Canadian Securities Regulators Seek Comments on the Potential Regulation of Proxy Advisory Firms

MONTREAL, June 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment CSA Consultation Paper 25-401 Potential Regulation of Proxy Advisory Firms. The purpose of this consultation paper is to address specific concerns about the services provided by proxy advisory firms and their potential impact on Canadian capital markets, and to determine if, and how, these concerns should be addressed by Canadian securities regulators.

The CSA is seeking feedback on the following concerns that market participants, primary issuers and their advisors raised about proxy advisory firms:

• potential conflicts of interest;
• potential perceived lack of transparency;
• potential inaccuracies and limited engagement with issuers;
• potential corporate governance implications; and
• the extent of reliance by institutional investors on the recommendations provided by proxy advisory firms.

"This consultation is aimed at providing the CSA with more information from market participants to assist us in our analysis into the need for potential regulation of proxy advisory firms," said Bill Rice, Chair of the CSA and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission. "The feedback will help us determine the validity of the concerns raised, consider their impact on the integrity of Canadian capital markets, and assess whether there is a need for a securities regulatory response."

The CSA also seeks comments on a range of possible securities regulatory responses and frameworks, if it is determined that a securities regulatory response is warranted.

The CSA Consultation Paper 25-401 is available on CSA members' websites. The comment period is open until August 20, 2012.

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington    Ontario Securities Commission   416-593-2361	Sylvain Théberge Autorité des marchés financiers 514-940-2176
Richard Gilhooley      British Columbia Securities Commission  604-899-6713	Mark Dickey Alberta Securities Commission 403-297-4481
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	Dean Murrison  Saskatchewan Financial Services   Commission 306-787-5842
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
Helena Hrubesova      Yukon Securities Office      867-667-5466	Louis Arki Nunavut Securities Office  867-975-6587
Donn MacDougall Northwest Territories       Securities Office       867-920-8984

 

 

For further information:

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

Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities Commission 
604-899-6713

Ainsley Cunningham
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-4733

Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

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

Helena Hrubesova
Yukon Securities Office
867-667-5466

Donn MacDougall
Northwest Territories
Securities Office
867-920-8984

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Mark Dickey
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-4481

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

Dean Murrison 
Saskatchewan Financial Services
Commission
306-787-5842 

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

Louis Arki
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6587