Ontario Business Law Amendments Arriving August 1st

Provisions

Current OBCA

Amended OBCA

Financial Assistance Disclosure
Removes s. 20

Corporations must disclose financial assistance given to certain related persons.

Financial assistance disclosure requirements are eliminated.

Distinctions Between Share Classes
Adds s. 22(7)

Classes of shares must have different rights and conditions.

Classes of shares can have the same rights and conditions.

Additions to Stated Capital
Amends s. 24(3)

Generally, corporations must add the full value of consideration received for shares to the stated capital account, except when property or shares are received from non-arm’s length parties.

An additional exception has been created for property received from arm’s length parties (shareholder consent required in some cases).

Subsidiary Ownership
Adds ss. 29(9)-(11)

A subsidiary may not own shares of its parent.

Subsidiaries can own shares of parents in some limited cases (relevant to acquisitions of foreign targets).

Stated Capital and Stock Dividends
Amends s. 38(2)

Unclear whether high-low stock dividends permitted

High-low stock dividends clearly permitted

Shareholder Proposals – Beneficial Owners
Amends s. 99(1)

Only registered shareholders may bring shareholder proposals.

Both beneficial owners and registered shareholders are permitted to bring shareholder proposals.

Shareholder Proposals – Length
Replaces s. 99(3), adds s. 99(3.1)

The length of supporting statements is unrestricted.

Supporting statements are limited to 500 words.

Shareholder Proposals – Refusal
Replaces s. 99(5)(b), adds s. 99(5)(b.1)

A corporation may refuse to consider proposals which have a primarily personal purpose or which do not relate in any significant way to the business of the corporation.

A corporation may refuse a proposal if it clearly appears that the proposal does not relate in any significant way to the corporation’s business.

Voting Regime
Replaces s. 100(2)

A shareholder acquiring ownership of shares after the record date may be entitled to vote at a shareholder meeting in some cases.

The list created on the record date is final and no new shareholders are entitled to vote at the meeting.

Proxy Solicitation Rules
Adds s. 112 (1.1 & 1.2)

Proxy solicitation rules restrict persons from soliciting proxies in respect of an offering corporation.

Exemptions from proxy solicitation rules apply in respect of solicitations targeted to 15 or fewer shareholders and solicitations by public broadcast or publication.

Residency Requirements
Replaces s. 118(3), removes 126(6)

A majority of board members, and a majority of directors participating in a board meeting, must be Canadian residents.

25% of board members must be Canadian residents. There is no longer a residency requirement for board meetings.

Conflicts of Interest – Attending and Voting
Amends s. 132(5), adds ss. 132(5.1) & (5.2)

Directors cannot vote on a resolution to approve a transaction in which they have a conflict of interest but can attend meetings during which the transaction is discussed.

Directors are now prohibited from attending any part of a meeting during which the contract or transaction is discussed.

Conflicts of Interest – Notice
Amends s. 132(6)

No requirement to update a notice of interest

A notice of interest must be updated to reflect material changes.

Duty of Care
Amends s. 134(1)

Beneficiary of the duty of care not specified (similar provision in CBCA interpreted by Supreme Court to be open-ended, and including creditors)

Duty of care specifically owed to the corporation

Diligence Defence
Replaces s. 135(4)

Due diligence defence is available in respect of good faith reliance upon annual financial statements and reports of professionals.

Due diligence defence is available in respect of good faith reliance upon either interim or annual financial statements, reports of professionals, and reports or advice of an officer or employee of the corporation where it is reasonable in the circumstances to rely on the report or advice.

Indemnification – Other Entities
Amends s. 136(1), replaces s. 136(3),
adds s. 136(4)

Corporation may indemnify a person who acts or acted at the corporation’s request as a director or officer of a body corporate of which the corporation is or was a shareholder or creditor

Corporation may indemnify an individual who acts or acted at the corporation’s request as a director or officer of a body corporate, or in a similar capacity of another entity

Indemnification – Coverage
Amend ss. 136(1) & 136(4), adds s. 136 (4.1)

Corporation may indemnify in respect of criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings to which the indemnitee is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the corporation

Corporation may indemnify in respect of civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceedings in which the indemnitee is involved because of the association with the corporation and indemnification may also extend to derivative actions

Indemnification – Advances
Replaces s. 136(2)

No advance of defence costs permitted

Defence costs may be advanced but must be repaid if the indemnitee is found not to have acted honestly and in good faith.

Right of Indemnification – Early Settlement
Adds s. 136(4.2)

Entitlement to an indemnity arises after the indemnitee successfully defends the action or proceeding.

Encourages early settlement: individuals are entitled to the indemnity if they are not judged to have committed any fault, subject to several conditions.

Scope of Insurance
Replaces s. 136(4)

Corporation may not purchase insurance where the liability relates to the person’s failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation.

No equivalent restriction

Circulation of Financial Statements
Replaces s. 153(3), adds s. 153(4)

An offering corporation must circulate financial information to all shareholders except those who waive the right to this information.

An offering corporation is only required to circulate financial information to those who request it.

Derivative Actions
Adds s. 246(2.1)

A complainant must notify the corporation’s directors of the complainant’s intention to seek leave to bring a derivative action.

No notice is required in respect of a complainant’s intention to seek leave to bring a derivative action if all directors of the corporation are defendants in the action.