Canadian Securities Regulators announce review of Automatic Securities Disposition Plans

MONTREAL and TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today announced that it is undertaking a review of Automatic Securities Disposition Plans (ASDPs). ASDPs enable insiders to make preplanned sales of securities of an issuer through an arms-length administrator, according to a predetermined set of instructions.

"The CSA's review aims to ensure that ASDPs remain a legitimate mechanism of trading by corporate insiders and do not undermine the fairness of our capital markets," said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

Currently, provincial and territorial securities laws provide an insider trading defence for trades made under automatic plans; however, there is no national framework governing such plans. The CSA's review of ASDPs will consider whether the regulatory framework should be enhanced and harmonized across Canada. Specifically, the review will examine whether these plans provide appropriate constraints on trading activities of insiders and will be informed by relevant international developments in this area.

The CSA's review will also consider whether relief should continue to be granted from insider reporting for trades done under ASDPs and, if so, under what conditions. Such relief, while not requested by all issuers setting up ASDPs, has been granted several times in the last decade.

Until the CSA completes its review and updates the market on its conclusions, CSA staff are unlikely to recommend new insider reporting relief for trades done under ASDPs. Existing insider reporting relief will be unaffected.

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 Investor inquiries, please refer to your respective securities regulator. You can contact them here.

For media inquiries, please refer to the list of provincial and territorial representatives below or contact us at [email protected].                                                                              

SOURCE Canadian Securities Administrators

Kristen Rose, Ontario Securities Commission, 416-593-2336; Hilary McMeekin, Alberta Securities Commission, 403-592-8186; Brian Kladko, British Columbia Securities Commission, 604-899-6713; Jean-Maurice Bouchard, Autorité des marchés financiers, 514-395-0337 #2347; Jason (Jay) Booth, Manitoba Securities Commission, 204-945-1660; Sara Wilson, Financial and Consumer Services Commission, New Brunswick, 506-643-7045; Shannon McMillan, Financial and Consumer Affairs, Authority of Saskatchewan, 306-798-4160; Steve Dowling, Government of Prince Edward Island, Superintendent of Securities, 902-368-4550; David Harrison, Nova Scotia Securities Commission, 902-424-8586; Jeff Mason, Nunavut Securities Office, 867-975-6591; Renée Dyer, Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Newfoundland and Labrador, 709-729-4909; Tom Hall, Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Northwest Territories, 867-767-9305; Rhonda Horte, Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities, 867-667-5466