From time to time, we receive inquiries from foreign banks that do not have a presence in Canada on whether there are any Canadian banking regulatory restrictions on lending to Canadian borrowers. Under the Bank Act (Canada), a foreign bank can lend to Canadian borrowers by:
- establishing a presence in Canada by creating a Canadian subsidiary or a foreign bank branch pursuant to the Bank Act (Canada); or
- structuring its activities so that it is not considered to be engaged in or carrying on business in Canada.
The focus of this blog entry is option 2. A determination of whether a foreign bank is engaged in or carrying on business in Canada is a question of fact. Generally speaking, it is unlikely that a foreign bank that lends to a Canadian borrower would be found to be engaged in or carrying on business in Canada if:
- the foreign bank does not have a place of business in Canada;
- the foreign bank does not have a phone number in Canada;
- the foreign bank's employees' visits to Canada are for purposes of marketing; and
- the loan documentation is negotiated and signed outside of Canada by the foreign bank.
Scott's practice is focussed on acting for domestic and U.S. financial institutions and issuers on asset-based lending, acquisition financings and DIP finance transactions.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.