Canadian Securities Regulators Announce New Insider Reporting Regime

VANCOUVER , Jan. 22 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published today advance notice of adoption of a new insider reporting regime that aims to streamline how insiders report their securities transactions to the public.

National Instrument 55-104 Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions, the companion policy, and related amendments set out the framework and guidelines for a new insider reporting regime that among other things:

    
    -   reduces the number of insiders required to file insider reports to a
        core group that have the greatest access to material undisclosed
        information and the greatest influence over the reporting issuer;
    -   shortens the reporting deadline for subsequent reports from 10 days
        to five calendar days after the trade for most transactions,
        following a six-month transition period;
    -   simplifies and brings consistency to stock-based compensation
        reporting requirements;
    -   gives issuers the option to file reports on stock-based compensation
        for insiders; and
    -   establishes a more focused and more timely insider reporting system,
        which should benefit investors and other market participants who use
        the system.
    

"We expect the new insider reporting regime will make it easier for issuers and insiders to understand their obligations, while promoting timely and effective compliance," said Jean St-Gelais, Chair of the CSA and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec). "It should also provide more useful and consistent information to investors and others who assess insider activity."

The new regime generally consolidates the main insider reporting requirements and exemptions in a single national instrument, except in Ontario where the main insider reporting requirements will remain in the Ontario Securities Act. Nevertheless, the substance of the requirements for insider reporting will be the same across the CSA jurisdictions. Subject to obtaining all necessary ministerial or governmental approvals, the new insider reporting regime will take effect on April 30, 2010 .

The published materials are available on the websites of various CSA members.

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

For further information: Ken Gracey, British Columbia Securities Commission, [phone]; Sylvain Théberge, Autorité des marchés financiers, [phone]; Mark Dickey, Alberta Securities Commission, [phone]; Theresa Ebden, Ontario Securities Commission, [phone]; Ainsley Cunningham, Manitoba Securities Commission, [phone]; Wendy Connors-Beckett, New Brunswick Securities Commission, [phone]; Natalie MacLellan, Nova Scotia Securities Commission, [phone]; Barbara Shourounis, Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission, [phone]; Janice Callbeck, PEI Securities Office, Office of the Attorney General, [phone]; Doug Connolly, Financial Services Regulation Div., Newfoundland and Labrador, [phone]; Fred Pretorius, Yukon Securities Registry, [phone]; Louis Arki, Nunavut Securities Office, [phone]; Donn MacDougall, Northwest Territories Securities Office, [phone]