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  • Derivatives Transaction Reporting Starts in Canada – Are you Ready?

    hBy Brian Koscak and Michael Brown – Effective as of October 31, 2014, securities legislation in each of Ontario, Québec and Manitoba came into force that requires “local counterparties” which engage in derivative transactions to report certain derivatives transaction data to a designated trade repository. OSC Rule 91-507 Trade Repositories and Derivatives Data Reporting and the corresponding rules in Québec and Manitoba (collectively, the TR Rules) have broad application and any issuer or entity that engages in derivatives transactions, for hedging or speculative purposes, should be aware of its implications and reporting obligations.

    Why report derivative transactions?

    The TR Rules were developed to improve transparency in the derivatives markets by requiring market participants to report transaction data to designated trade repositories. Such data is considered essential for regulatory oversight of the derivatives market, and will allow regulators to address a variety of risks, including monitoring of systemic risk and the risk of market abuse. Derivatives data reported to designated trade repositories will also assist policy-making by providing regulators with information on the nature and characteristics of the Canadian derivatives market.
    What is a derivative transaction?

    Generally speaking, a derivative is an option, swap, futures contract, forward contract or other financial or commodity contract or instrument whose market price, value, delivery obligations, payment obligations or settlement obligations are derived from, referenced to or based on an underlying interest (including a value, price, rate, variable, index, event, probability or thing). A derivative can be a security, but does not have to be. In addition, for the purpose of the TR Rules, some contracts and instruments are specifically excluded from the definition of “derivative”, such as contracts regulated by gaming control legislation, certain insurance contracts, and certain short term currency transactions (e.g., airport currency exchange transactions).

    However, it is important to understand that many common derivatives transactions are now subject to reporting under the TR Rules. For example, a standard FX or interest swap transaction between a company and a bank would likely be a derivatives transaction and subject to reporting under the TR Rules.

    What derivative transactions get reported?

    While certain elements of the TR Rules came into force on December 31, 2013, Part 3 (Data Reporting) has only now come into force. Part 3 requires derivative transactions involving a “local counterparty” to be reported to a designated trade repository. Currently, each of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., DTCC Data Reporting Repository (U.S.) LLC and ICE Trade Vault, LLC have been designated by the Ontario Securities Commission as designated trade repositories.

    A local counterparty is a counterparty to a transaction if, at the time of the transaction, one or more of the following apply:

    (a) the counterparty is a person or company, other than an individual, organized under the laws of Ontario, Québec or Manitoba, or that has its head office or principal place of business in Ontario, Québec or Manitoba;

    (b) the counterparty is registered under the securities law of Ontario, Québec or Manitoba as a “derivatives dealer” or in an alternative category as a consequence of trading in derivatives; or

    (c) the counterparty is an affiliate of a person or company described in paragraph (a), and such person or company is responsible for the liabilities of that affiliated party.

    Commencing October 31, 2014, a derivatives dealer that is a counterparty to a transaction that involves a local counterparty must report, or cause to be reported, the data required by Part 3, which includes creation data, life-cycle event data and valuation data. A derivatives dealer is a person or company engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in the business of trading in derivatives in Ontario, Québec or Manitoba as principal or agent. Part 3 does not require a reporting counterparty that is not a derivatives dealer or a recognized or exempt clearing agency to make any reports under until June 30, 2015.

    Part 3 of the TR Rules also require disclosure of pre-existing transactions:

    • Transactions involving a derivatives dealer that were entered into before October 31, 2014 and with respect to which there were outstanding contractual obligations as of October 31, 2014 must be reported on or before April 30, 2015.
    • Transactions that did not involve a derivatives dealer that were entered into before June 30, 2015 and in respect of which there were contractual obligations outstanding as of June 30, 2015 must be reported on or before December 31, 2015.

    Are you ready for reporting?

    Regardless of whether the obligation to report falls upon you or your counterparty, every report filed under Part 3 of the TR Rules requires each counterparty to be identified by a legal entity identifier (LEI). An LEI is a unique identification code assigned to a counterparty in accordance with the standards set by the Global Legal Entity Indentified System.

    LEIs can only be obtained from a Local Operating Unit (LOU) endorsed by the Global LEI System’s Regulatory Oversight Committee. Each LOU has its own process for issuing LEIs but generally, an applicant must supply the LOU with the official name of the entity, the jurisdiction of legal formation, the address of the headquarters, the name of the business registry and the entity’s identification at that business registry where it was created, if applicable.

    An LEI should be obtained prior to entering into a derivative transaction that must be reported. In Canada, applications for an LEI may be made here.

    – Dates to Remember –

    Commencing October 31 2014, all derivative transactions involving a local counterparty and a derivatives dealer must be reported to a designated trade repository.

    • By April 30, 2015, all derivative transactions involving a local counterparty and derivatives dealer that were entered into prior to October 31, 2014, but which still had outstanding contractual obligations as of October 31, 2014, will have to be reported.
    • Commencing June 30, 2015, all derivative transactions involving a local counterparty (whether or not one is a derivatives dealer) must be reported to a designated trade repository.
    • By December 31, 2015, all derivative transactions involving a local counterparty that were entered into prior to June 30, 2015, but which still have outstanding contractual obligations as of June 30, 2015, will have to be reported by December 31, 2015.

    Disclaimer

    This blog is not intended to create, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should not act or rely on information on this blog post without first seeking the advice of a lawyer. This material is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal issues that arise, the reader should consult legal counsel.

    Koscak_bBrian Koscak is a Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP located in Toronto, Ontario and Chair of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (formerly, the Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada). Brian is also a member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada.

    Brian can be reached by phone at 416-860-2955, by e-mail at bkoscak@casselsbrock.com or on twitter @briankoscak. Brian also regularly writes about Canadian securities law matters on his personal blog at www.briankoscak.com.

    Michael Brown is a senior lawyer at Cassels Brock. Prior to joining Cassels Brock, Michael spent over ten years in the Corporate Finance Branch of the Ontario Securities Commission. During this time, he led a team of lawyers whose responsibilities included the review, vetting and analysis of prospectuses and continuous disclosure documents, as well as the processing of exemptive relief applications. Michael was also involved in the regulation of take-over/issuer bids and mergers and acquisitions. His extensive policy experience at the Commission included work related to capital pool companies, audit committees, corporate governance and credit rating agencies.

  • Crowdfunding for Beginners – New Book

    Crowdfunding for Beginners

    Crowdfunding for Beginners – Book

    How to Raise Money for Start-Ups, Early Stage Enterprises, Charities and Non-Profits

    Late this summer, a new crowdfunding book was released by serial author Iain Williamson of Learn2succeed.com Incorporated. I have read the book and find it an interesting and easy-to-read book of about 156 pages on crowdfunding for beginners. It is perfect for those who are just wading into the subject and want a simple book that looks at equity and non-equity crowdfunding from a global perspective including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

    I have the privilege of asking author Iain Williamson a few questions about his new book which covers the current ‘state of play’ so readers can quickly get a grasp on what’s in it for them.

    Q. 1 Why did you write the book?

    Actually, I did not just wake up one day and want to write a book about crowdfunding. For over 20 years, I have been writing a whole series of books on small business financing in Canada which I update every year. In certain chapters in different books I found myself writing about crowdfunding, For example, I wrote about debt crowdfunding in my book on bank and debt financing and equity-crowdfunding in my books on raising venture capital and going public. However, I came to realize that my writing was a little superficial. So, I decided to take the bull by the horns and delve into the subject in more detail. Once I did that, I realized that I had enough material for a stand-alone book on crowdfunding.

    Q.2 What makes you qualified to write about crowdfunding?

    Well, there are no university degrees on crowdfunding; at least not yet! Actually, I worked as a financial analyst in the stockbrokerage business for five years so I guess that’s where I acquired the skills to pick companies apart to see how they tick. In essence, I used the same approach in trying to get a handle on the concept of crowdfunding.

    Q.3 Obviously, Learn2succeed.com isn’t your name, so why the pseudonym?

    Good question! I had incorporated the business name quite a long time ago, even before the dot com bubble burst. I thought it was a great name for titles dealing with the digital age; a little like the Dummies series of books but more focussed. Also, it gives me a certain amount of anonymity so I can say nasty things about groups of people I don’t like without them spitting in my eye when I walk down the street!

    Q.4 In that regard, your book contains some sharp criticism for securities regulators.

    You’re darned right! They’re not at the top of my fan list! Basically, they don’t get it! When there was bi-partisan Congressional support for the Jobs Act, everybody was jumping up and down with joy and predicting how many gazillion new jobs could be created when small businesses were able to raise tons of money in a tight credit market dominated by Scrooge bankers. What they forgot to take into account were the boring regulators hiding behind their mountains of red tape and ready to crush any innovative idea that they couldn’t get their heads around!

    Q.5 Why such harsh comments?

    You have to go back to the horrors of the 1929 Stock Market Crash when most investors lost their shirts, pants, underwear and everything else. In the aftermath, the American Government decided that it was time to protect the people from themselves. So, the Securities and Exchange Commission was born some years later and set up rules and regulations which heavily restricted the average Joe’s ability to invest in new companies unless he or she had enough assets. The same goes for Canada.

    Q.5 So what’s wrong with that?

    Well, the average Joe was denied, and still is denied, access to the private capital markets which is absurd. Joe can go down to the racetrack and blow his financial brains out on some nag that wasn’t fed enough oats that morning and Joe doesn’t have to declare his net worth to the bookie before he lays his bet. Likewise, he could go to Vegas and blow his brains out. Moreover, the government will always be all to happy to take his money if he buys a ton of lottery tickets as well. Meanwhile, the poor sod who’s got a great business idea can’t raise two cents to get his show on the road.

    Q.8 Okay, so where does all this lead?

    As my book shows, crowdfunding has definitely taken off for charities and there are also some spectacular success stories involving rewards-based crowdfunding. When it comes to personal loans, crowdfunding is showing great promise and it appears to be gaining some traction for raising business debt. In fact, The Lending Club is in the midst of an IPO! The challenge, however, lies with equity-based crowdfunding where shares are sold to the public. The Brits have come up with a way to do it but, for the most part, the U.S. and certain provinces in Canada are bogged down in a quagmire of regulations.

    Q.9 Is there a solution?

    Absolutely! We have to put some firecrackers under the seats of the regulators and get them to think outside of the box! Now, that’s a tall order but it can be done and my book suggests some practical ways to get the show on the road. I encourage people to buy a copy of the book, obviously since I wrote it and it pays the bills, and join the debate!

    Q.10 So what topics are covered by the book

    The titles of the various chapters are set out below so you have an idea of what the book’s about.

    Introduction Where Crowdfunding Fits into the Big Picture

    Chapter 1 Preparing Yourself for the Equity Crowdfunding Adventure

    Chapter 2 Issues You May Encounter When raising Equity-based Crowdfunding

    Chapter 3 The U.S. Equity Model for Crowdfunding

    Chapter 4 Crowdfunding in Canada

    Chapter 5 Crowdfunding in the United Kingdom

    Chapter 6 Crowdfunding Down Under

    Chapter 7 The Crowdfunding Loan Model

    Chapter 8 The Crowdfunding Rewards Model`

    Chapter 9 Raising Money for Charities & Non-profits

    Chapter 10 The Future of Crowdfunding

    Q.11 So how can one order a copy of your book?

    That’s easy. The book can be purchased securely online at http://crowdfundingforbeginners.biz/ or from our regular site at www.ProductivePublications.ca. Both sites are set up for purchases in $CAD using VISA, MasterCard or AMEX.

    Americans can purchase from our $USD site at www.ProductivePublications.com using VISA or MasterCard in $USD.

    Purchases can also be made to our order desk toll-free for US and Canada at 1-(877) 879-2669.

    The title is also listed on www.Amazon.ca and www.Amazon.com

    Info about the Learn2succeed, myself, the author of the book and Productive Publications can be found by clicking the links at the bottom of the intro page at http://crowdfundingforbeginners.biz/

    Concluding thoughts

    Thanks Iain for your candour and for writing a book for investors, companies and others who want a non-lawyer, non-technical book about crowdfunding.

    Disclaimer

    This blog is not intended to create, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should not act or rely on information on this blog post without first seeking the advice of a lawyer. This material is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal issues that arise, the reader should consult legal counsel.

    Koscak_bBrian Koscak is a Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP located in Toronto, Ontario and Chair of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (formerly, the Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada). Brian is also a member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada.

    Brian can be reached by phone at 416-860-2955, by e-mail at bkoscak@casselsbrock.com or on twitter @briankoscak. Brian also regularly writes about Canadian securities law matters on his personal blog at www.briankoscak.com.

  • Exempt Market Dealers and Prospectus Offerings – Canadian Securities Administrators Back Away from Proposed Changes

    Good News for Exempt Market Dealers Participating As Selling Group Members in Prospectus Offerings
    Good News for Exempt Market Dealers Participating As Selling Group Members in Prospectus Offerings

    By Brian Koscak and Peter Dunne

    Back in December 2013, it looked like the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) might slam the door on exempt market dealers participating in prospectus offerings. However, recent changes suggest the door is still open. This article discusses what happened and where we are today.

    2013 Proposed Amendments to NI 31-103

    On December 5, 2013, the CSA published for comment a number of proposed amendments (the 2013 Proposed Amendments ) to National Instrument 31-103 – Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations (NI 31-103). The 2013 Proposed Amendments included proposed changes to section 7.1(2)(d) which maps out the permitted activities of an exempt market dealer. Below are excerpts from the blacklined version of NI 31-103 published by the CSA showing their proposed changes to section 7.1:

    7.1 Dealer categories

    . . .

    (2) A person or company registered in the category of

    . . .

    (d) exempt market dealer may

    (i) act as a dealer by trading a security that is distributed under an exemption from the prospectus requirement, whether or not a prospectus was filed in respect of the distribution;

    (ii) subject to subsection (5), act as a dealer by trading a security that, if the trade were a distribution, would be exempt from the prospectus requirement;

    (iii) Receive an order from a client to sell a security that was acquired by the client in a circumstance described in subparagraph (i) or (ii), and may act or solicit in furtherance of receiving such an order, and

    (iv) act as an underwriter in respect of a distribution of securities that is made under an exemption from the prospectus requirement;

    . . .

    The proposed deletion of the phrase “whether or not a prospectus was filed in respect of the distribution” suggested a significant change in direction by the CSA.

    The 2013 Proposed Amendments included corresponding changes to 31-103CP, the companion policy to NI 31-103 (the Companion Policy). In particular, section 7.1 of the Companion Policy introduced what appeared to be a clear prohibition:

    Exempt market dealers are not permitted to:

    – participate in a distribution of securities offered under a prospectus

    . . .

    The changes introduced in the 2013 Proposed Amendments clearly suggested that section 7.1(2)(d)(i) of NI 31-103 should be read as excluding exempt market dealers from any role in a prospectus distribution. This raised serious concerns among exempt market dealers who had been involved in prospectus distributions for some time.

    2013 Proposed Amendments undermine support for exempt market dealer participation in prospectus offerings

    Why were exempt market dealers concerned about the 2013 Proposed Amendments? Simply, the proposed changes undermine an analysis of NI 31-103 that supports an expansive interpretation of permitted exempt market dealer activities in connection with a prospectus offering. The analysis goes something like this:

    – An exempt market dealer can trade in securities distributed under a prospectus exemption.

    – Therefore, an exempt market dealer can trade securities to an accredited investor in reliance on the accredited investor exemption.

    – Section 7.1(2)(d)(i) suggests that an exempt market dealer can trade in securities to an accredited investor under a prospectus in circumstances where the accredited investor exemption would be available.

    – Therefore, an exempt market dealer can trade in securities distributed to an accredited investor whether or not a prospectus was filed in respect of the distribution of those securities.

    This analysis puts exempt market dealers squarely into the stream of distribution flowing under a prospectus offering, subject to two restrictions:

    1. An exempt market dealer has to stay within the bounds mapped out by the prospectus exemptions (e.g., dealing only with accredited investors); and

    2. An exempt market dealer can only act as dealer, it can’t act as underwriter, in connection with a prospectus offering. [see footnote 1 below]

    Based on this analysis, so long as an exempt market dealer lives within the restrictions, it can act on a trade even if a prospectus is filed. Unfortunately, the 2013 Proposed Amendments undermined the analysis.

    Early support for exempt market dealer participation in prospectus offerings

    Support for exempt market dealer participation in prospectus offerings goes back to the time before NI 31-103 came into effect. On February 29, 2008, the CSA published a revised version of what was still the “proposed” NI 31-103 (the 2008 Version). Section 2.1(1)(d)(B) of the 2008 Version clearly stated that an exempt market dealer is permitted to trade . . .

    – in securities that are distributed under a prospectus if the distribution may have been made under an exemption from the prospectus requirement [emphasis added]

    For some reason, the final version of NI 31-103 that came into force on September 28, 2009 features language in section 7.1(2)(d)(i) that seems to have conflated the language from the 2008 Version, so it now reads that an exempt market dealer may . . .

    – act as a dealer by trading a security that is distributed under an exemption from the prospectus requirement, whether or not a prospectus was filed in respect of the distribution [emphasis added]

    The final version of Section 7.1(2)(d)(i) set out above (which is currently in force) shifted focus from securities “distributed under a prospectus” (as originally proposed) to securities “distributed under an exemption from the prospectus requirement” (in the final wording). The original wording had the exempt market dealer distributing under the prospectus, where only the circumstances necessary to make a prospectus exemption available needed to be in place. The final wording has the exempt market dealer distributing under a prospectus exemption, where the prospectus itself is filed “in respect of” the distribution. The original proposed language was clearer. The final language suggests there may be two distributions taking place, which leads to some technical questions addressed later in this article.

    2009 CSA Staff Notice 31-313 – FAQs

    More support for exempt market dealer participation in prospectus offerings is found in CSA Staff Notice 31-313 – NI 31-103 Registration Requirements and Exemptions and related instruments – Frequently Asked Questions as of December 18, 2009 (the FAQs). In response to whether an exempt market dealer can trade prospectus qualified securities to clients, such as accredited investors, Section 7.1 of the FAQs states that an exempt market dealer could do so in circumstances where an exemption from the prospectus requirement would be available. That response is consistent with the original language proposed in the 2008 Proposed Amendments (see the first excerpt above). The FAQs went on to say that an exempt market dealer may provide the investor with a copy of the prospectus. All of this analysis and the succession of amendment proposals and commentary supporting exempt market dealer participation in prospectus offerings was cast into doubt by the 2013 Proposed Amendments.

    Industry Reaction

    In response to the proposed changes, the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (PCMA) canvassed the views of its members. Exempt market dealers serve an important capital raising function in the exempt market and also contribute as selling group members in prospectus offerings. In fact, certain prospectus offerings would not happen in the first place but for the work of an exempt market dealer financing a company’s growth in its early stages, especially in the mining, oil and gas and technology sectors, prior to a company going public. Exempt market dealers should not be denied the ability to participate, in a limited way, in the prospectus offering of its issuer-clients. In fact, some companies with small market capitalizations are particularly reliant on an exempt market dealer’s ability to continue accessing the capital markets post public offering. These issuers, and other stakeholders, also benefit from having more dealers participating in the underwriting syndicate of a prospectus offering, particularly at the selling group level. In fact, certain prospectus offerings would not be completed but for the involvement of an exempt market dealer in providing a certain amount of sales, which should not be forgotten.

    The PCMA presented this view in its response to the request for comments accompanying the 2013 Proposed Amendments. A copy of the PCMA comment letter can be found here.

    October 2014 Proposed Amendments to NI 31-103

    Now, fast forward to October 2014. The good news, as it turns out, is that the CSA were listening. The final amendments to NI 31-103 and the Companion Policy do not include the changes discussed above.

    On October 16, 2014, the CSA published the final amendments to NI 31-103. The phrase “whether or not a prospectus was filed in respect of the distribution” was not deleted from section 7.1(2)(d)(i) and the status quo appears to have been maintained. Moreover, the addition to the Companion Policy that looked to exclude exempt market dealers from any participation in prospectus offerings was modified so that it only restricts EMDs from participating “as underwriter” in a distribution of securities offered under a prospectus.

    Accordingly, the analysis supporting exempt market dealer participation as selling group members in prospectus offerings appears to be alive and well.

    What do we take from this?

    We can draw a number of conclusions from this situation.

    1. The CSA appears to be listening to industry and shaping policy on that basis.

    2. There are many voices in the CSA and many opportunities for disagreement. We probably witnessed an example of such disagreement in December 2013 when the tide shifted against exempt market dealer involvement in prospectus offerings as set out in the 2013 Proposed Amendments.

    3. The CSA have not expressly accepted the argument outlined in this article, which means we should be realistic in our assessment of the current ‘state of play’ and recognize that there may be more changes in the future. For example, the CSA messaged in its recently published changes to NI 31-103 that it is considering the possible involvement of portfolio managers who are also exempt market dealers participating in the prospectus offering of investment funds. Stay tuned for further information on this front.

    For now, we believe the door remains open for exempt market dealers to participate as selling group members in prospectus offerings. However, any exempt market dealer planning to pass through that door should bear in mind that a member of the CSA could raise an objection.

    Other questions remain to be answered

    Although the CSA appears to have backed away from the proposed changes, there remains significant uncertainty about how exempt market dealers can participate in prospectus offerings. For example, under Ontario securities law, the definition of the term “underwriter” excludes a dealer whose only interest in a transaction is limited to receiving the “usual and customary distributor’s or seller’s commission” payable by an underwriter or the issuer. Although this suggests an exempt market dealers can participate as a selling group member in a prospectus offering, the meaning of the phrase “usual and customary” commissions is unclear. Does this mean an exempt market dealer can only receive, for example, half of the commissions of the lead underwriter (i.e., IIROC member)? Moreover, what percentage of a prospectus offering can be sold by an exempt market dealer, as a selling group member, before a CSA member believes the exempt market dealer is acting as an underwriter? The answers to these questions will determine the line exempt market dealers can’t cross without becoming an underwriter. For now, we don’t have a bright line test, so this will continue to be a risk factor for exempt market dealers in connection with prospectus offerings.

    These matters need to be discussed and considered further and the PCMA looks forward to its continued dialogue with industry and with the CSA to resolve these questions.

    For now, the bottom line is the CSA have backed away from the 2013 Proposed Amendments. Only a few weeks ago, we were looking at the possibility of an outright prohibition for EMD participation in a prospectus offering. This is good news.

    *     *     *     *

    Footnote 1 – Under NI 31-103, an EMD cannot act as a underwriter in connection with a prospectus offering; however, it can act as an underwriter in a distribution of securities under a prospectus exemption. Section 7.1(2)(d)(i) relates to an EMD acting as dealer, section 7.1(2)(d)(iv) relates to an EMD acting as underwriter. The distinction comes down to the definition of the term “underwriter” in the applicable securities legislation. In the Securities Act (Ontario), for example, a dealer is not an underwriter if their only interest in the transaction is limited to receiving the “usual and customary distributor’s or seller’s commission” payable by an underwriter or the issuer. What is usual and customary will be a focal point as EMDs participate in prospectus distributions. We return to this point later in the article.

    Disclaimer

    This blog is not intended to create, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should not act or rely on information on this blog post without first seeking the advice of a lawyer. This material is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal issues that arise, the reader should consult legal counsel.

    Koscak_bBrian Koscak is a Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP located in Toronto, Ontario and Chair of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (formerly, the Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada). Brian is also a member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada.

    Brian can be reached by phone at 416-860-2955, by e-mail at bkoscak@casselsbrock.com or on twitter @briankoscak. Brian also regularly writes about Canadian securities law matters on his personal blog at www.briankoscak.com.

     

    dunne_pPeter Dunne is a Partner at the law firm of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP located in Toronto, Ontario. Peter practices in the area of securities law with an emphasis on securities registration and compliance and investment funds. Peter is the head of the Securities Registration and Compliance Group at Cassels Brock. Peter can be reached by phone at 416-869-5342 or by e-mail at pdunne@casselsbrock.com.