Regulators weigh in on ICOs

By Peter Charbonneau (Toronto) on October 24, 2017 Posted in Securities

Issuers contemplating initial coin offerings (ICOs) would be wise to consider the recent decision of impak Finance Inc. (Impak) by the Autorité des marchés financiers’ and the Ontario Securities Commission. Background and Decision Impak launched an ICO for impak Coin (MPK Tokens), which Impak describes as a cryptocurrency with a social purpose. The proceeds of … Continue reading

Evolving tactical defenses by target issuers: Private placements in response to a hostile bid

By Andrea Brewer and Kassy Corothers (Calgary) on October 13, 2016 Posted in Securities

The Ontario and British Columbia Securities Commissions (the Commissions) issued orders on July 22, 2016 allowing junior B.C.-based miner, Dolly Varden Silver Corp. (Dolly Varden), the target of a hostile takeover bid from Idaho-based Hecla Mining Co. (Hecla), to proceed with a proposed private placement, which was announced shortly after Hecla launched its hostile bid. … Continue reading

Non-standard accounting measures: The media, regulators, and shareholders zero in

By Orestes Pasparakis, Walied Soliman and Heidi Reinhart on September 29, 2016 Posted in Securities

Non-standard accounting practices have been gaining in popularity among Canadian publicly traded companies. Issuers that rely solely on standard accounting metrics now make up a small minority of the companies listed in the S&P 500 and S&P/TSX 60. Many issuers believe that non-standard measures are a better reflection of performance than Generally Accepted Accounting Principles … Continue reading