which the insurance holding company must comply with subsection (1).
Unless an exemption order with respect to the insurance holding company is granted under section 941, if an insurance holding company fails to comply with section 938 in any month, the Minister may, by order, require the insurance holding company not to have, until it complies with that section, average total assets in any three month period ending on the last day of a subsequent month exceeding the insurance holding company’s average total assets in the three month period ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the month specified in the order.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the average total assets of an insurance holding company in a three month period shall be computed by adding the total assets of the insurance holding company as calculated for the month end of each of the three months in the period and by dividing the sum by three.
Where the Superintendent has, by order, directed an insurance holding company to increase its capital and shares of the insurance holding company are issued and acquired in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified in the order, section 938 shall not apply in respect of the insurance holding company until such time as the Superintendent may, by order, specify.
On application by an insurance holding company and subject to any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate, the Minister may by order exempt the insurance holding company from the requirements of section 938 if the Minister considers it appropriate to do so.
The insurance holding company shall comply with section 938 as of the day on which the exemption order expires.
If an insurance holding company fails to comply with section 938 on the day referred to in subsection (2), it shall not, until it complies with that section, have average total assets in any three month period ending on the last day of a subsequent month exceeding its average total assets in the three month period ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the day referred to in subsection (2) or on any later day that the Minister may specify by order.
a distribution to the public of voting shares of the insurance holding company;
a redemption or purchase of voting shares of the insurance holding company;
the exercise of any option to acquire voting shares of the insurance holding company; or
the conversion of any convertible securities into voting shares of the insurance holding company.
If as the result of an event that has occurred and is continuing, shares of an insurance holding company acquire voting rights in such number as to cause the insurance holding company to no longer be in compliance with section 938, section 939 does not apply in respect of that insurance holding company until the expiration of six months after the day the insurance holding company ceased to be in compliance with section 938 or such later day as the Minister may, by order, specify.
[Repealed]
Subject to subsection (2) and sections 934 and 944, section 938 does not apply in respect of an insurance holding company if a person acquires control of an insurance holding company with equity of four billion dollars or more through the purchase or other acquisition of all or any number of the shares of the insurance holding company by the person or by any entity controlled by the person.
Subsection (1) applies only if the person provides the Minister with an undertaking satisfactory to the Minister to do all things necessary so that, within three years after the acquisition, or any other period that the Minister may specify, the insurance holding company has voting shares that carry at least 35 per cent of the voting rights attached to all of the outstanding voting shares of the insurance holding company and that are
shares of one or more classes of shares that are listed and posted for trading on a recognized stock exchange in Canada; and
shares none of which is beneficially owned by a person who is a major shareholder of the insurance holding company in respect of the voting shares of the insurance holding company or by any entity that is controlled by a person who is a major shareholder of the insurance holding company in respect of such shares.
If, with respect to any insurance holding company, a particular person contravenes subsection 927(1), (4) or (6) or section 930, 931, 932 or 933 or fails to comply with an undertaking referred to in subsection 943(2) or with any term or condition imposed under section 948, no person, and no entity controlled by the particular person, shall, in person or by proxy, exercise any voting rights
that are attached to shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by the particular person or any entity controlled by the particular person; or
that are subject to an agreement entered into by the particular person, or any entity controlled by the particular person, pertaining to the exercise of the voting rights.
Subsection (1) ceases to apply in respect of a person when, as the case may be,
the shares to which the contravention relates have been disposed of;
the person ceases to control the insurance holding company within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d);
if the person failed to comply with a term or condition imposed under section 948, the person complies with the term or condition.
Despite subsection (1), if a person contravenes subsection 927(4) by reason only that, as a result of an event that has occurred and is continuing and is not within the control of the person, shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by the person or by any entity controlled by the person acquire voting rights in such number so as to cause the person to be a major shareholder of the insurance holding company, the Minister may, after a consideration of the circumstances, permit the person and any entity controlled by the person to exercise voting rights, in person or by proxy, in respect of any class of voting shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by them that do not in aggregate exceed 20 per cent of the voting rights attached to that class of voting shares.
An application for an approval of the Minister required under this Division must be filed with the Superintendent and contain the information, material and evidence that the Superintendent may require.
If, with respect to any particular transaction, this Division applies to more than one person, any one of those persons may make the application to the Minister for approval on behalf of all of those persons.
the nature and sufficiency of the financial resources of the applicant or applicants as a source of continuing financial support for any company that is a subsidiary of the insurance holding company;
the soundness and feasibility of the plans of the applicant or applicants for the future conduct and development of the business of any company that is a subsidiary of the insurance holding company;
the business record and experience of the applicant or applicants;
the character and integrity of the applicant or applicants or, if the applicant or any of the applicants is a body corporate, its reputation for being operated in a manner that is consistent with the standards of good character and integrity;
whether the insurance holding company will be operated responsibly by persons with the competence and experience suitable for involvement in the operation of a financial institution;
the impact of any integration of the businesses and operations of the applicant or applicants with those of the insurance holding company and its affiliates on the conduct of those businesses and operations; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
more than 10 per cent but no more than 20 per cent of any class of the outstanding voting shares of an insurance holding company in respect of which subsection 927(4) applies; or
more than 10 per cent but no more than 30 per cent of any class of the outstanding non-voting shares of such an insurance holding company.
Where a transaction in respect of which subsection 927(1) or (2) applies would cause an insurance holding company to become a subsidiary of a foreign institution that is engaged in the insurance business, that does not have any other insurance holding company as its subsidiary and that is a non-WTO Member foreign institution, the Minister shall not approve the transaction unless the Minister is satisfied that treatment as favourable for insurance holding companies to which this Act applies exists or will be provided in the jurisdiction in which the foreign institution principally carries on business, either directly or through a subsidiary.
The Minister may impose any terms and conditions in respect of an approval given under this Division that the Minister considers necessary to ensure compliance with any provision of this Act.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, an application filed under this Division contains all the required information, the Superintendent shall without delay refer the application to the Minister and send a receipt to the applicant certifying the date on which the completed application was received by the Superintendent.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, an application filed under this Division is incomplete, the Superintendent shall send a notice to the applicant specifying the information required by the Superintendent to complete the application.
a notice approving the transaction to which the application relates; or
where the Minister is not satisfied that the transaction to which the application relates should be approved, a notice to that effect, advising the applicant of the right to make representations to the Minister in respect of the matter.
the application involves the acquisition of control of an insurance holding company;
the application is made by an eligible agent or an entity controlled by an eligible agent; or
an application is made for the approval referred to in subsection 954(3).
Where the Minister is unable to complete the consideration of an application within the period referred to in subsection (1), the Minister shall,
within that period, send a notice to that effect to the applicant; and
within a further period of thirty days after the date of the sending of the notice referred to in paragraph (a) or within such other further period as may be agreed on by the applicant and the Minister, send a notice referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) to the applicant.
Where the Minister considers it appropriate to do so, the Minister may extend the period referred to in subsection (2) for one or more periods of forty-five days.
Where, after receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph 950(1)(b), the applicant advises the Minister that the applicant wishes to make representations, the Minister shall provide the applicant with a reasonable opportunity within a period of thirty days after the date of the notice, or within such further period as may be agreed on by the applicant and the Minister, to make representations in respect of the matter.
If, after receipt of the notice sent in accordance with subsection 950(2) that the Minister is not satisfied that the transaction to which the application relates should be approved, the applicant advises the Minister that the applicant wishes to make representations, the Minister shall provide the applicant with a reasonable opportunity within a period of 45 days after the date of the notice, or within any further period that may be agreed on by the applicant and the Minister, to make representations in respect of the matter.
Within a period of thirty days after the expiration of the period for making representations referred to in subsection 951(1), the Minister shall, in the light of any such representations and having regard to the matters to be taken into account, send a notice to the applicant indicating whether or not the Minister approves the transaction to which the application relates.
Within a period of forty-five days after the expiration of the period for making representations referred to in subsection 951(2), the Minister shall, in the light of any such representations and having regard to the matters to be taken into account, send a notice to the applicant indicating whether or not the Minister approves the transaction to which the application relates.
No insurance holding company shall record in its securities register a transfer or issue of any share of the insurance holding company to
Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or any agent or agency of Her Majesty in either of those rights; or
the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or any agent or agency thereof.
Despite subsection (1), an insurance holding company may record in its securities register a transfer or issue of any share of the insurance holding company to a foreign institution that is controlled by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision of a foreign country, or by any agent or agency of a foreign government, if the share that is transferred or issued is beneficially owned by the foreign institution or by an entity controlled by the foreign institution.
Despite subsection (1), an insurance holding company may, with the Minister’s approval, record in its securities register the issue of any share of the insurance holding company to an eligible agent.
The application for the approval referred to in subsection (3) must be made jointly by the insurance holding company and the eligible agent.
If an approval referred to in subsection (3) is revoked, the insurance holding company shall delete any entry in its securities register in respect of the recording of the issuance of shares to the eligible agent.
If an insurance holding company or an eligible agent fails to comply with any undertaking or term or condition in relation to an approval referred to in subsection (3), or if an eligible agent ceases to be an eligible agent, the Minister may, if the Minister considers it to be in the public interest to do so, by order, direct the eligible agent or former eligible agent and any person controlled by the eligible agent or former eligible agent to dispose of any number of shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by the eligible agent or former eligible agent or the persons controlled by the eligible agent or former eligible agent that the Minister specifies in the order, within the time specified in the order and in the proportion, if any, as between the eligible agent or former eligible agent and the persons controlled by the eligible agent or former eligible agent that is specified in the order.
No direction shall be made under subsection (7) unless the Minister has provided each person to whom the direction relates and the insurance holding company concerned with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the subject-matter of the direction.
Notwithstanding section 775, where any voting shares of an insurance holding company are beneficially owned by
Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or any agency of Her Majesty in either of those rights, or
the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or any agency thereof,
no person shall, in person or by proxy, exercise the voting rights attached to those shares.
Subsection (1) does not apply to a foreign institution that is controlled by the government of a foreign country or any political subdivision of a foreign country, or by any agent or agency of a foreign government, if the shares referred to in subsection (1) are beneficially owned by the foreign institution or by an entity controlled by the foreign institution.
If an approval referred to in subsection 954(3) is suspended, the eligible agent shall not exercise, in person or by proxy, any voting rights attached to any share of the insurance holding company that is beneficially owned by the eligible agent.
If, with respect to any insurance holding company, a person contravenes subsection 927(1), (4) or (6) or section 930, 931, 932 or 933 or fails to comply with an undertaking referred to in subsection 943(2) or with any term or condition imposed under section 948, the Minister may, if the Minister considers it in the public interest to do so, by order, direct that person and any person controlled by that person to dispose of such number of shares of the insurance holding company beneficially owned by any of those persons as the Minister specifies in the order, within such time as the Minister specifies therein and in such proportion, if any, as between the person and the persons controlled by that person as is specified in the order.
No direction shall be made under subsection (1) unless the Minister has provided each person to whom the direction relates and the insurance holding company concerned with a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the subject-matter of the direction.
A court may, on an application under subsection (1), make such order as the circumstances require to give effect to the terms of the direction and may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, require the insurance holding company concerned to sell the shares that are the subject-matter of the direction.
An appeal from an order of a court under this section lies in the same manner as, and to the same court to which, an appeal may be taken from any other order of the court.
This Division does not apply to a securities underwriter in respect of shares of a body corporate or ownership interests in an unincorporated entity that are acquired by the underwriter in the course of a distribution to the public of those shares or ownership interests and that are held by the underwriter for a period of not more than six months.
The directors of an insurance holding company may make such arrangements as they deem necessary to carry out the intent of this Division and, in particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may
require any person in whose name a share of the insurance holding company is held to submit a declaration setting out
the beneficial ownership of the share, and
such other information as the directors deem relevant for the purposes of this Division;
require any person who wishes to have a transfer of a share registered in the name of, or to have a share issued to, that person to submit a declaration referred to in paragraph (a) as though the person were the holder of that share; and
determine the circumstances in which a declaration referred to in paragraph (a) is to be required, the form of the declaration and the times at which it is to be submitted.
The Superintendent may, by order, direct an insurance holding company to obtain from any person in whose name a share of the insurance holding company is held a declaration setting out the name of every entity controlled by that person and containing information concerning
the ownership or beneficial ownership of the share; and
such other related matters as are specified by the Superintendent.
As soon as possible after receipt by an insurance holding company of a direction under subsection (2),
the insurance holding company shall comply with the direction; and
Where, pursuant to this section, a declaration is required to be submitted by a shareholder or other person in respect of the issue or transfer of any share, an insurance holding company may refuse to issue the share or register the transfer unless the required declaration is submitted.
An insurance holding company and any person who is a director or an officer, employee or agent of the insurance holding company may rely on any information contained in a declaration required by the directors pursuant to section 959 or on any information otherwise acquired in respect of any matter that might be the subject of such a declaration, and no action lies against the insurance holding company or any such person for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in reliance on any such information.
The Governor in Council may, by regulation, exempt from any of the provisions of this Division any transaction or any class of transactions involving the transfer of shares on the death of the beneficial owner thereof, or any arrangement made in contemplation of the death of the beneficial owner, to one or more members of the beneficial owner’s family, or to one or more trustees on their behalf.
Nothing in, or done under the authority of, this Act affects the operation of the Competition Act.
Business and Powers
Subject to this Part, an insurance holding company shall not engage in or carry on any business other than
acquiring, holding and administering investments that are permitted by this Part;
providing management, advisory, financing, accounting, information processing or other prescribed services to entities in which it has a substantial investment; and
any other prescribed business.
The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing businesses or services for the purposes of subsection (1).
Except with the approval of the Superintendent, an insurance holding company shall not be a general partner in a limited partnership or a partner in a general partnership.
For the purposes of subsection (1), general partnership means any partnership other than a limited partnership.
An insurance holding company shall not guarantee on behalf of any person the payment or repayment of any sum of money.
Subsection (1) does not apply if
the person on whose behalf the insurance holding company has undertaken to guarantee the payment or repayment is a subsidiary of the insurance holding company; and
the subsidiary has an unqualified obligation to reimburse the insurance holding company for the full amount of the payment or repayment to be guaranteed.
The Governor in Council may make regulations imposing terms and conditions in respect of guarantees permitted by this section.
Investments
Interpretation
The definitions in subsection 490(1) apply in respect of insurance holding companies, subject to the following:
the reference to “company” in the definition permitted entity is to be read as a reference to “insurance holding company”.
For the purpose of this Division, a member of an insurance holding company’s group is any of the following:
a prescribed entity in relation to the insurance holding company.
This Division does not apply in respect of
the holding of a security interest in real property, unless the security interest is prescribed under paragraph 984(a) to be an interest in real property; or
the holding of a security interest in securities of an entity.
Investments
Subject to this Division, an insurance holding company may invest its funds in the shares of or ownership interests in any entity or make any other investment that its directors consider necessary or advisable to manage the insurance holding company’s liquidity.
General Constraints on Investments
The directors of an insurance holding company shall establish and the insurance holding company shall adhere to investment and lending policies, standards and procedures that a reasonable and prudent person would apply to avoid undue risk of loss and obtain a reasonable return.
The aggregate value of all ownership interests in the business growth fund and the entities that the business growth fund controls that an insurance holding company and its subsidiaries hold must not exceed $200,000,000.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the value of an ownership interest is determined by the amount paid for it at the time of its issuance.
An insurance holding company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity other than a permitted entity by way of
an acquisition of shares or ownership interests in the entity by
An insurance holding company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity by way of
a temporary investment permitted by section 974;
an acquisition of shares of a body corporate or of ownership interests in an unincorporated entity permitted by section 975; or
a realization of security permitted by section 976.
For greater certainty, an insurance holding company is prohibited from acquiring control of the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls.
An insurance holding company is prohibited from holding or acquiring a substantial investment in the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls if the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls holds or acquires shares of, or other ownership interests in, any of the following entities, or in any entity that controls any of the following entities:
an entity that is primarily engaged in the leasing of motor vehicles in Canada for the purpose of extending credit to a customer or financing a customer’s acquisition of a motor vehicle;
an entity that is primarily engaged in providing temporary possession of personal property, including motor vehicles, to customers in Canada for a purpose other than to finance the customer’s acquisition of the property;
an entity that acts as an insurance broker or agent in Canada; or
an entity that is engaged in any prescribed activity.
An insurance holding company is prohibited from holding or acquiring a substantial investment in the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls if the business growth fund or any entity that the business growth fund controls holds shares of, or other ownership interests in, an entity or holds a loan made to an entity and, in respect of that entity and its affiliates, the aggregate value of the following exceeds $100,000,000:
all ownership interests that are held by the insurance holding company, the insurance holding company’s subsidiaries, the business growth fund or the entities that the business growth fund controls, the value of those ownership interests as determined by the amount paid for them at the time each was first acquired by any of those entities; and
the outstanding principal of all loans held by the business growth fund or the entities that the business growth fund controls.
An insurance holding company is deemed not to contravene subsection (1) if the insurance holding company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity solely as the result of an event not within the control of the insurance holding company.
Despite having acquired control of, or a substantial investment in, an entity under a particular provision of this Part, an insurance holding company may continue to control the entity or hold the substantial investment in the entity as though it had made the acquisition under another provision of this Part so long as the conditions of that other provision are met.
If an insurance holding company decides to exercise its right under subsection (5), the insurance holding company is deemed to be acquiring the control or the substantial investment under the other provision.
The Governor in Council may make regulations
respecting the determination of the amount or value of loans, investments and interests for the purposes of this Division;
respecting the loans and investments, and the maximum aggregate amount of all loans and investments, that may be made or acquired by an insurance holding company and its prescribed subsidiaries to or in a person and any persons connected with that person;
specifying the classes of persons who are connected with any person for the purposes of paragraph (b); and
prescribing terms and conditions under which an insurance holding company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, a specialized financing entity.
Subsidiaries and Equity Investments
a company or a society;
an insurance holding company;
a bank;
a bank holding company;
a body corporate to which the Trust and Loan Companies Act applies;
an association to which the Cooperative Credit Associations Act applies;
a trust, loan or insurance corporation incorporated or formed by or under an Act of the legislature of a province;
a cooperative credit society incorporated or formed, and regulated, by or under an Act of the legislature of a province;
an entity that is incorporated or formed by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province and that is primarily engaged in dealing in securities; or
an entity that is incorporated or formed, and regulated, otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province and that is primarily engaged outside Canada in a business that, if carried on in Canada, would be the business of banking, the business of a cooperative credit society, the business of insurance, the business of providing fiduciary services or the business of dealing in securities.
acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, entities in which an insurance holding company is permitted under this Division to hold or acquire;
engaging in the provision of any services exclusively to any or all of the following, so long as the entity is providing those services to the insurance holding company or any member of the insurance holding company’s group:
the insurance holding company,
any member of the insurance holding company’s group,
any entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services,
any permitted entity in which an entity referred to in subparagraph (iii) has a substantial investment, or
any prescribed person, if it is doing so under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed;
the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by any member of the insurance holding company’s group, or
if a significant portion of the business of the entity involves an activity referred to in subparagraph (i), the promotion, sale, delivery or distribution of a financial product or financial service that is provided by any other entity that is primarily engaged in the business of providing financial services;
engaging in the activities referred to in the definition closed-end fund, mutual fund distribution entity or mutual fund entity as defined in subsection 490(1); and
engaging in prescribed activities, under prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed.
Subject to subsection (3), an insurance holding company may — under any prescribed terms and conditions — acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, a permitted infrastructure entity.
An insurance holding company may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity whose business includes any activity referred to in any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (e), or in any regulation made under paragraph 2.2(b), if the entity engages in the business of accepting deposit liabilities or if the activities of the entity include
dealing in securities, except as may be permitted under paragraph (2)(e) or as may be permitted to a company under paragraph 440(2)(b);
activities that a company is not permitted to engage in under any regulation made under section 489 if the entity engages in the activities of a finance entity or of any other entity as may be prescribed;
acquiring control of or acquiring or holding a substantial investment in another entity unless
in the case of an entity, other than a permitted infrastructure entity, that is controlled by the insurance holding company, a company would be permitted under Part IX to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity,
in the case of an entity, other than a permitted infrastructure entity, that is not controlled by the insurance holding company, a company would be permitted to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity under subsection 493(2), paragraph 493(3)(b) or (c) or subsection 493(4) or 495(1), (2) or (2.1), or
in the case of a permitted infrastructure entity, whether or not that entity is controlled by the insurance holding company, a company would be permitted to acquire a substantial investment in the other entity under subsection 495(2.1); or
any prescribed activity.
Despite paragraph (3)(a), an insurance holding company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, any entity that acts as a trustee for a trust if the entity has been permitted under the laws of a province to act as a trustee for a trust and the following conditions are satisfied:
the entity acts as a trustee only with respect to a closed-end fund or mutual fund entity; and
if the entity engages in other business, that business is limited to engaging in one or more of the following:
the activities of a mutual fund distribution entity,
any activity that a company is permitted to engage in under subsection 441(1.1), and
the provision of investment counselling services and portfolio management services.
Subject to subsection (8) and the regulations, an insurance holding company may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in,
an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (j), unless
the insurance holding company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity, or
the insurance holding company is permitted by regulations made under paragraph 977(a) to acquire or increase the substantial investment;
an entity whose business includes one or more of the activities referred to in paragraph (2)(a) and that engages, as part of its business, in any financial intermediary activity that exposes the entity to material market or credit risk, including a finance entity, a factoring entity and a financial leasing entity, unless
the insurance holding company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity, or
the insurance holding company is permitted by regulations made under paragraph 977(a) to acquire or increase the substantial investment; or
an entity whose business includes an activity referred to in paragraph (2)(b), including a specialized financing entity, unless
the insurance holding company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(d), the entity, or would thereby acquire control, within the meaning of that paragraph, of the entity,
the insurance holding company is permitted by regulations made under paragraph 977(a) to acquire or increase the substantial investment, or
subject to prescribed terms and conditions, if any are prescribed, the activities of the entity do not include the acquisition or holding of control of, or the acquisition or holding of shares or other ownership interests in, an entity referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) or an entity that is not a permitted entity.
Subject to the regulations, an insurance holding company may not, without the prior written approval of the Minister,
acquire control of an entity referred to in paragraphs (1)(g) to (i) from a person who is not a member of the insurance holding company’s group;
acquire control of an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j) or (4)(b), other than an entity whose activities are limited to the activities of one or more of the following entities, if the control is acquired from an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (f) that is not a member of the insurance holding company’s group:
a factoring entity, or
a financial leasing entity;
acquire control of an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j) if the insurance holding company is an insurance holding company with equity of four billion dollars or more and A + B > C where A is the value of the entity’s consolidated assets, as it would have been reported in the entity’s annual financial statements if those statements had been prepared immediately before the acquisition, B is the aggregate of the values of the consolidated assets of all other entities referred to in paragraph (1)(j) that the insurance holding company has acquired control of within the preceding 12 months, as the value for each entity would have been reported in its annual financial statements if those statements had been prepared immediately before the acquisition of control of that entity, and C is 10% of the value of the insurance holding company’s consolidated assets, as shown in the insurance holding company’s last annual statement that was prepared before its first acquisition of control of an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j) within the preceding 12 months;
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity whose business includes one or more of the activities referred to in paragraph (2)(d);
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity that engages in Canada in an activity described in paragraph 441(1)(d);
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity that engages in an activity described in paragraph 441(1)(d.1); or
acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity engaging in an activity prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (2)(f).
In addition to any matters or conditions provided for in this Act that are relevant to the granting of an approval, the Minister may, in considering whether to grant the approval under paragraph (5)(b.1), take into account all matters that he or she considers relevant in the circumstances, including
the stability of the financial system in Canada; and
the best interests of the financial system in Canada.
Subject to subsection (7) and the regulations, an insurance holding company may not acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(g) to (j) and (4)(b) and (c) unless the insurance holding company obtains the approval of the Superintendent.
Subsection (6) does not apply in respect of a particular transaction if
the insurance holding company is acquiring control of an entity, other than a specialized financing entity, and the only reason for which the insurance holding company would, but for this subsection, require approval for the acquisition is that the entity carries on activities referred to in paragraph (2)(b);
the insurance holding company is acquiring control of an entity whose activities are limited to the activities of a factoring entity or a financial leasing entity;
the insurance holding company is acquiring control of, or acquiring or increasing a substantial investment in, an entity whose activities are limited to acquiring or holding shares of, or ownership interests in, permitted infrastructure entities; or
subject to subsection (7.1), the insurance holding company is acquiring control of an entity (referred to in this paragraph as the “target entity”) referred to in paragraph (4)(b) or (c) and A/B < C where A is the aggregate of the values, as they would have been reported in the insurance holding company’s annual financial statements if those statements were prepared on the day of the acquisition of control of the target entity, of the target entity’s consolidated assets, the assets of the insurance holding company and of any subsidiary of the insurance holding company that were acquired, at any time within the 12 months preceding the acquisition of control of the target entity, from any entity that, at that time, held any of the assets referred to in subparagraph (i), and the consolidated assets of any entity referred to in paragraph (4)(b) or (c) the control of which is acquired by the insurance holding company at the same time as the acquisition of control of the target entity — or within the 12 months preceding the acquisition of control of the target entity if, at any time within those 12 months, that entity and the target entity were affiliates — excluding any assets referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) and the consolidated assets of an entity in respect of which no approval of the Superintendent is required under any of paragraphs (a) to (c), B is the value of the insurance holding company’s consolidated assets, as shown in its last annual statement prepared before the acquisition of control of the target entity, and C is 0.01, in the case of an insurance holding company with equity of 12 billion dollars or more, or 0.02, in the case of any other insurance holding company; or
the insurance holding company is acquiring or increasing a substantial investment in an entity (referred to in this paragraph as the “target entity”) without acquiring control of it, and A/B < C where A is the aggregate of the values, as they would have been reported in the insurance holding company’s annual financial statements if those statements were prepared on the day of the acquisition or increase of the substantial investment in the target entity, of the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that the insurance holding company or a subsidiary of the insurance holding company is acquiring in the transaction that results in the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in the target entity, and the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that are held by an entity the control of which the insurance holding company is acquiring in the transaction that results in the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in the target entity, the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that are held by the insurance holding company or a subsidiary of the insurance holding company and that were acquired by the insurance holding company or the subsidiary within the 12 months preceding the transaction referred to in subparagraph (i), and the shares of, or other ownership interests in, the target entity that are held by a subsidiary of the insurance holding company the control of which was acquired by the insurance holding company within the 12 months preceding the transaction referred to in subparagraph (i), excluding any shares or other ownership interests referred to in subparagraph (ii), B is the value of the insurance holding company’s consolidated assets, as shown in its last annual statement prepared before the transaction that results in the acquisition or increase of the substantial investment in the target entity, and C is 0.005, in the case of an insurance holding company with equity of 12 billion dollars or more, or 0.01, in the case of any other insurance holding company.
The exception in paragraph (7)(d) does not apply with respect to a deemed acquisition of control under subsection 969(6).
An insurance holding company need not control an entity referred to in paragraph (1)(j), or an entity that is incorporated or formed otherwise than by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province, if the laws or customary business practices of the country under the laws of which the entity was incorporated or formed do not permit the insurance holding company to control the entity.
An insurance holding company that, under subsection (4), controls an entity may, with the prior written approval of the Superintendent, give up control of the entity while keeping a substantial investment in the entity if
the insurance holding company is permitted to do so by regulations made under paragraph 977(c); or
the entity meets the conditions referred to in subparagraph (4)(c)(iii).
If an insurance holding company controls, within the meaning of paragraph 3(1)(a), (b) or (c) an entity, subsections (5) and (6) do not apply in respect of any subsequent increases by the insurance holding company of its substantial investment in the entity so long as the insurance holding company continues to control the entity.
If an insurance holding company obtains the approval of the Minister under subsection 971(5) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase, the insurance holding company indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Minister under subsection 971(5) or the Superintendent under subsection 971(6) and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Minister in writing before the approval is obtained, the insurance holding company is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Minister or the Superintendent for that indirect acquisition or increase.
If an insurance holding company obtains the approval of the Superintendent under subsection 971(6) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase the insurance holding company indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Superintendent under that subsection and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Superintendent in writing before the approval is obtained, the insurance holding company is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Superintendent for that indirect acquisition or increase.
the activities of the entity; and
access to information about the entity.
The Superintendent may enter into an agreement with the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of any entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(g) to (j) in each province or in any other jurisdiction concerning any matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) or any other matter the Superintendent considers appropriate.
Despite any other provision of this Division, an insurance holding company shall not control a permitted entity, other than an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (f), unless, in the course of the acquisition of control or within a reasonable time after the control is acquired, the insurance holding company obtains from the permitted entity an undertaking to provide the Superintendent with reasonable access to the records of the permitted entity.
Exceptions and Exclusions
Subject to subsection (3), an insurance holding company may, by way of a temporary investment, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity but, within two years, or any other period that may be specified or approved by the Superintendent, after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment, as the case may be, it shall do all things necessary to ensure that it no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular insurance holding company that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period of two years, or the other period specified or approved by the Superintendent, that is referred to in subsection (1) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
If an insurance holding company, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Minister would have been required under subsection 971(5) if the insurance holding company had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 971, the insurance holding company must, within 90 days after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment,
apply to the Minister for approval to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for a period specified by the Minister or for an indeterminate period on any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate; or
do all things necessary to ensure that, on the expiry of the 90 days, it no longer controls the entity or does not have a substantial investment in the entity.
If an insurance holding company, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Superintendent would have been required under subsection 971(6) if the insurance holding company had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 971, the Superintendent may, on application, permit the insurance holding company to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for an indeterminate period, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate.
Despite anything in this Division, if any subsidiary of an insurance holding company has made a loan to an entity and, under the terms of the agreement between the subsidiary and the entity with respect to the loan and any other documents governing the terms of the loan, a default has occurred, the insurance holding company may acquire, through the subsidiary,
a substantial investment in the entity to which the loan was made;
a substantial investment in any entity that is an affiliate of the entity; or
a substantial investment in an entity that is primarily engaged in holding shares of, ownership interests in or assets acquired from the entity to which the loan was made or any of the affiliates of that entity.
If an insurance holding company acquires a substantial investment in an entity under subsection (1), the insurance holding company shall, within five years after acquiring the substantial investment, cause the subsidiary that made the loan to do all things necessary to ensure that the insurance holding company does not control the entity or have a substantial investment in the entity.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular insurance holding company that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period of five years referred to in subsection (2) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
Despite anything in this Division, if a subsidiary of an insurance holding company has made a loan to, or holds a debt obligation of, the government of a foreign country or an entity controlled by the government of a foreign country and, under the terms of the agreement between the subsidiary and that government or the entity, as the case may be, and any other documents governing the terms of the loan or debt obligation, a default has occurred, the insurance holding company may acquire, through the subsidiary, a substantial investment in that entity or in any other entity designated by that government if the acquisition is part of a debt restructuring program of that government.
If an insurance holding company acquires a substantial investment in any entity under subsection (4), the insurance holding company may, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate, continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period or for any other period that the Superintendent may specify.
If, under subsection (1), an insurance holding company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 971, the insurance holding company may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period, if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2), including any extension of it granted under subsection (3).
Despite anything in this Part, an insurance holding company may acquire control of, or a substantial investment in, an entity if the control or the substantial investment is acquired through the realization of a security interest held by a subsidiary of the insurance holding company.
Subject to subsection 756(2), if an insurance holding company acquires control of, or a substantial investment in, an entity by way of the realization of a security interest held by any of its subsidiaries, the insurance holding company shall, within five years after the day on which control or the substantial investment is acquired, cause the subsidiary to do all things necessary to ensure that the insurance holding company no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular insurance holding company that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period of five years referred to in subsection (2) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
If, under subsection (1), an insurance holding company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 971, the insurance holding company may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2), including any extension of it granted under subsection (3).
The Governor in Council may make regulations
for the purposes of subsection 971(4), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which that subsection does not apply or the insurance holding companies or other entities in respect of which that subsection does not apply, including prescribing insurance holding companies or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;
for the purposes of subsection 971(5) or (6), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which either of those subsections does not apply or the insurance holding companies or other entities in respect of which either of those subsections does not apply, including prescribing insurance holding companies or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;
for the purposes of subsection 971(10), permitting an insurance holding company to give up control of an entity;
for the purposes of subsection 971(2.1), establishing terms and conditions respecting the acquisition of control of, or the acquisition or increase of a substantial investment in, a permitted infrastructure entity by an insurance holding company.
Portfolio Limits
Subject to subsection (3), the value of all loans, investments and interests acquired by an insurance holding company and any of its prescribed subsidiaries under section 975 or as a result of a realization of a security interest is not to be included in calculating the value of loans, investments and interests of the insurance holding company and its prescribed subsidiaries under sections 979 to 981
for a period of twelve years following the day on which the interest was acquired, in the case of an interest in real property; and
for a period of five years after the day on which the loan, investment or interest was acquired, in the case of a loan, investment or interest, other than an interest in real property.
The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular insurance holding company, extend any period referred to in subsection (1) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.
the insurance holding company or the subsidiary acquired the investment or interest as a result of the realization of a security interest securing a loan that was defined by a regulation made under section 984 to be an interest in real property; or
Commercial Lending
Subject to section 980, an insurance holding company that has twenty-five million dollars or less of regulatory capital shall not acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to make or acquire a commercial loan or acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans if the aggregate value of all commercial loans held by the prescribed subsidiaries of the insurance holding company exceeds, or the making or acquisition of the commercial loan or acquisition of control of the entity would cause the aggregate value of all commercial loans held by the prescribed subsidiaries of the insurance holding company to exceed, 5 per cent of the total assets of the insurance holding company.
An insurance holding company that has twenty-five million dollars or less of regulatory capital that is controlled by a financial institution that has the equivalent of more than twenty-five million dollars of regulatory capital or an insurance holding company that has more than twenty-five million dollars of regulatory capital may acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans or permit its prescribed subsidiaries to make or acquire commercial loans or acquire control of a permitted entity that holds commercial loans if the aggregate value of all commercial loans held by the prescribed subsidiaries of the insurance holding company would thereby exceed the limit set out in section 979 only with the prior approval in writing of the Superintendent and in accordance with any terms and conditions that the Superintendent may specify.
Real Property
An insurance holding company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, purchase or otherwise acquire an interest in real property or make an improvement to any real property in which the insurance holding company or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest if the aggregate value of all interests of the insurance holding company in real property exceeds, or the acquisition of the interest or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Equities
An insurance holding company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire any participating shares of any body corporate or any ownership interests in any unincorporated entity, other than those of a permitted entity in which the insurance holding company has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or
acquire control of an entity that holds shares or ownership interests referred to in paragraph (a),
if the aggregate value of
all participating shares, excluding participating shares of permitted entities in which the insurance holding company has a substantial investment, and
all ownership interests in unincorporated entities, other than ownership interests in permitted entities in which the insurance holding company has a substantial investment,
beneficially owned by the insurance holding company and its prescribed subsidiaries exceeds, or the purchase or acquisition would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Aggregate Limit
An insurance holding company shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,
purchase or otherwise acquire
participating shares of a body corporate, other than those of a permitted entity in which the insurance holding company has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment,
ownership interests in an unincorporated entity, other than ownership interests in a permitted entity in which the insurance holding company has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or
interests in real property, or
make an improvement to real property in which the insurance holding company or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest
if the aggregate value of
all participating shares and ownership interests referred to in subparagraphs (a)(i) and (ii) that are beneficially owned by the insurance holding company and its prescribed subsidiaries, and
all interests of the insurance holding company in real property referred to in subparagraph (a)(iii)
exceeds, or the acquisition or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.
Miscellaneous
For the purposes of this Division, the Governor in Council may make regulations
defining the interests of an insurance holding company in real property;
determining the method of valuing those interests;
The Superintendent may, by order, direct an insurance holding company to dispose of, within any period that the Superintendent considers reasonable, any loan, investment or interest made or acquired in contravention of this Division.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent,
an investment by an insurance holding company or any entity it controls in shares of a body corporate or in ownership interests in an unincorporated entity enables the insurance holding company to control the body corporate or the unincorporated entity, or
the insurance holding company or any entity it controls has entered into an arrangement whereby it or its nominee may veto any proposal put before
the board of directors of a body corporate, or
a similar group or committee of an unincorporated entity,
or whereby no proposal may be approved except with the consent of the insurance holding company, the entity it controls or the nominee,
the Superintendent may, by order, require the insurance holding company, within any period that the Superintendent considers reasonable, to do all things necessary to ensure that the insurance holding company no longer controls the body corporate or unincorporated entity or has the ability to veto or otherwise defeat any proposal referred to in paragraph (b).
If
an insurance holding company
a permitted entity referred to in subsection 973(4) is in default of an undertaking referred to in subsection 973(4) and the default is not remedied within ninety days after the day of receipt by the insurance holding company of a notice from the Superintendent of the default,
the Superintendent may, by order, require the insurance holding company, within any period that the Superintendent considers reasonable, to do all things necessary to ensure that the insurance holding company no longer has a substantial investment in the entity to which the undertaking relates.
Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of an entity in which an insurance holding company has a substantial investment permitted by this Division.
If an insurance holding company controls or has a substantial investment in an entity as permitted by this Division and the insurance holding company becomes aware of a change in the business or affairs of the entity that, if the change had taken place before the acquisition of control or of the substantial investment, would have caused the entity not to be a permitted entity or would have been such that approval for the acquisition would have been required under subsection 971(5) or (6), the insurance holding company is deemed to have acquired, on the day the insurance holding company becomes aware of the change, a temporary investment in respect of which section 974 applies.
An insurance holding company shall not, and shall not permit its subsidiaries to, without the approval of the Superintendent, acquire assets from a person or transfer assets to a person if A + B > C where A is the value of the assets; B is the total value of all assets that the insurance holding company and its subsidiaries acquired from or transferred to that person in the twelve months ending immediately before the acquisition or transfer; and C is ten per cent of the total value of the assets of the insurance holding company, as shown in the last annual statement of the insurance holding company prepared before the acquisition or transfer.
The Superintendent may, for the purposes of subsection (1), approve a transaction or series of transactions relating to the acquisition or transfer of assets that may be entered into with a person, or with persons of any class of persons, regardless of whether those persons are known at the time of the granting of the approval or not.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of
an asset that is a debt obligation referred to in subparagraphs (b)(i) to (v) of the definition commercial loan in subsection 490(1); or
assets acquired or transferred under a transaction or series of transactions by a subsidiary of the insurance holding company with a financial institution as a result of the subsidiary’s participation in one or more syndicated loans with that financial institution.
The approval of the Superintendent is not required if
the transaction has been approved by the Minister under subsection 715(1) of this Act or subsection 678(1) of the Bank Act.
For the purposes of “A” in subsection (1), the value of the assets is
in the case of assets that are acquired, the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which will be included in the annual statement of the insurance holding company after the acquisition, the fair market value of the assets; and
in the case of assets that are transferred, the value of the assets as reported in the last annual statement of the insurance holding company prepared before the transfer or, if the value of the assets is not reported in that annual statement, the value of the assets as it would be reported in the annual statement of the insurance holding company if the annual statement had been prepared, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 887(4), immediately before the transfer.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the insurance holding company or any of its subsidiaries has acquired during the period of twelve months referred to in subsection (1) is the purchase price of the assets or, if the assets are shares of, or ownership interests in, an entity the assets of which immediately after the acquisition were included in the annual statement of the insurance holding company, the fair market value of the assets of the entity at the date of the acquisition.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the total value of all assets that the insurance holding company or any of its subsidiaries has transferred during the 12-month period referred to in subsection (1) is the total of the value of each of those assets as reported in the last annual statement of the insurance holding company prepared before the transfer of the asset or, if the value of any of those assets is not reported in that annual statement, as it would be reported in the annual statement of the insurance holding company if the annual statement had been prepared, in accordance with the accounting principles referred to in subsection 887(4), immediately before the transfer of the asset.
Nothing in this Division requires
the termination of a loan made before February 7, 2001;
the termination of a loan made after that date as a result of a commitment made before that date;
the disposal of an investment made before that date; or
the disposal of an investment made after that date as a result of a commitment made before that date.
But if the loan or investment would be precluded or limited by this Division, the amount of the loan or investment may not be increased after that date.
A loan or investment referred to in section 988 is deemed not to be prohibited by the provisions of this Division.
A Canadian entity is not a non-insurance entity by reason only that a subsidiary of an insurance holding company that is a company that controls, or has a substantial investment, in the Canadian entity.
A non-insurance entity that carries on as part of its business the provision of financial services shall not borrow money in Canada from the public without disclosing that the non-insurance entity is not regulated as a financial institution in Canada.
The disclosure shall be
in a prospectus, information circular or other offering document related to the borrowing or in a similar document related to the borrowing or, if there is no such document, in a statement delivered to the lender; or
in any other manner that may be prescribed.
Subsection (1) does not apply
to a borrowing of a prescribed class or type or to a borrowing in prescribed circumstances or in a prescribed manner; or
except as may be provided in any regulations, to a borrowing
from a person in an amount of $150,000 or more, or
through the issue of instruments in denominations of $150,000 or more.
Subsection (1) does not apply if the non-insurance entity is
an insurance holding company or a bank holding company;
a bank;
an entity that is controlled by a bank holding company or in which a bank holding company has a substantial investment;
a trust, loan or insurance corporation incorporated under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province;
a financial institution that is described in paragraph (g) of the definition financial institution in section 2;
a prescribed entity.
Adequacy of Capital and Liquidity
An insurance holding company shall, in relation to its business, maintain
adequate capital, and
adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity,
and comply with any regulations in relation to capital and liquidity.
The Governor in Council may make regulations and the Superintendent may make guidelines respecting the maintenance by an insurance holding company of adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity.
Even if an insurance holding company is complying with regulations or guidelines made under subsection (2), the Superintendent may, by order, direct the insurance holding company
to increase its capital; or
to provide additional liquidity in such forms and amounts as the Superintendent may require.
An insurance holding company shall comply with an order made under subsection (3) within the time specified by the Superintendent in the order.
Regulation of Insurance Holding Companies
Supervision
Returns
An insurance holding company shall provide the Superintendent with such information, at such times and in such form as the Superintendent may require.
An insurance holding company shall, within thirty days after each annual meeting of the insurance holding company, provide the Superintendent with a return showing
the name, residence and citizenship of each director holding office immediately following the meeting;
the mailing address of each director holding office immediately following the meeting;
the bodies corporate of which each director referred to in paragraph (a) is an officer or director and the firms of which each director is a member;
the names of the directors referred to in paragraph (a) who are officers or employees of the insurance holding company or any affiliate of the insurance holding company, and the positions they occupy;
the name of each committee of the insurance holding company on which each director referred to in paragraph (a) serves;
the date of expiration of the term of each director referred to in paragraph (a); and
the name, address and date of appointment of the auditor of the insurance holding company.
Where
any information relating to a director or auditor of an insurance holding company shown in the latest return made to the Superintendent under subsection (1), other than information referred to in paragraph (1)(c), becomes inaccurate or incomplete,
a vacancy in the position of auditor of the insurance holding company occurs or is filled by another person, or
a vacancy on the board of directors of the insurance holding company occurs or is filled,
the insurance holding company shall forthwith provide the Superintendent with such information as is required to maintain the return in a complete and accurate form.
An insurance holding company shall send to the Superintendent within thirty days after the coming into effect of a by-law or an amendment to a by-law, a copy of the by-law or amendment.
The Superintendent shall, in respect of each insurance holding company, cause a register to be maintained containing a copy of
the incorporating instrument of the insurance holding company; and
The register may be maintained in
a bound or loose-leaf form or in a photographic film form; or
a system of mechanical or electronic data processing or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing any required information in intelligible written form within a reasonable time.
Persons are entitled to reasonable access to the register and may make copies of or take extracts from the information in it.
A statement containing information in the register and purporting to be certified by the Superintendent is admissible in evidence in all courts as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, of the facts stated in the statement without proof of the appointment or signature of the Superintendent.
The Superintendent may, by order, direct a person who controls an insurance holding company or any entity that is affiliated with an insurance holding company to provide the Superintendent with such information or documents that are specified in the order if the Superintendent believes that the production of the information or documents is necessary in order to
determine whether the insurance holding company is complying with the provisions of this Act;
ascertain the financial condition of the insurance holding company; or
determine whether the insurance holding company has adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security and adheres to those policies and procedures.
Any person to whom a direction has been issued under subsection (1) shall provide the information or documents specified in the order within the time specified in the order and, where the order does not specify a time, the person shall provide the information or documents within a reasonable time.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an entity that controls an insurance holding company or is affiliated with an insurance holding company where that entity is a financial institution regulated
by or under an Act of Parliament; or
by or under an Act of the legislature of a province where the Superintendent has entered into an agreement with the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of financial institutions in that province concerning the sharing of information on such financial institutions.
All information regarding the business or affairs of an insurance holding company, or regarding a person dealing with an insurance holding company, that is obtained by the Superintendent, or by any person acting under the direction of the Superintendent, as a result of the administration or enforcement of any Act of Parliament, and all information prepared from that information, is confidential and shall be treated accordingly.
Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the Superintendent from disclosing any information
to any government agency or body that regulates or supervises financial institutions, for purposes related to that regulation or supervision,
to any federal government agency or body, for purposes related to the Superintendent’s regulation or supervision of financial institutions, including purposes related to threats to the integrity or security of financial institutions or risks to national security,
to any other agency or body that regulates or supervises financial institutions, for purposes related to that regulation or supervision,
to the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any compensation association designated by order of the Minister pursuant to subsection 449(1), for purposes related to its operation, and
to the Deputy Minister of Finance or any officer of the Department of Finance authorized in writing by the Deputy Minister of Finance or to the Governor of the Bank of Canada or any officer of the Bank of Canada authorized in writing by the Governor of the Bank of Canada, for the purposes of policy analysis related to the regulation of financial institutions,
if the Superintendent is satisfied that the information will be treated as confidential by the agency, body or person to whom it is disclosed.
The Governor in Council may make regulations prohibiting, limiting or restricting the disclosure by insurance holding companies of prescribed supervisory information.
Prescribed supervisory information shall not be used as evidence in any civil proceedings and is privileged for that purpose.
No person shall by an order of any court, tribunal or other body be required in any civil proceedings to give oral testimony or to produce any document relating to any prescribed supervisory information.
Despite subsection (1),
the Minister, the Superintendent or the Attorney General of Canada may, in accordance with the regulations, if any, use prescribed supervisory information as evidence in any proceedings; and
an insurance holding company may, in accordance with the regulations, if any, use prescribed supervisory information as evidence in any proceedings in relation to the administration or enforcement of this Act or the Winding-up and Restructuring Act that are commenced by the insurance holding company, the Minister, the Superintendent or the Attorney General of Canada.
Despite subsections (1) and (2) and section 39.1 of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, a court, tribunal or other body may, by order, require the Minister, the Superintendent or an insurance holding company to give oral testimony or to produce any document relating to any prescribed supervisory information in any civil proceedings in relation to the administration or enforcement of this Act that are commenced by the Minister, the Superintendent, the Attorney General of Canada or the insurance holding company.
The Governor in Council may, for the purposes of subsection (3), make regulations respecting the circumstances in which prescribed supervisory information may be used as evidence.
For greater certainty, the disclosure by an insurance holding company — or by a person who controls an insurance holding company or by an entity that is affiliated with an insurance holding company — to the Superintendent of any information that is subject to a privilege under the law of evidence, solicitor-client privilege or the professional secrecy of advocates and notaries or to litigation privilege does not constitute a waiver of any of those privileges or that secrecy.
The Superintendent shall not disclose any information referred to in subsection (1) to any person whose powers, duties or functions include
the investigation or prosecution of an offence under any Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province; or
the investigation of, or conduct of proceedings in respect of, a violation under an Act referred to in paragraph (a).
Examination of Insurance Holding Companies
The Superintendent, from time to time, shall make or cause to be made any examination and inquiry into the business and affairs of any insurance holding company that the Superintendent considers to be necessary or expedient to determine whether the insurance holding company is complying with the provisions of this Act and to ascertain the financial condition of the insurance holding company or to determine whether the insurance holding company has adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security and adheres to those policies and procedures.
The Superintendent or a person acting under the Superintendent’s direction
has a right of access to any records, cash, assets and security held by or on behalf of an insurance holding company; and
may require the directors, officers or auditor of an insurance holding company to provide information and explanations, to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so, in respect of the condition and affairs of the insurance holding company or any entity in which it has a substantial investment.
The Superintendent has all the powers of a person appointed as a commissioner under Part II of the Inquiries Act for the purpose of obtaining evidence under oath, and may delegate those powers to any person acting under the Superintendent’s direction.
Remedial Powers
Prudential Agreements
The Superintendent may enter into an agreement, called a “prudential agreement”, with an insurance holding company for the purposes of implementing any measure designed to protect the interests of depositors, policyholders and creditors of any federal financial institution affiliated with it, establishing adequate policies and procedures to protect the insurance holding company against threats to its integrity or security or maintaining or improving its adherence to those policies and procedures.
Directions of Compliance
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, an insurance holding company, one of its affiliates or any person with respect to an insurance holding company is committing, or is about to commit, an act or is pursuing, or is about to pursue, a course of conduct that may directly or indirectly be prejudicial to the interests of depositors, policyholders or creditors of a federal financial institution that is affiliated with the insurance holding company, the Superintendent may direct the insurance holding company to
cease or refrain from committing the act or pursuing the course of conduct;
cause the affiliate or person to cease or refrain from committing the act or pursuing the course of conduct, to the extent it is able to do so;
perform any act that in the opinion of the Superintendent is necessary to remedy the situation or minimize the prejudice; or
cause the affiliate or person to perform any act that in the opinion of the Superintendent is necessary to remedy the situation or minimize the prejudice, to the extent that the insurance holding company is able to do so.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, an insurance holding company does not have adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security or does not adhere to those policies and procedures, the Superintendent may direct the insurance holding company to take any measures that in the opinion of the Superintendent are necessary to remedy the situation.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the length of time required for representations to be made might be prejudicial to the public interest, the Superintendent may make a temporary direction with respect to the matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) to (d) or subsection (1.1) having effect for a period of not more than 15 days.
A temporary direction continues to have effect after the expiration of the fifteen day period if no representations are made to the Superintendent within that period or, if representations have been made, the Superintendent notifies the insurance holding company that the Superintendent is not satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for revoking the direction.
If an insurance holding company is contravening or has failed to comply with a prudential agreement entered into under section 1002 or a direction of the Superintendent issued under subsection 1003(1), (1.1) or (3), or is contravening this Act, or has omitted to do any thing under this Act that it is required to do, the Superintendent may, in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, apply to a court for an order requiring the insurance holding company to comply with the direction, cease the contravention or do any thing that is required to be done, and on such application the court may so order and make any other order it thinks fit.
An appeal from a decision of a court under subsection (1) lies in the same manner, and to the same court, as an appeal from any other order of the court.
Disqualification and Removal of Directors or Senior Officers
This section applies only in respect of an insurance holding company
that has been notified by the Superintendent that this section applies to it where the insurance holding company is subject to measures designed to protect the interests of depositors, policyholders and creditors of any federal financial institution affiliated with it, which measures are contained in a prudential agreement entered into under section 1002 or an undertaking given by the insurance holding company to the Superintendent; or
An insurance holding company shall provide the Superintendent with the name of
each person who has been nominated for election or appointment as a member of its board of directors,
each person who has been selected by the insurance holding company for appointment as a senior officer, and
each person who is newly elected as a director of the insurance holding company at a meeting of shareholders and who was not proposed for election by anyone involved in the management of the insurance holding company,
together with such other information about the background, business record and experience of the person as the Superintendent may require.
The information required by subsection (2) shall be provided to the Superintendent
at least 30 days prior to the date or proposed date of the election or appointment or within such shorter period as the Superintendent may allow; or
in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (2)(c), within 15 days after the date of the election of the person.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that, on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of a person, he or she is not suitable to hold that position, the Superintendent may, by order,
in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or (b), disqualify the person from being elected or appointed as a director of an insurance holding company or from being appointed as a senior officer; or
in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (2)(c), remove the person from office as a director of the insurance holding company.
In forming an opinion under subsection (4), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the depositors, policyholders and creditors of any federal financial institution affiliated with the insurance holding company would likely be prejudiced if the person were to take office or continue to hold office, as the case may be.
The Superintendent must in writing notify the person concerned and the insurance holding company of any action that the Superintendent proposes to take under subsection (4) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.
Where an order has been made under subsection (4)
disqualifying a person from being elected or appointed to a position, the person shall not be, and the insurance holding company shall not permit the person to be, elected or appointed to the position; or
removing a director from office, the person shall not continue to hold, and the insurance holding company shall not permit the person to continue to hold, office as a director.
The Superintendent may, by order, remove a person from office as a director or senior officer of an insurance holding company if the Superintendent is of the opinion that the person is not suitable to hold that office
on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of the person; or
because the person has contravened or, by action or negligence, has contributed to the contravention of
this Act or the regulations made under it,
a direction made under section 1003,
an order made under subsection 992(3), or
a prudential agreement entered into under section 1002 or an undertaking given by the insurance holding company to the Superintendent.
In forming an opinion under subsection (1), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the depositors, policyholders and creditors of any federal financial institution affiliated with the insurance holding company have been or are likely to be prejudiced by the person’s holding office as a director or senior officer.
The Superintendent must in writing notify the person concerned and the insurance holding company of any removal order that the Superintendent proposes to make under subsection (1) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.
If the Superintendent is of the opinion that the public interest may be prejudiced by the director or senior officer continuing to exercise the powers or carry out the duties and functions of that office during the period for making representations, the Superintendent may make an order suspending the director or senior officer. The suspension may not extend beyond 10 days after the expiration of that period.
The Superintendent shall, without delay, notify the director or senior officer, as the case may be, and the insurance holding company of a removal order or suspension order.
The director or senior officer, as the case may be, ceases to hold that office as of the date the removal order is made or any later date specified in the order.
The director or senior officer, as the case may be, or the insurance holding company may, within 30 days after the date of receipt of notice of the removal order under subsection (5), or within any longer period that the Court allows, appeal the matter to the Federal Court.
The Federal Court, in the case of an appeal, may dismiss the appeal or set aside the removal order.
A removal order is not stayed by an appeal.
Administration
Notices and Other Documents
Any by-law, notice, resolution, requisition, statement or other document required or permitted to be executed or signed by more than one person for the purposes of this Act may be executed or signed in several documents of like form, each of which is executed or signed by one or more of the persons. The documents if duly executed or signed by all persons required or permitted to sign them are deemed to constitute one document for the purposes of this Act.
A notice or document required by this Act or the regulations, or by the incorporating instrument or by-laws of a company or society, to be sent to a shareholder, policyholder or director of a company, foreign company or provincial company or to a member or director of a society may be sent by prepaid mail addressed to, or may be delivered personally to,
the shareholder at the shareholder’s latest address as shown in the records of the company, foreign company or provincial company or its transfer agent;
the policyholder or the member at the policyholder’s or member’s latest address as shown in the records of the company, society, foreign company or provincial company.
A notice or document required by this Act or the regulations, or by the incorporating instrument or by-laws of an insurance holding company to be sent to a shareholder or director of the insurance holding company may be sent by prepaid mail addressed to, or may be delivered personally to,
the shareholder at the shareholder’s latest address as shown in the records of the insurance holding company or its transfer agent; and
the director at the director’s latest address as shown in the records of the insurance holding company, or in the latest return made under section 994.
A director named in the latest return sent by a company, a society, a provincial society or an insurance holding company to the Superintendent under section 549, 661, 668 or 994 is presumed for the purposes of this Act to be a director of the company, society, provincial company or insurance holding company referred to in the return.
A notice or document sent by mail in accordance with section 1008 to a shareholder, member, policyholder or director is deemed to be received by that person at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of mail unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that person did not receive the notice or document at that time or at all.
If a company, society, foreign company, provincial company or insurance holding company sends a notice or document to a shareholder, member or policyholder in accordance with section 1008 and it is returned on two consecutive occasions because the shareholder, member or policyholder cannot be found, the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or insurance holding company is not required to send any further notices or documents to them until it is informed in writing of their new address.
A notice or document required by this Act to be sent to or served on a company, a society, a foreign company, a provincial company or an insurance holding company may be sent by registered mail to the head office or chief agency, as the case may be, of the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or insurance holding company and, if so sent, is deemed to be received or served at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of mail unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company, society, foreign company, provincial company or insurance holding company did not receive the notice or document at that time or at all.
A certificate issued on behalf of a company, a society or an insurance holding company stating any fact that is set out in the incorporating instrument, the by-laws, the minutes of the meetings of the directors, a committee of directors or the shareholders, policyholders or members, or in a contract to which the company, society or insurance holding company is a party, may be signed by a director or an officer of the company, society or insurance holding company.
When introduced as evidence in any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding, the following are, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the facts so certified without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed the certificate:
a fact stated in a certificate referred to in subsection (1);
a certified extract from a securities register of a company or of an insurance holding company; or
a certified copy of, or an extract from, minutes of a meeting of shareholders, policyholders, members, directors or a committee of directors of a company, society or insurance holding company.
An entry in the securities register of, or on a security certificate issued by, a company or an insurance holding company is evidence that the person in whose name the security is registered is the owner of the securities described in the register or in the certificate.
The Superintendent may require that a document or a fact stated in a document that is required by or under this Act to be sent to the Superintendent or to the Minister be verified in accordance with subsection (2).
A document or fact required by this Act or by the Superintendent to be verified may be verified by affidavit made under oath or by statutory declaration under the Canada Evidence Act before any commissioner for oaths or for taking affidavits.
Anything that is required by a provision of this Act to be published in the Canada Gazette or to be published in any other way may, instead of being published in that way, be published in any manner that may be prescribed for the purpose of that provision.
Anything that is required by a provision of this Act to be summarized in a publication may instead be summarized and published in any manner that may be prescribed for the purpose of that provision.
Any condition under a provision of this Act that something be published in the Canada Gazette or in any other way is satisfied if that thing is published instead in any manner that may be prescribed for the purpose of that provision.
If a provision of this Act provides for consequences to follow the publication of something in the Canada Gazette or in any other manner, the same consequences follow the publication of that thing in any other manner that may be prescribed for the purpose of that provision.
Approvals
In addition to any matters or conditions provided for in this Act that are relevant to the granting of an approval, the Minister may, in considering whether to grant the approval, take into account all matters that he or she considers relevant in the circumstances, including
national security; and
Canada’s international relations and its international legal obligations.
In addition to any matters or conditions provided for in this Act that are relevant to the granting of an approval and to any prudential considerations that the Superintendent considers relevant in the circumstances, the Superintendent may, in considering whether to grant the approval, take into account
national security; and
Canada’s international relations and its international legal obligations.
In addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, the Minister may, in granting an approval, impose any terms and conditions or require any undertaking that the Minister considers appropriate, including any terms, conditions or undertakings specified by the Superintendent to maintain or improve the safety and soundness of any financial institution that is regulated under an Act of Parliament and to which the approval relates, or that might be affected by it, or to ensure that such a financial institution has adequate policies and procedures to protect itself against threats to its integrity or security and adheres to those polices and procedures.
If the Minister specifies that the Commissioner is to supervise a company to determine if it is complying with any terms and conditions that are imposed, or undertakings that are required, by the Minister for the protection of the company’s customers, the Commissioner may take the same measures that the Commissioner could take if the terms and conditions or undertaking were a consumer provision.
In addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, the Superintendent may, in granting an approval, impose any terms and conditions or require any undertaking that the Superintendent considers appropriate.
The Minister may revoke, suspend or amend any approval granted by the Minister if he or she considers it appropriate to do so. In deciding whether to take any of those actions, the Minister may take into account all matters that he or she considers relevant in the circumstances, including
national security; and
Canada’s international relations and its international legal obligations.
The Superintendent may revoke, suspend or amend any approval granted by the Superintendent if he or she considers it appropriate to do so. In deciding whether to take any of those actions, the Superintendent may take into account any prudential considerations that he or she considers relevant in the circumstances and
national security; and
Canada’s international relations and its international legal obligations.
If, in the Minister’s opinion, the length of time required for representations to be made under subsection (3) might be prejudicial to the public interest, the Minister may temporarily suspend or amend any approval granted by the Minister.
A temporary suspension or amendment of an approval ceases to have effect on the earlier of
the expiry of 30 days after the day on which it takes effect or of a shorter period that is specified by the Minister, and
if the approval is revoked, suspended or amended under subsection (1), the day on which the revocation, suspension or amendment takes effect.
If, in the Minister’s opinion, the disclosure of information about an undertaking required under subsection 1016.2(1) or 1016.3(1) or (4), or information that could reveal the existence of the undertaking, could pose a threat to the integrity or security of the financial institution to which the undertaking relates or could be injurious to national security, the Minister may specify that the information is confidential and shall be treated accordingly.
If the Minister specifies under subsection (1) that information referred to in that subsection is confidential for reasons related to national security, the Minister shall, within 30 days after the day on which the undertaking in question is required, notify
the Committee, as defined in section 2 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act; and
the Review Agency, as defined in section 2 of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act.
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Act, a failure to comply with a term, condition or undertaking imposed or required under any provision of this Act does not invalidate the approval to which the term, condition or undertaking relates.
In addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, in the case of non-compliance by a person with a term, condition or undertaking imposed or required under any provision of this Act, the Minister or the Superintendent, as the case may be, may
revoke, suspend or amend the approval to which the term, condition or undertaking relates; or
apply to a court for an order directing the person to comply with the term, condition or undertaking, and on such an application the court may make the order and any other order that it thinks fit.
Before taking any action under subsection (2), the Minister or the Superintendent, as the case may be, shall give the person concerned a reasonable opportunity to make representations.
At the request of the person concerned, the Minister or the Superintendent, as the case may be, may revoke, suspend or amend any terms or conditions imposed by him or her and may revoke or suspend an undertaking given to him or her or approve its amendment.
The Minister or the Superintendent may grant more than one approval, other than letters patent, in a single instrument if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, and if the Minister or Superintendent does so, he or she may specify different effective dates for each of the approvals.
The Superintendent may, on application, exempt an applicant or applicants from the provisions of this Act respecting the publication of a notice of intention in respect of applications for approvals and impose any terms and conditions respecting the publication of the notice of intention that he or she considers appropriate.
Exceptions to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
If, as a result of a change to the accounting principles referred to in subsections 331(4) and 887(4) — whether the change is made before or after this section comes into force — the Superintendent considers, given any prudential considerations that he or she considers relevant, that any amount, calculation or valuation under this Act or the regulations is not appropriate, the Superintendent may specify the amount that is to be used or the calculation or valuation that is to be performed instead.
The Superintendent shall cause a notice of the specification to be published in the Canada Gazette within 60 days after the day on which the specification has effect.
The specification ceases to have effect on the day indicated in the notice, which may be no later than five years after the day on which the specification is made.
Orders to Exempt or Adapt
On the recommendation of the Minister, the Governor in Council may, by order,
provide that any provision of this Act or the regulations shall not apply to a company, to Her Majesty in right of Canada or an agent or agency of Her Majesty or to any other person otherwise subject to the provision; and
provide that any provision of this Act or the regulations applies to a company, to Her Majesty in right of Canada or Her Majesty’s agent or agency or to any other person subject to the provision only in the manner and to the extent provided for in the order, and adapt the provision for the purposes of that application.
The Minister may make a recommendation under subsection (1) only if the Minister
is of the opinion that the order would relate to
the acquisition, holding, sale or other disposition of, or other dealing with, shares of a company by, or the transfer or issue of shares of a company to, Her Majesty in right of Canada or Her Majesty’s agent or agency, or
the management of the business and affairs or the regulation and supervision of a company during the time that Her Majesty or Her Majesty’s agent or agency is acquiring, holding, selling or otherwise disposing of, or otherwise dealing with, shares of the company, or during the time that shares of the company are transferred or issued to Her Majesty or Her Majesty’s agent or agency; and
is of the opinion — after considering measures other than an order under that subsection and after consulting with the Superintendent, the Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation — that the order will promote the stability of the financial system in Canada.
On the recommendation of the Minister, the Governor in Council may, by order, impose any terms and conditions relating to the acquisition of shares of a company by, or transfer or issue of shares of a company to, Her Majesty in right of Canada or Her Majesty’s agent or agency.
From the time that Her Majesty in right of Canada or an agent or agency of Her Majesty acquires shares of a company to the time that the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of, the Minister may, by order, impose any terms and conditions on — or require any undertaking from — the company that the Minister considers appropriate, including any terms and conditions or undertakings relating to
the remuneration of the company’s senior officers, as defined in section 678.01, and directors;
the appointment or removal of the company’s senior officers, as defined in section 678.01, and directors;
the payment of dividends by the company; and
the company’s lending policies and practices.
Despite Part X of the Financial Administration Act, the Minister or an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada may, on any terms and conditions imposed under subsection (3), acquire and hold shares of a company on behalf of or in trust for Her Majesty if, as a result of an order under subsection (1), the company may record in its securities register the transfer or issue of shares to Her Majesty or an agent or agency of Her Majesty.
On the requisition of the Minister, there may be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund the amount that the Minister or an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada is required to pay for the acquisition of shares under subsection (6) and any costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, holding, sale or other disposition of, or other dealing with, the shares.
Shares acquired under subsection (6) by the Minister or an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada shall be registered in the name of the Minister, agent or agency, as the case may be, in the company’s securities register if they are capable of being registered in it, and the shares shall be held by the Minister, agent or agency, as the case may be, on behalf of or in trust for Her Majesty.
The Minister may, at any time, sell or otherwise dispose of shares acquired under subsection (6). The Surplus Crown Assets Act and section 61 of the Financial Administration Act do not apply to the sale or disposition.
An agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada — at the request of the Minister, which may be made at any time — shall sell or otherwise dispose of shares acquired under subsection (6). The Surplus Crown Assets Act and section 61 of the Financial Administration Act do not apply to the sale or disposition.
If the Minister or an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada is holding shares of a company on behalf of or in trust for Her Majesty on the day that is two years after the day on which the shares were acquired, the Minister shall consider whether holding the shares continues to promote the stability of the financial system in Canada.
If the Minister, under subsection (11), considers that holding shares acquired under subsection (6) no longer continues to promote the stability of the financial system in Canada, the Minister — or, at the request of the Minister, the agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada — shall take the measures that the Minister considers practicable in the circumstances to sell or otherwise dispose of the shares. The Surplus Crown Assets Act and section 61 of the Financial Administration Act do not apply to the sale or disposition.
Even if the acquisition of a company’s shares under subsection (6) would otherwise cause the company to be a Crown corporation, as defined in subsection 83(1) of the Financial Administration Act, the company is not a Crown corporation for the purposes of that Act.
The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply to an order made under this section.
For the purposes of this section, shares includes
any conversion or exchange privilege, option or right to acquire shares; and
in reference to a company, participating shares, as defined in section 83.01.
For the purposes of this section other than paragraph (15)(b), a reference to a “company” includes a reference to an “insurance holding company”, and the references to “section 678.01” in paragraphs (5)(a) and (b) are to be read, in relation to an insurance holding company, as references to “section 1005”.
Orders and Directives
An instrument issued or made under this Act and directed to a single company, society, foreign company, provincial company, insurance holding company or person, other than an order referred to in section 532, is not a statutory instrument for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act.
The Superintendent may, by order, establish the form of any application to be made to the Minister or the Superintendent under this Act.
Applications to Superintendent
The following applications to the Superintendent must contain the information, material and evidence that the Superintendent may require:
applications for approval under subsection 69(1), 76(2), 79(4), 84(1), 178(1), 238(3), 472(1), 495(8) or (12), 498(1) or (2) or 512(1), subparagraph 519(2)(b)(vi), section 522, subsection 523(2), 527(3) or (4) or 528.3(1), section 542.09 or subsection 544.1(2), 557(1) or (2), 569(1), 597(1), 748(1), 755(2), 757(4), 762(1), 805(1), 851(3), 964(1), 971(6) or (10), 974(1) or 987(1);
Without delay after receiving the application, the Superintendent shall send a receipt to the applicant certifying the date on which it was received.
Subject to subsection (4), the Superintendent shall, within a period of thirty days after the receipt of the application, send to the applicant
a notice approving the application, subject to any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate; or
if the Superintendent is not satisfied that the application should be approved, a notice to that effect.
If the Superintendent is unable to complete the consideration of the application within the period referred to in subsection (3), the Superintendent shall, within that period, send a notice to the applicant informing the applicant that the Superintendent has extended the period for a further period set out in the notice.
If the applicant does not receive the notice required by subsection (3) or, where applicable, subsection (4), within the required period, the Superintendent is deemed to have approved the application and granted the approval, consent, exemption or extension to which the application relates, regardless of whether the approval, consent, extension or exemption is to be in writing or not.
Applications for Certain Approvals
An application for the prior written approval of the Minister in respect of any of the following provisions must be filed with the Superintendent and contain the information, material and evidence that the Superintendent may require:
paragraphs 495(7)(b.1), (c), (d) and (d.1);
paragraph 542(2)(a);
paragraphs 971(5)(b.1), (c), (d) and (d.1).
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the application contains all the required information, the Superintendent must refer it to the Minister, together with his or her analysis in relation to the application, and send a receipt to the applicant certifying the date on which the application was referred to the Minister.
If, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the application is incomplete, the Superintendent must send a notice to the applicant specifying the information required by the Superintendent to complete it.
a notice approving the application; or
if the Minister is not satisfied that the application should be approved, a notice to that effect.
If the Minister is unable to complete the consideration of an application within the 30-day period, the Minister must, within that period, send a notice to the applicant informing the applicant that the Minister has extended the period for a further period set out in the notice.
Appeals
The Federal Court may, in an appeal under subsection (1),
dismiss the appeal;
set aside the direction or decision; or
set aside the direction or decision and refer the matter back for redetermination.
For the purposes of an appeal under subsection (1), the Minister shall, at the request of the company, society, foreign company, provincial company, insurance holding company or person making the appeal, provide the company, society, foreign company, provincial company, insurance holding company or person with a certificate in writing setting out the direction or decision appealed from and the reasons why the direction or decision was made.
Regulations
The Governor in Council may make regulations
prescribing anything that is required or authorized by this Act to be prescribed;
prescribing the way in which anything that is required or authorized by this Act to be prescribed is to be determined;
respecting, for any purpose of any provision of the Act, the determination of the equity of a company or an insurance holding company;
defining words and expressions to be defined for the purposes of this Act;
requiring the payment of a fee in respect of the filing, examining or issuing of any document or in respect of any action that the Superintendent is required or authorized to take under this Act, and fixing the amount of the fee or the manner of determining its amount;
respecting the regulatory capital and total assets of a company, a society, a provincial company or an insurance holding company;
respecting the standards of sound business and financial practices for companies, societies, provincial companies and foreign companies;
respecting the retention, in Canada, of assets of a company, a society or an insurance holding company;
respecting the value of assets of a company, a society or an insurance holding company to be held in Canada and the manner in which those assets are to be held;
respecting the protection and maintenance of assets of a company, a society or an insurance holding company, including regulations respecting the bonding of directors, officers and employees of a company, a society or an insurance holding company;
generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.
The regulations may incorporate any material by reference regardless of its source and either as it exists on a particular date or as amended from time to time.
Material does not become a regulation for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act because it is incorporated by reference.
Delegation
The Minister may delegate any of the Minister’s powers, duties and functions under this Act to any Minister of State appointed under the Ministries and Ministers of State Act to assist the Minister.
Sanctions
Every person who, without reasonable cause, contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence.
Every person who knowingly provides false or misleading information in relation to any matter under this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence.
Every director, officer or employee of a company or a society who wilfully gives or concurs in giving to any creditor of the company or society any fraudulent, undue or unfair preference over other creditors, by giving security to the creditor, by changing the nature of the creditor’s claim or otherwise, is guilty of an offence.
Every person who, without reasonable cause, refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made under paragraph 674(3)(b) or 1000(3)(b) is guilty of an offence.
Except to the extent permitted by the regulations, every person who uses the name of a company or of an insurance holding company in a prospectus, offering memorandum, takeover bid circular, advertisement for a transaction related to securities or in any other document in connection with a transaction related to securities is guilty of an offence.
in the case of a natural person, liable
on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than twelve months, or to both, or
on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, or to both; and
in the case of an entity, liable
on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $500,000, or
on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $5,000,000.
If a person has been convicted of an offence under this Act, the court may, in addition to any punishment it may otherwise impose, order the person to comply with the provisions of this Act or the regulations in respect of which the person was convicted.
If a person has been convicted of an offence under this Act, the court may, if it is satisfied that as a result of the commission of the offence the convicted person acquired any monetary benefits or that monetary benefits accrued to the convicted person or their spouse, common-law partner or other dependant, order the convicted person to pay, despite the maximum amount of any fine that may otherwise be imposed under this Act, an additional fine in an amount equal to three times the court’s estimation of the amount of those monetary benefits.
If an entity commits an offence under this Act, any officer, director or agent of the entity who directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in the commission of the offence is a party to and guilty of the offence and liable on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment to the punishment provided under paragraph 1027(1)(a) for the offence, whether or not the entity has been prosecuted or convicted.
Proceedings by way of summary conviction in respect of an offence under a provision of this Act may be commenced at any time within, but not later than, two years after the day on which the subject-matter of the proceedings became known, in the case of an offence under a consumer provision, to the Commissioner and, in any other case, to the Superintendent.
A document appearing to have been issued by the Superintendent or Commissioner, as the case may be, certifying the day on which the subject-matter of any proceedings became known to the Superintendent or Commissioner is admissible in evidence without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed it and is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the matter asserted in it.
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Act, a contravention of any provision of this Act or the regulations does not invalidate any contract entered into in contravention of the provision.
If a company, a society, a foreign company, a provincial company or an insurance holding company or any director, officer, employee or agent of one does not comply with any provision of this Act or the regulations other than a consumer provision, or, in the case of a company, a society or an insurance holding company, of the incorporating instrument or any by-law of the company, society or insurance holding company, the Superintendent, any complainant or any creditor of the company, society or insurance holding company may, in addition to any other right that person has, apply to a court for an order directing the company, society, foreign company, provincial company, insurance holding company, director, officer, employee or agent to comply with — or restraining the company, society, foreign company, provincial company, insurance holding company, director, officer, employee or agent from acting in breach of — the provision and, on the application, the court may so order and make any further order it thinks fit.
If a company or a foreign company or any director, officer, employee or agent of one does not comply with any applicable consumer provision, the Commissioner or any complainant may, in addition to any other right that person has, apply to a court for an order directing the company, foreign company, director, officer, employee or agent to comply with — or restraining the company, foreign company, director, officer, employee or agent from acting in breach of — the consumer provision and, on the application, the court may so order and make any further order it thinks fit.
An appeal lies to the court of appeal of a province from any final order made by a court of that province under this Act.
An appeal lies to the court of appeal of a province from any order, other than a final order made by a court of that province, only with leave of the court of appeal in accordance with the rules applicable to that court.
All fines payable under this Act are recoverable and enforceable, with costs, at the suit of Her Majesty in right of Canada, instituted by the Attorney General of Canada, and, when recovered, belong to Her Majesty in right of Canada.[Note: Sections 712 to 763, enacted by 1991, c. 47 have been replaced with provisions enacted by 2001, c. 9, s. 465.]
— 1991, c. 47, s. 763 read as follows:[Note: Act, except the provisions set out in section 763, in force June 1, 1992, see SI/92-91.]
Subject to subsection (2), this Act or any Part thereof, other than subsections 702(4), 713(2), 715(2), 716(2), 719(3), 720(2), 721(2), 722(2), 723(2) and (4), 724(2), 725(2), 726(2), 727(2), 736(2), 742(2), 743(2) and (4), 745(2) and 746(2) and sections 753 to 760, shall come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Documents in Electronic or Other Form
The following definitions apply in this Part.
electronic document means, except in section 1043, any form of representation of information or concepts that is fixed in any medium in or by electronic, optical or other similar means and that can be read or perceived by a person or by any means. (document électronique)
information system means a system used to generate, send, receive, store or otherwise process an electronic document. (système de traitement de l’information)
NI 51-102 in respect of a province set out in column 1 of Table 1 of Schedule V to the Bank Act, means the version of National Instrument 51-102 referred to in column 2. (Règlement 51-102)
NI 54-101 in respect of a province set out in column 1 of Table 1 of Schedule V to the Bank Act, means the version of National Instrument 54-101 referred to in column 2. (Règlement 54-101)
Nothing in this Act or the regulations requires a person to create or provide an electronic document.
the addressee consents and designates an information system for the receipt of the electronic document;
the electronic document is, unless otherwise prescribed, provided to the designated information system; and
the prescribed requirements are complied with.
Despite subsection (1), the requirements referred to in paragraph (1)(c) may provide that the consent referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and any notice related to that consent may be provided in electronic form.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the revocation of the consent referred to in paragraph (1)(a).
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of the provision of a document or other information, including a proxy circular, to shareholders of a distributing company or of a distributing insurance holding company for use in connection with a meeting for which notice referred to in subsection 143(1) or 767(1) is sent if
a notice of availability of documents or other information for use in connection with the meeting is sent in accordance with the rules governing notice-and-access set out in NI 51-102 or NI 54-101;
the notice is accompanied by any form of proxy and written request for voting instructions that are required to be sent under this Act; and
the document or other information is made available as an electronic document in accordance with the rules governing notice-and-access set out in NI 51-102 or NI 54-101.
a notice of availability of documents or other information for use in connection with the meeting is sent to the policyholders that contains only
the time and place of the meeting,
a statement that the documents or other information for use in connection with the meeting are available as electronic documents on the website of the company,
the address of the website of the company on which the documents or other information are available,
a statement that no paper copies of any document or other information for use in connection with the meeting will be sent unless they are requested,
instructions on how to request the paper copies,
a description of the matters to be voted on during the meeting, and
a description of the voting procedures;
the notice is accompanied by any form of proxy that is required to be sent under this Act; and
the document or other information is made available to policyholders as an electronic document on the website of the company.
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of the provision of a document or other information, including a proxy circular, to shareholders or policyholders of a company that is not a distributing company or of an insurance holding company that is not a distributing insurance holding company for use in connection with a meeting for which notice referred to in subsection 143(1) or 767(1) is sent if
a notice of availability of documents or other information for use in connection with the meeting is sent to the shareholders or policyholders that contains only
the time and place of the meeting,
a statement that the documents or other information for use in connection with the meeting are available as electronic documents on the website of the company or insurance holding company,
the address of the website of the company or insurance holding company on which the documents or other information are available,
a statement that no paper copies of any document or other information for use in connection with the meeting will be sent unless they are requested,
instructions on how to request the paper copies,
a description of the matters to be voted on during the meeting, and
a description of the voting procedures;
the notice is accompanied by any form of proxy and written request for voting instructions that are required to be sent under this Act; and
the document or other information is made available to shareholders or policyholders as an electronic document on the website of the company or insurance holding company.
For the purposes of paragraphs (4)(c) and (5)(c), a document or other information is considered to be available as an electronic document only if
it is available on the website on or before the day on which the notice referred to in paragraph (4)(a) or (5)(a) is sent;
it remains available on the website for at least one year; and
it is in an accessible, printable and searchable format.
On the request of a policyholder of a distributing company or of a shareholder or policyholder of a company that is not a distributing company or of an insurance holding company that is not a distributing insurance holding company, paper copies of the following documents or other information must be sent by prepaid mail addressed to, or delivered personally to, the policyholder or shareholder at their latest address as shown in the records of the company or insurance holding company, or of its transfer agent:
A document or other information referred to in paragraph (7)(a) must be sent or delivered
within three business days after the day on which the request is received, if it is received before the day of the meeting; or
within 10 days after the day on which the request is received, if it is received on or after the day of the meeting.
For greater certainty, a document or other information that is required under this Act or the regulations to be sent to a specific place and that is made available under paragraph (3)(c), (4)(c) or (5)(c) is not required to be sent to an information system designated by the addressee.
A requirement under this Act or the regulations to create or provide a notice, document or other information is satisfied by creating or providing an electronic document if
the incorporating instrument or by-laws of the company, insurance holding company, foreign company, society or provincial company, as the case may be, do not provide otherwise; and
the prescribed requirements are complied with.
A requirement under this Act or the regulations to create a notice, document or other information in writing is satisfied by creating an electronic document if in addition to the conditions set out in section 1038
the information in the electronic document is accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
the prescribed requirements are complied with.
A requirement under this Act or the regulations to provide a notice, document or other information in writing is satisfied by providing an electronic document if in addition to the conditions set out in section 1038
the information in the electronic document is accessible by the addressee and capable of being retained by them so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
the prescribed requirements are complied with.
A requirement under this Act or the regulations to provide two or more copies of a document at the same time to one addressee is satisfied by providing one copy of the electronic document.
A requirement under this Act or the regulations to provide a document by registered mail is not satisfied by providing an electronic document except in the prescribed circumstances.
A statutory declaration or affidavit required under this Act or the regulations may be created or provided in an electronic document if
the person who makes the statutory declaration or affidavit signs it with their secure electronic signature;
the authorized person before whom the statutory declaration or affidavit is made signs it with their secure electronic signature; and
For the purposes of this section, electronic document and secure electronic signature have the same meaning as in subsection 31(1) of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
For the purpose of complying with paragraph (1)(c), references to electronic document in sections 1036 to 1042 are to be read as references to “electronic document within the meaning of subsection 31(1) of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act”.
A requirement under this Act or the regulations for a signature or for a document to be executed, except in respect of a statutory declaration or affidavit, is satisfied in respect of an electronic document if the prescribed requirements are complied with and the signature results from the application by the person of a technology or process that permits the following to be proved:
the signature resulting from the use by the person of the technology or process is unique to the person;
the technology or process is used by the person to incorporate their signature into, attach it to or associate it with the electronic document; and
the technology or process can be used to identify the person using the technology or process.
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the time and place at which and the circumstances under which an electronic document is considered to be provided or received.
The Minister, Superintendent or Commissioner may establish the requirements for the content and fix the form, including electronic and other forms, of notices and documents sent to or issued by each of them under this Act or the regulations, including
the notices and documents that may be sent in electronic or other form;
the persons or classes of persons who may send notices and documents;
their signature in electronic or other form or their execution, adoption or authorization in a manner that is to have the same effect for the purposes of this Act as their signature;
the time and place at which and the circumstances under which electronic documents are considered to be sent or received; and
any matter necessary for the purposes of the application of this section.
In the prescribed circumstances, the Minister, the Superintendent or the Commissioner may, on any conditions that they consider appropriate, exempt from the application of any provision of this Act requiring a notice or document to be sent to them any notice or document, or class of notice or document, containing information similar to that contained in a notice or document required to be made public under any other Act of Parliament or any Act of the legislature of a province.
Classes of Insurance
accident and sickness insurance means insurance
against loss resulting from bodily injury to, or the death of, a person caused by an accident;
under which an insurer undertakes to pay a sum or sums of money in the event of bodily injury to, or the death of, a person caused by an accident;
against loss resulting from the sickness or disability of a person not caused by an accident, but excludes loss resulting from the death of the person as a consequence of sickness;
under which an insurer undertakes to pay a sum or sums of money in the event of the sickness or disability of a person not caused by an accident; or
under which an insurer undertakes to pay a sum of money in respect of the health care — including dental care and preventative care — of a person. (accidents et maladie)
aircraft insurance means insurance against
liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a person, or the loss of, or damage to, property, in each case caused by an aircraft or the use of an aircraft; or
the loss of, the loss of use of, or damage to, an aircraft. (assurance- aviation)
automobile insurance means insurance
against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a person, or the loss of, or damage to, property, in each case caused by an automobile or the use or operation of an automobile;
against the loss of, the loss of use of, or damage to, an automobile; or
that falls within paragraph (a) or (b) of the class of accident and sickness insurance, if the accident is caused by an automobile or the use or operation of an automobile, whether or not liability exists in respect of the accident, and the policy includes insurance against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a person caused by an automobile or the use or operation of an automobile. (automobile)
boiler and machinery insurance means insurance
against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a person, or the loss of, or damage to, property, or against the loss of, or damage to, property, in each case caused by the explosion or rupture of, or accident to, pressure vessels of any kind or pipes, engines and machinery connected to or operated by those pressure vessels; or
against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the death of, a person, or the loss of, or damage to, property, or against the loss of, or damage to, property, in each case caused by a breakdown of machinery. (chaudières et panne de machines)
credit insurance means insurance against loss to a person who has granted credit if the loss is the result of the insolvency or default of the person to whom the credit was given. (crédit)
credit protection insurance means insurance under which an insurer undertakes to pay off credit balances or debts of an individual, in whole or in part, in the event of an impairment or potential impairment in the individual’s income or ability to earn an income. (protection de crédit)
fidelity insurance means
insurance against loss caused by the theft, the abuse of trust or the unfaithful performance of duties, by a person in a position of trust; and
insurance under which an insurer undertakes to guarantee the proper fulfilment of the duties of an office. (détournements)
fire insurance[Repealed, 2007, c. 6, s. 334]
hail insurance means insurance against the loss of, or damage to, crops in the field caused by hail. (grêle)
legal expenses insurance means insurance against the costs incurred by a person or persons for legal services specified in the policy, including any retainer and fees incurred for the services, and other costs incurred in respect of the provision of the services. (frais juridiques)
liability insurance means insurance, other than insurance that falls within another class of insurance,
against liability arising out of bodily injury to, or the disability or death of, a person, including an employee;
against liability arising out of the loss of, or damage to, property; or
if the policy includes the insurance described in paragraph (a), against expenses arising out of bodily injury to a person other than the insured or a member of the insured’s family, whether or not liability exists. (responsabilité)
life insurance
means any insurance that is payable
on death,
on the happening of an event or contingency dependent on human life,
at a fixed or determinable future time, or
for a term dependent on human life; and
without restricting the generality of paragraph (a), includes insurance under which an insurer
undertakes to pay an additional sum of money in the event of the death by accident of the person whose life is insured,
undertakes to pay a sum of money or to provide other benefits in the event that the person whose life is insured becomes disabled as a result of bodily injury or disease, or
undertakes to provide an annuity — or what would be an annuity except that the periodic payments may be unequal in amount — for a term dependent solely or partly on the life of a person. (assurance-vie)
loss of employment insurance[Repealed, 2007, c. 6, s. 334]
marine insurance means insurance against
liability arising out of
bodily injury to, or the death of, a person, or
the loss of, or damage to, property, or
the loss of, or damage to, property,
occurring during a voyage or marine adventure at sea or on an inland waterway, or during a delay or a transit other than by water that is incidental to a voyage or marine adventure at sea or on an inland waterway. (maritime)
mortgage insurance means insurance against loss caused by default on the part of a borrower under a loan secured by a mortgage or charge on, or other security interest in, real property. (hypothèque)
other approved products insurance means insurance against risks that do not fall within another class of insurance. (autres produits approuvés)
property insurance means insurance against the loss of, or damage to, property and includes insurance against loss caused by forgery. (assurances de biens)
surety insurance means insurance under which an insurer undertakes to guarantee the due performance of a contract or undertaking or the payment of a penalty or indemnity for any default. (caution)
title insurance means insurance against loss or damage caused by
the existence of a mortgage, charge, lien, encumbrance, servitude or any other restriction on real property;
the existence of a mortgage, charge, lien, pledge, encumbrance or any other restriction on personal property;
a defect in the title to property; or
any other matter affecting the title to property or affecting the right to the use and enjoyment of property. (titres)