Canadian Securities Regulators Announce Results of Continuous Disclosure Reviews for Fiscal 2013

MONTREAL, July 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published Staff Notice 51-339 Continuous Disclosure Review Program Activities for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, which summarizes the results of the CSA's continuous disclosure (CD) review program.

There are approximately 4,200 active reporting issuers in Canada (excluding investment funds). These issuers are subject to regular full and issue-oriented reviews as part of the CSA's ongoing CD review program.

The Notice includes detailed examples of common deficiencies the CSA identified during its review of financial statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and other regulatory disclosure. It also provides reporting issuers with practical guidance and suggestions for improving their disclosure.

"Maintaining high quality continuous disclosure records is essential to assist investors in making informed and confident investment decisions", said Bill Rice, Chair of the CSA and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission.

The CSA members completed 1,336 CD reviews in fiscal 2013 (368 full reviews and 968 issue-oriented reviews), a seven per cent increase compared to 1,248 reviews completed during fiscal 2012. The increased number of reviews this year reflects a slightly greater emphasis on issue-oriented reviews. The outcomes of this year's reviews are as follows:

• two per cent of the reviews resulted in reporting issuers being alerted to specific areas where disclosure enhancements should be considered as part of the CSA's effort to educate issuers;
• five per cent of issuers were either cease-traded, placed on a default list or referred to enforcement;
• 14 per cent of the reviews resulted in reporting issuers being required to amend or re-file certain CD documents;
• 26 per cent of the reviews resulted in "prospective changes", requiring reporting issuers to make enhancements to their disclosure in future filings; and
• 53 per cent of issuers were not required to make any changes or additional filings.
  
  

CSA Staff Notice 51-339 is available on various CSA members' websites.

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 more information:

Sylvain Théberge Autorité des marchés financiers 514-940-2176	Mark Dickey Alberta Securities Commission 403-297-4481
Richard Gilhooley British Columbia Securities Commission 604-899-6713	Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington Ontario Securities Commission 416-593-2361
Ainsley Cunningham Manitoba Securities Commission 204-945-4733	Wendy Connors-Beckett New Brunswick Securities Commission 506-643-7745
Tanya Wiltshire Nova Scotia Securities Commission 902-424-8586	Janice Callbeck PEI Securities Office Office of the Attorney General 902-368-6288
Doug Connolly Financial Services Regulation Div. Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-2594	Rhonda Horte Office of the Yukon Superintendent of securities 867-667-5466
Louis Arki Nunavut Securities Office 867-975-6587	Donn MacDougall Northwest Territories Securities Office 867-920-8984
Daniela Machuca Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan 306-798-4160

 

SOURCE: Autorité des marchés financiers

For further information:

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Mark Dickey
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-4481

Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2361

Ainsley Cunningham
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-4733

Wendy Connors-Beckett
New Brunswick Securities Commission
506-643-7745

Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Janice Callbeck  
PEI Securities Office
Office of the Attorney General
902-368-6288

Doug Connolly
Financial Services Regulation Div.
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-2594

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent of
securities
867-667-5466

Louis Arki
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6587

Donn MacDougall
Northwest Territories
Securities Office
867-920-8984

Daniela Machuca
Financial and Consumer Affairs
Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160