IR Leader
January 15, 2013
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Top Stories

Fair Value Discussions in the MD&A - A Discussion Brief

This brief distinguishes between circumstances when fair values are incidental to an entity's core business and those when they are integral to an entity's financial reporting. It also provides guidance to assist preparers of financial reports to address ways to improve the MD&A discussion when amounts are measured at fair value and matters to consider in enhancing the discussion of fair value disclosures.

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SEC's New Position on Voting Buttons Necessitates Changes to Online and Telephone Proxy Solicitation

The SEC recently informed service providers in the proxy distribution industry of a new interpretive position regarding the use of voting buttons. According to the new SEC staff position, service providers must present shareholders with a "Vote Against the Board's Recommendations" button if they provide a "Vote with the Board's Recommendations" button. This position applies to the solicitation of proxies or voting instructions both online and over the telephone.

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New Rule Could Turn U.S. Hedge Funds Into Informers

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is working on a rule that would require U.S. hedge funds to file formal reports notifying U.S. authorities of any suspicious trading by employees or outside parties, the regulatory agency said.

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OSC Explores New Capital Raising Prospectus Exemptions

The Ontario Securities Commission has released a broad consultation paper, OSC Staff Consultation Paper 45-710 Considerations for New Capital Raising Prospectus Exemptions, which explores four "concept ideas" relating to new prospectus exemptions in Canada. This includes the OSC's preliminary thoughts about crowdfunding.

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Dealing with ISS and Other Proxy Advisory Firms this Proxy Season

Set forth below are summaries of key ISS and Glass Lewis policy updates that will take effect for the 2013 proxy season.

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Circuit Breaker Levels for the First Quarter

This Rules Notice provides guidance relating to the imposition, during the First Quarter of 2013, of a general regulatory halt in the trading of securities in co-ordination with the application of "circuit breakers" on markets in the United States.

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Notice and Access Now Available to Canadian Issuers An Important Step in Streamlining the Proxy Voting System

The move towards eliminating the amount of paper involved in shareholder meetings of Canadian public companies has begun.

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Ontario Securities Commission Considering Crowdfunding and Other New Prospectus Exemptions

The Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") recently published Consultation Paper 45-710 Considerations For New Capital Raising Prospectus Exemptions (the "Consultation Paper"). The Consultation Paper seeks feedback on concept ideas for new prospectus exemptions in Ontario aimed at giving start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises greater access to capital markets while maintaining appropriate investor protection.

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Proxy Advisers Face Restraints

The Canadian Securities Administrators got a frothy response when it asked for feedback on potential regulation of proxy advisory firms. Experts predict voluntary guidelines sometime in 2013 with firmer rules down the road.

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Canadian Securities Administrators Staff Notice 23-314 Frequently Asked Questions About National Instrument 23-103 Electronic Trading

The purpose of this notice is to answer some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding National Instrument 23-103 Electronic Trading (the rule or NI 23-103).

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Preparing for Proxy Season

Think like an activist...be prepared...know your shareholders...earn their vote...expect the unexpected. These days, when it comes time for proxy season and your annual AGM, a little paranoia goes a long way.

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