NOTICE OF RULE AND COMPANION POLICY
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
RULE 61-501
AND COMPANION POLICY 61-501CP
INSIDER BIDS, ISSUER BIDS, GOING PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS
AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Notice of Rule and Companion Policy

The Commission has made Rule 61-501 Insider Bids, Issuer Bids, Going Private Transactions and Related Party Transactions (the "Rule") under section 143 of the Securities Act (the "Act").

The Rule and the material required by the Act to be delivered to the Minister of Finance were delivered on February 3, 2000. If the Minister does not approve the Rule, reject the Rule or return it to the Commission for further consideration, or if the Minister approves the Rule, the Rule will come into force on May 1, 2000.

The Commission has adopted Companion Policy 61-501CP (the "Companion Policy") under section 143.8 of the Act. The Companion Policy will come into force on the date that the Rule comes into force.

Concurrently with making the Rule, the Commission revoked section 182 of the Regulation and subsection 46(1) of Schedule 1 of the Regulation and amended subsection 203.2(2) of the Regulation and subsections 1(1) and 46(2) of Schedule 1 of the Regulation. The revocations and amendments come into force at the time that the Rule comes into force.

The Rules of the Commission In the Matter of Going Private Transactions (1997), 20 OSCB 1219, as amended and In the Matter of Insider Bids, Issuer Bids and Take-over Bids in Anticipation of Going Private Transactions (1997), 20 OSCB 1219, as amended, expire on the coming into force of the Rule.

Substance and Purpose of Rule and Companion Policy

The substance and purpose of the Rule and the Companion Policy are to reformulate OSC Policy Statement No. 9.1 ("Policy 9.1") with respect to the regulation of insider bids, issuer bids, going private transactions and related party transactions. The protections afforded by Policy 9.1, including independent valuations, majority of minority approval and enhanced disclosure also form the basis of the Rule and the Companion Policy. The Companion Policy sets out the Commission's views on certain matters relating to the subject matter of the Rule.

For additional information concerning the background of the Rule and the Companion Policy, reference should be made to (1999), 22 OSCB 7835, (1999), 22 OSCB 493 and (1996) 19 OSCB 2981, which contain notices published with earlier drafts of the Rule and Companion Policy published for comment.

Summary of Written Comments Received by the Commission

A proposed version of the Rule and Companion Policy was first published by the Commission for comment on May 31, 1996 ((1996), 19 OSCB 2981) (the "May 1996 Version").

As a result of staff's consideration of the comment letters received on the May 1996 Version, its recommendations to the Commission and the deliberations of the Commission, the Commission republished the Rule and Companion Policy for comment on January 22, 1999 ((1999), 22 OSCB 493) (the "January 1999 Version").

As a result of staff's consideration of the comment letters received on the January 1999 Version, its recommendations to the Commission and the deliberations of the Commission, the Commission republished the Rule and Companion Policy for comment on December 10, 1999 ((1999) 22 OSCB 7835) (the "December 1999 Version").

The Commission received two comment letters on the December 1999 Version. A summary of the comments received and the Commission's response to those comments is contained in Appendix A.

As a result of these comments and further consideration and deliberation by the Commission, the Commission has made the following changes to the December 1999 Version, none of which changes are material.

The definitions of "holder" and "securityholder" in subsection 1.1(1) of the Rule have been deleted. The interpretation of such terms will be apparent from the usage of those terms in the Rule itself.

The definition of "participating security" in subsection 1.1(1) of the Rule has been amended. A security will have to carry a residual right to participate in both earnings and upon liquidation or winding up to constitute a participating security. Such definition will conform with the definition of "equity security" in the Act.

The Commission has deleted paragraph (a) in its entirety from the definition of "prior valuation" in subsection 1.1(1) of the Rule in order to eliminate any inappropriate inferences. Subparagraph (b)(ii) (formerly (c)(ii) in the December 1999 Version) of the definition has been amended to clarify that an internal valuation or appraisal is not disclosable as a prior valuation in the case of an issuer bid as a result of such internal valuation having been made available to or prepared with the participation of a director who is also a senior officer of the issuer.

The word "affect" has been changed to "increase" in clauses (e)(ii) and (f)(ii) of paragraphs 2.4(1)3 and 4.5(1)2 of the Rule. This is the effect that is relevant for purposes of reliance on the previous arm's length negotiation valuation exemption.

Clause (b) of paragraph 4.5(1)3 of the Rule has been amended to clarify that equal access must have been provided to all proponents of the transactions referred to in the clause for the auction valuation exemption to apply.

Subparagraph 5.2(1)(d)(i) has been amended to clarify which interested parties' interests in a related party transaction must be disclosed in a material change report. This change has been made as a result of the breadth of the definition of interested party.

Paragraph 5.6.6(a) of the Rule has been amended by changing the words "an interested party in" to "a party to". This change has been made as a result of the breadth of the definition of interested party.

Paragraph 5.6.10(b) of the Rule has been amended to clarify the security holding being referred to in such paragraph.

Paragraph 6.3(2)(d) of the Rule has been amended to correctly refer to either an issuer or an offeror.

Subparagraph 8.1(3)(c)(ii) has been amended to clarify that a related party of an interested party will not be included in the minority for purposes of minority approval where the related party is a controlling shareholder of more than one party to the related party transaction.

Section 10.1 has been added to the Rule in order to provide that the Rule comes into force on May 1, 2000.

Subsection 2.9(1) of the Companion Policy has been amended to refer to "arm's length" operating corporations. Reference is made to Appendix A for the reason for this change.

Section 2.11 of the Companion Policy has been revised to clarify that the arm's length relationship required for the arm's length valuation exemption is between the selling securityholder and all persons or companies that negotiated with the selling securityholder.

Section 5.2 of the Companion Policy has been revised to clarify that prior performance of financial advisory work for an issuer, which was not carried out at the direction or request of an interested party or paid for by an interested party, other than the issuer, does not create serious concern for the Commission in regard to valuator independence.

Subsection 6.1(3) of the Companion Policy has been amended to refer to potential Commission intervention.

Regulations Revoked or Amended

The Commission has, by regulation, revoked section 182 of the Regulation and subsection 46(1) of Schedule 1 of the Regulation. The Commission has amended subsection 203.2(2) of the Regulation and subsections 1(1) and 46(2) of Schedule 1 of the Regulation to replace references to Policy 9.1 with references to the Rule. The revocations and amendments come into force at the time that the Rule comes into force.

Text of Rule and Companion Policy

The text of the Rule and Companion Policy follows.

DATED: February 11, 2000.

The Commission received 2 submissions on the December 1999 Version. Comments were received from RBC Dominion Securities by letter dated January 7, 2000, and from Simon Romano by letter dated January 10, 2000.

The Commission has considered the submissions received and thanks the commenters for providing their views.

The following is a summary of the comments received, together with the Commission's responses. Unless otherwise provided, references to section numbers are to section numbers in the December 1999 Version.

A. GENERAL COMMENTS

1. Regulatory Treatment of Related Party Transactions

Comment

One commenter was of the opinion that the treatment of related party transactions under the Rule was extremely broad, vague and complex, and that the costs of compliance with the Rule would outweigh its benefits. The commenter suggested that a saving provision similar to that of subsection 16(3) of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "CBCA"), which provides that no act of a corporation, including any transfer of property to or by a corporation, is invalid by reason only that the act or transfer is contrary to its articles or the CBCA, would be appropriate in the Rule. The commenter was concerned that the Rule might otherwise render illegal and unenforceable transactions that the parties thereto considered entirely reasonable and appropriate, due to the Rule's length, breadth, complexity and vagueness.

Response

The Commission disagrees with the commenter and is of the view that the Rule as drafted is the appropriate manner in which to regulate related party transactions. In taking the approach reflected in the Rule and Companion Policy, the Commission had due regard to the comments received (many of which supported the approach taken), the purpose and principles section of the Act and the costs and benefits involved. The Commission is of the view that the business and regulatory costs and other restrictions on the business and investment activities of market participants imposed by the Rule are proportionate to the significance of the regulatory objectives sought to be realized.

The Commission does not believe that a saving provision is necessary at this time. The Commission is not convinced that a breach of the Rule would necessarily render a transaction invalid. The effect of a breach of the Rule would require case by case consideration.

2. Valuation Exemption for Previous Arm's Length Negotiations

In the context of insider bids and going private transactions, the Rule provides an exemption from the valuation requirement where the consideration for the particular type of transaction is equal in value to, and in the same form as, that agreed to in arm's length negotiations with one or more selling securityholders. In order to rely upon the exemption, one of the selling securityholders must beneficially own or exercise control or direction over at least 10 percent (5 percent in certain circumstances) of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities, and one or more of the selling securityholders must beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, in the aggregate, at least 20 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, by persons or companies other than the interested party and persons or companies acting jointly or in concert with the interested party.

Comment

One commenter felt that the 20 percent test may be inappropriate. The commenter felt that while a 10 percent holder clearly has a substantial stake and can therefore reasonably be presumed to be willing to protect its interests, the 20 percent requirement produces a wide variety of results. For example, where the interested party holds 20 percent of the outstanding securities, this will effectively require agreements with holders of 16 percent of the outstanding securities. Where the interested party holds 40 percent of the outstanding securities, the 20 percent requirement will effectively require agreements with holders of 12 percent of the outstanding securities. Where the interested party holds 60 percent or more of the outstanding securities, nothing further than an agreement with the 10 percent holder is necessary. The commenter felt that a simple stand-alone requirement of negotiation with a 10 percent holder (or 5 percent where the interested party holds more than 80 percent of the outstanding securities) would be preferable.

Response

The 20% test has been a constant feature of the arm's length negotiation exemption since the Rule was first published for comment in 1996. Although the application of the test gives rise to different results depending on the size of the public float, the Commission does not believe that this is inappropriate as the number of outstanding shares constituting the public float will be reduced, all other things being equal, as the related party's shareholding increases. Accordingly, the Commission has made no change to the Rule in this regard.

3. Harmonization with Québec

Comment

One commenter encouraged the Commission to use its best efforts to attempt to harmonize the Rule and Companion Policy with changes to Policy Q-27 of the Commission des valeurs mobilières du Québec wherever possible.

Response

The Commission agrees and is optimistic that harmonization will be achieved.

4. Aggregation Relief

Comment

As noted in the Commission response to general comment B.3. of the Notice that accompanied the December 1999 Version, the Commission decided that relief from calculation of beneficial ownership, control or direction was unnecessary, because it was remote that there would be a situation where such aggregation relief would be appropriate in the context of the Rule.

One commenter suggested that this position be reconsidered for two reasons: first, because persons such as financial institutions holding or managing securities through different business units who are not in a position to aggregate these various holdings may be deemed to be related parties without knowing it, and therefore might enter into related party transactions without anyone being aware of it in order to determine whether any exemptions from related party transaction requirements may or may not be available; and second, because under section 8.1 of the Rule which relates to minority voting , an aggregated group might end up being a related party of an interested party without knowing it, and therefore their holdings of an issuer might be incapable of being counted towards minority approval of a transaction if the interested party is not being treated identically to other securityholders.

Response

The Commission believes that in the majority of cases, related parties will be identifiable. In cases of exceptional complexity, relief could be sought.

B. SPECIFIC COMMENTS

5. Subsection 1.1(1) of the Rule - Definition of Prior Valuation

Comment

One commenter was of the view that the exclusion of certain limited types of draft reports, namely those prepared for the issuer by an independent valuer which draft resulted in a valuation or appraisal by that valuator, implies that other types of draft reports are prior valuations. The commenter felt that this was inappropriate and unworkable.

Response

The Commission has deleted paragraph (a) in its entirety from the definition of "prior valuation" in the Rule in order to eliminate any inappropriate inferences.

6. Subsection 2.4(2) of the Rule - Valuation Exemption where Insider Offeror has Lack of Knowledge and Representation

Comment

In the Notice that accompanied the December 1999 Version, comment number 26 included a suggestion that the valuation exemption for lack of knowledge and access in connection with insider bids should relate to actual access and recognize the fiduciary responsibilities of target directors. The Commission response was that this exemption turns on actual access and not the potential for access, and that the Commission does not believe it would be appropriate to make the inability to use information because of a director's fiduciary duties grounds for an automatic exemption.

One commenter questioned whether this response suggests that a director's fiduciary duties would be grounds for a discretionary exemption in appropriate circumstances.

Response

The Commission does not believe that reliance on fiduciary duties would generally be appropriate for a discretionary exemption.

7. Subsections 2.4(2), 2.4(3), 4.5(2) and 4.5(3) of the Rule - Determination of Outstanding Securities

Comment

Subsections 2.4(2), 2.4(3), 4.5(2) and 4.5(3) of the Rule provide that, for the purposes of certain exemptions, the number of outstanding securities of an issuer is either that number known to the interested party as at the date of the relevant agreement, or if not known to the interested party, is based upon information provided by the issuer in its most recent material change report or report under National Instrument 62-102. One commenter noted that this approach fails to take into account that for previously agreed transactions, National Instrument 62-102 will not have been operative prior to March 15, 2000.

Response

The Commission agrees. If a person is affected by this interim timing anomaly, relief can be sought from the Director under Section 9.1 of the Rule, if necessary, where the person calculates the number of outstanding securities based on the best available information otherwise reasonably available to the person.

8. Paragraph 5.1(2)(c) of the Rule - De Minimis Exception

Comment

One commenter felt that, given the extraordinary impact of the related party transaction requirements, the 2 percent de minimis exception in paragraph 5.1(2)(c) of the Rule appears inappropriately low. The commenter recommended a 5, 10 or 20 percent test instead for the related party transaction requirements exception, and preferably for the rule generally.

Response

The Commission does not propose to change the 2 percent de minimis test at this time. Such test is analogous to the de minimis test used for take-over bids and issuer bids. The Commission will give further consideration to this matter in the context of the increasing globalization of securities markets and the creation of CDNX.

9. Paragraph 12 of section 5.6 of the Rule - Valuation Exemption for Amalgamation with No Adverse Effect on Issuer or Minority

Comment

One commenter felt that the exemption from related party transaction requirements for amalgamations with no adverse effects should be extended to share exchange transactions followed by short-form amalgamations or a winding up, which represent a similar way of achieving the same result.

Response

The Commission has not made any change to the Rule in this regard. Relief will be considered on a case by case basis.

10. Paragraph 6.4(1)(d) of the Rule - Preparation of Formal Valuation in respect of Securities

Comment

One commenter felt that, despite the requirement in paragraph 6.4(1)(d) of the Rule, securities should generally be valued at their minority and liquidity-adjusted price. The commenter felt that it would be inappropriate to value securities offered at their intrinsic value if it would make an unfair transaction seem fair.

Response

The Commission has not amended paragraph 6.4(1)(d) of the Rule. The Commission notes that pursuant to subsection 6.3(2) of the Rule, non-cash consideration does not have to be valued if certain criteria are met and the valuator is of the opinion that a valuation is not required. The Commission also notes that it is always open to a valuator that has complied with the Rule to provide as a supplement to the valuation an analysis as to why a different value, taking into account adjustments, would be appropriate.

11. Subsection 8.2(b) of the Rule - Multi-Step Transactions

Comment

Section 8.2 of the Rule provides that the votes attached to securities tendered to a formal bid may be counted in favour of a subsequent going private transaction in the determination of whether the requisite minority approval has been obtained if, among other things, the going private transaction is completed within 120 days after the date of the expiry of the formal bid. One commenter suggested that this approach was unworkable, and suggested that the 120 day time period be measured to the date of the mailing of the circular or the date of the vote, as opposed to the date of the completion of the subsequent going private transaction. The commenter noted that if unexpected delays arose, a new vote would be required to be held. The commenter suggested that if the minority that can vote must be described, the date of the circular seems the appropriate date for determination. In such case, the commenter also suggested that a 90 day time limit could be appropriate.

Response

The Commission has not made any change to the Rule in this regard. From a securityholder perspective, if multi-step transactions are to be treated as linked transactions it is important to the securityholder to receive its consideration in the second step within a reasonable period of time of completion of the first step. It is for this reason that the Commission believes that the timing of completion of the second step is important as compared to the date of the vote or sending of the circular in connection with the second step, as suggested by the commenter. The Commission believes that the timing set forth in the Rule should be achievable in the majority of cases. In exceptional circumstances, relief could be sought.

12. Section 2.8 of the Companion Policy - Persons or Companies Involved in a Transaction

Comment

One commenter suggested that the Commission's view that a director or senior officer of an issuer is not involved in a transaction merely because the director or senior officer is acting in that capacity in negotiating or approving the transaction should also refer to a director or officer who holds securities but is being equally treated or receiving normal course employment-related benefits.

Response

The Commission does not believe that such a change is necessary. The significance of equal treatment and effect of receipt of normal course employment-related benefits are dealt with directly in the Rule in paragraph (e) of the definition of "going private transaction" and paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection 8.1(3) and paragraph (a) of subsection 8.2, all as commented upon by section 2.13 of the Companion Policy.

13. Section 2.9 of the Companion Policy - Amalgamations

Comment

Subsection 2.9(1) of the Companion Policy provides the Commission's view that in a normal situation, an amalgamation of two operating companies is not a going private transaction where shareholders of the amalgamating corporations receive non-redeemable participating securities of the amalgamated corporation because a beneficial owner's interest in a participating security is not being terminated. One commenter asked whether, by this rationale, a share exchange "squeeze-out" amalgamation between a parent and its partly-owned subsidiary in which shareholders of the subsidiary receive shares of the parent would not be a going private transaction for a similar reason.

Response

A share exchange "squeeze-out" amalgamation between a parent and its partly-owned subsidiary would be a going private transaction under the Rule. Section 2.9 of the Companion Policy has been clarified in this regard.

14. Subsection 5.2(b) of the Companion Policy - Independent Valuators

Comment

In subsection 5.2 of the Companion Policy, the Commission points out a number of factors that may be relevant in determining the independence of a valuator or person or company from the interested party. One commenter asked whether it is appropriate for reference to be made to the issuer in paragraph 5.2(b)(iv) of the Companion Policy, when references to the issuer were removed from paragraphs 5.2(b)(ii) and 5.2(b)(iii) of prior drafts of the Companion Policy. Furthermore, the commenter felt that the words "other than the issuer" should be added at the end of paragraph 5.2(b)(i) for clarity.

Response

The requested change has been made in subparagraph (b)(i) of section 5.2 of the Companion Policy and clarifying changes have been made generally to section 5.2 of the Companion Policy.

15. Subsection 6.1(3) of the Companion Policy

Comment

Subsection 6.1(3) of the Companion Policy states that the Commission will intervene if it believes that exemptions are being improperly relied upon or if a transaction is being structured or carried out in stages in order to take advantage of individual exemptions that could not be relied upon if the transaction were carried out in one step. One commenter felt that this section was too broad, and that surely the Commission would only intervene where abuse was taking place and there was no other remedy. Therefore the commenter suggested that this section be modified or deleted, as it may lead to too much reliance upon the Commission's potential intervention.

Response

Section 6.1(3) of the Companion Policy has been modified slightly as a result of this comment, to refer to the Commission's potential intervention.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART TITLE

PART 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Definitions

1.2 Application of Part XX of the Act

1.3 Liquid Market in a Class of Securities

1.4 Arm's Length Dealings

1.5 Interpretation

PART 2 INSIDER BIDS

2.1 Application

2.2 Disclosure

2.3 Formal Valuation

2.4 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement

PART 3 ISSUER BIDS

3.1 Application

3.2 Disclosure

3.3 Formal Valuation

3.4 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement

PART 4 GOING PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS

4.1 Application

4.2 Meeting and Information Circular

4.3 Conditions for Relief from Timing for OBCA Information Circular

4.4 Formal Valuation

4.5 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement

4.6 Conditions for Relief from OBCA Valuation Requirement

4.7 Minority Approval

4.8 Exemptions from Minority Approval Requirement

4.9 Conditions for Relief from OBCA Minority Approval Requirement

PART 5 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

5.1 Application

5.2 Disclosure: News Release and Material Change Report

5.3 Copy of Material Change Report

5.4 Meeting and Information Circular

5.5 Formal Valuation

5.6 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement

5.7 Minority Approval

5.8 Exemptions from Minority Approval

PART 6 FORMAL VALUATIONS AND PRIOR VALUATIONS

6.1 Independence

6.2 Disclosure Re Valuator

6.3 Subject Matter of Formal Valuation

6.4 Preparation of Formal Valuation

6.5 Summary of Formal Valuation

6.6 Filing of Formal Valuation

6.7 Valuator's Consent

6.8 Disclosure of Prior Valuation

6.9 Filing of Prior Valuation

PART 7 INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

7.1 Independent Directors

PART 8 MINORITY APPROVAL

8.1 From Holders of Affected Securities

8.2 Multi-Step Transactions

PART 9 EXEMPTION

9.1 Exemption

PART 10 EFFECTIVE DATE

10.1 Effective Date

PART 1 DEFINITIONS AND

INTERPRETATION

1.1 Definitions

(1) In this Rule

"affected security" means,

(a) for a going private transaction of an issuer, a participating security of the issuer in which the interest of a beneficial owner would be terminated by reason of the transaction, and

(b) for a related party transaction of an issuer, a participating security of the issuer;

"bona fide lender" means a person or company that

(a) holds securities sufficient to affect materially the control of an issuer

(i) solely as collateral for debt under a written pledge agreement entered into by the person or company as a lender, or

(ii) solely as collateral acquired under a written agreement by the person or company as an assignee or transferee of the debt and collateral referred to in subparagraph (i),

(b) is not yet legally entitled to dispose of the securities for the purpose of applying proceeds of realization in repayment of the secured debt, and

(c) was not a related party of the issuer at the time the pledge agreement referred to in subparagraph (a)(i) or the assignment or transfer referred to in subparagraph (a)(ii) was entered into;

"class" includes a series of a class;

"disclosure document" means,

(a) for an insider bid,

(i) a take-over bid circular sent to holders of offeree securities, or

(ii) if the insider bid takes the form of a stock exchange insider bid, the disclosure document sent to holders of offeree securities that is deemed to be a take-over bid circular under subsection 131(10) of the Act,

(b) for an issuer bid,

(i) an issuer bid circular sent to holders of offeree securities, or

(ii) if the issuer bid takes the form of a stock exchange issuer bid, the disclosure document sent to holders of offeree securities that is deemed to be an issuer bid circular under subsection 131(10) of the Act,

(c) for a going private transaction, an information circular sent to holders of affected securities, or, if no information circular is required, another document sent to holders of affected securities in connection with a meeting of holders of affected securities, and

(d) for a related party transaction,

(i) an information circular sent to holders of affected securities,

(ii) if no information circular is required, another document sent to holders of affected securities in connection with a meeting of holders of affected securities, or

(iii) if no information circular or document is required, a material change report filed for the transaction;

"fair market value" means, except as provided in paragraph 6.4(1)(d), the monetary consideration that, in an open and unrestricted market, a prudent and informed buyer would pay to a prudent and informed seller, each acting at arm's length with the other and under no compulsion to act;

"formal valuation" means, for a transaction, a valuation prepared in accordance with Part 6 that contains a qualified and independent valuator's opinion as to a value or range of values representing the fair market value of the subject matter of the valuation;

"freely tradeable" means, in respect of securities, that

(a) the securities are not non-transferable,

(b) the securities are not subject to any escrow requirements,

(c) the securities do not form part of the holdings of any person or company or combination of persons or companies referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of "distribution" in the Act,

(d) the securities are not subject to any cease trade order imposed by a Canadian securities regulatory authority,

(e) all hold periods imposed by Canadian securities legislation before the securities can be traded without a prospectus or in reliance on a prospectus exemption have expired, and

(f) any period of time for which the issuer has to have been a reporting issuer before the securities can be traded without a prospectus or in reliance on a prospectus exemption has passed;

"independent committee" means, for an issuer, a committee consisting exclusively of one or more independent directors of the issuer;

"independent director" means, for an issuer in respect of a transaction, a director of the issuer who

(a) is not an interested party in the transaction, and

(b) is independent, as determined in accordance with section 7.1;

"independent valuator" means, for a transaction, a valuator that is independent of all interested parties in the transaction, as determined in accordance with section 6.1;

"interested party" means,

(a) for an insider bid, the offeror,

(b) for an issuer bid,

(i) the issuer, and

(ii) any person or company, other than a bona fide lender, that, whether alone or jointly or in concert with others, holds or would reasonably be expected to hold, upon successful completion of the issuer bid, securities of the issuer sufficient to affect materially its control,

(c) for a going private transaction, a related party of the issuer that is the subject of the going private transaction, if the related party would

(i) be entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, consequent upon the transaction

(A) a consideration per security that is not identical in amount and type to that paid to all other beneficial owners in Canada of affected securities of the same class, or

(B) consideration of greater value than that paid to all other beneficial owners of affected securities of the same class, or

(ii) upon completion of the transaction, beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, participating securities of a class other than affected securities, and

(d) for a related party transaction in respect of the issuer, a related party of the issuer, that is a party to or is involved in the related party transaction,

"issuer insider" means, for an issuer

(a) every director or senior officer of the issuer,

(b) every director or senior officer of a company that is itself an issuer insider or subsidiary entity of the issuer, and

(c) a person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of the issuer or who exercises control or direction over voting securities of the issuer, or a combination of both, carrying more than 10 percent of the voting rights attached to all voting securities of the issuer for the time being outstanding other than voting securities beneficially owned by the person or company as underwriter in the course of a distribution;

"market capitalization" of an issuer means, for a transaction, the aggregate market price of all outstanding securities of all classes of equity securities of the issuer, the market price of the outstanding securities of a class being

(a) in the case of equity securities of a class for which there is a published market, the product of

(i) the number of securities of the class outstanding as at the close of business on the last business day of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which the transaction is agreed to or, if no securities of the class were outstanding on that day, on the first business day after that day that securities of the class became outstanding, so long as that day precedes the date the transaction is agreed to, and

(ii) the market price of the securities on the published market on which the class of securities is principally traded at the business day referred to in subparagraph (i), as determined in accordance with subsections 183(1), (2) and (4) of the Regulation,

(b) in the case of equity securities of a class for which there is no published market but that are currently convertible into a class of equity securities for which there is a published market, the product of

(i) the number of equity securities into which the convertible securities were convertible as at the close of business on the last business day of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which the transaction is agreed to or, if no convertible securities were outstanding or convertible on that day, on the first business day after that day that the convertible securities became outstanding or convertible, so long as that day precedes the date the transaction is agreed to, and

(ii) the market price of the securities into which the convertible securities were convertible, on the published market on which the class of securities is principally traded, at the business day referred to in subparagraph (i), as determined in accordance with subsections 183(1), (2) and (4) of the Regulation, and

(c) in the case of equity securities of a class not referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b), the amount determined by the issuer's board of directors in good faith to represent the market price of the outstanding securities of that class;

"minority approval" means, for a going private transaction or related party transaction in respect of an issuer, approval of the proposed transaction by a majority of the votes cast by holders of each class of affected securities specified by section 8.1 at a meeting of securityholders of that class called to consider the transaction;

"OBCA" means the Business Corporations Act;

"offeree security" means a security that is subject to an insider bid or an issuer bid;

"participating security" means a security of an issuer that carries a residual right to participate in the earnings of the issuer and, upon the liquidation or winding up of the issuer, in its assets;

"prior valuation" means a valuation or appraisal of an issuer or its securities or material assets, whether or not prepared by an independent valuator, that, if disclosed, would reasonably be expected to affect the decision of a beneficial owner to vote for or against a transaction, or to retain or dispose of affected securities or offeree securities, other than

(a) a report of a valuation or appraisal prepared for the issuer by another person or company, if

(i) the report was not solicited by the issuer, and

(ii) the person or company preparing the report did so without knowledge of any material non-public information concerning the issuer, its securities or any of its material assets,

(b) in respect of a transaction involving an issuer, an internal valuation or appraisal prepared for the issuer in the ordinary course of business that has not been made available to, and has been prepared without the participation of

(i) the board of directors of the issuer, or

(ii) any director or senior officer of an interested party, except a person who is a senior officer of the issuer in the case of an issuer bid,

(c) a report of a market analyst or financial analyst that

(i) has been prepared by or for and at the expense of a person or company other than the issuer, an interested party, or an associate or affiliated entity of the issuer or an interested party, and

(ii) is either generally available to clients of the analyst or of the analyst's employer or of an affiliated entity or associate of the analyst's employer or, if not, is not based, so far as the person or company required to disclose a prior valuation is aware, on any material non-public information concerning the issuer, its securities or any of its material assets,

(d) a valuation or appraisal prepared by a person or company or a person or company retained by the person or company, for the purpose of assisting the person or company in determining the price at which to propose a transaction that resulted in the person or company becoming an issuer insider, if the valuation or appraisal is not made available to any of the independent directors of the issuer, or

(e) a valuation or appraisal prepared by an interested party or a person or company retained by the interested party, for the purpose of assisting the interested party in determining the price at which to propose a transaction that, if pursued, would be an insider bid, going private transaction or related party transaction, if the valuation or appraisal is not made available to any of the independent directors of the issuer;

"related party" of an issuer or of an interested party in connection with a transaction, as the case may be, means a person or company, other than a bona fide lender, that, at the relevant time and after reasonable inquiry, is known by the issuer, the interested party or a director or senior officer of the issuer or interested party to be

(a) a person or company, whether alone or jointly or in concert with others, that holds securities of the issuer or of the interested party sufficient to affect materially the control of the issuer or of the interested party,

(b) a person or company in respect of which a person or company referred to in paragraph (a), whether alone or jointly or in concert with others, holds securities sufficient to affect materially the control of the first-mentioned person or company referred to in this paragraph (b),

(c) a person or company in respect of which the issuer or the interested party, whether alone or jointly or in concert with others, holds securities sufficient to affect materially the control of the person or company,

(d) a person or company that beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction over, voting securities of the issuer or of the interested party carrying more than 10 percent of the voting rights attached to all of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the issuer or of the interested party,

(e) a director or senior officer

(i) of the issuer or of the interested party, or

(ii) of a related party within the meaning of paragraph (a), (b) (c), (d), (f) or (g) of the issuer or of the interested party,

(f) a person or company that manages or directs, to any substantial degree, the affairs or operations of the issuer or the interested party under an agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person or company and the issuer or the interested party, including the general partner of an issuer or interested party that is a limited partnership, and

(g) an affiliated entity of, a person controlling, or a company controlled by, any of the persons or companies described in paragraphs (a) through (f);

"stock exchange insider bid" means an insider bid described in subclause (b)(i) of the definition of "formal bid" in subsection 89(1) of the Act;

"stock exchange issuer bid" means an issuer bid described in subclause (b)(i) of the definition of "formal bid" in subsection 89(1) of the Act; and

"valuation date" means, in respect of a transaction, the effective date of a formal valuation for the transaction.

(2) For the purposes of this Rule, a person or company, whether alone or jointly or in concert with others, that beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction over, voting securities to which are attached more than 20 percent of the votes attached to all of the outstanding voting securities of another person or company, is considered, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to hold securities sufficient to affect materially the control of that person or company.

(3) For the purposes of the Act, the regulations and the rules,

"going private transaction" means an amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation, amendment to the terms of a class of participating securities of the issuer or any other transaction with or involving a person or company that is a related party of the issuer at the time the transaction is agreed to, as a consequence of which the interest of a beneficial owner of a participating security of the issuer in that security may be terminated without the beneficial owner's consent, other than

(a) an acquisition of a participating security of an issuer under a statutory right of compulsory acquisition,

(b) a share consolidation that does not have the effect of terminating the interests of the beneficial owners of participating securities of an issuer in those securities without their consent except to an extent that is nominal in the circumstances,

(c) a redemption of, or other compulsory termination of, a beneficial owner's interest in a participating security of an issuer in accordance with and under the terms attached to the class of securities of which the participating security forms a part,

(d) a proceeding under the liquidation or dissolution provisions of the statute under which the issuer is organized or is governed as to corporate law matters, or

(e) a transaction in which the related party or an affiliated entity of the related party

(i) is only entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, consequent upon the transaction a consideration per security that is identical in amount and type to that paid to all other beneficial owners in Canada of affected securities of the same class,

(ii) is not entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, consequent upon the transaction consideration of greater value than that paid to all other beneficial owners of affected securities of the same class, and

(iii) upon completion of the transaction does not beneficially own or exercise control or direction over participating securities of a class other than affected securities;

"insider bid" means a take-over bid made by

(a) an issuer insider of the offeree issuer,

(b) an associate or affiliated entity of the issuer insider,

(c) an associate or affiliated entity of the offeree issuer, or

(d) an offeror acting jointly or in concert with a person or company referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c); and

"related party transaction" means, in respect of an issuer, a transaction between or involving the issuer and a person or company that is a related party of the issuer at the time the transaction is agreed to, whether or not there are also other parties to the transaction, as a consequence of which, either by itself or together with other related transactions between or involving the issuer and the related party or a person or company acting jointly or in concert with the related party, whether or not there are also other parties to the transaction, the issuer directly or indirectly

(a) purchases or acquires an asset from the related party for valuable consideration,

(b) purchases or acquires, jointly or in concert with the related party, an asset from a third party if the proportion of the asset acquired by the issuer is less than the proportion of the consideration paid by the issuer,

(c) assumes or otherwise becomes subject to a liability of the related party,

(d) sells, transfers or disposes of an asset to the related party,

(e) sells, transfers or disposes of, jointly or in concert with the related party, an asset to a third party if the proportion of the consideration received by the issuer is less than the proportion of the asset sold, transferred or disposed of by the issuer,

(f) leases property to or from the related party,

(g) issues a security to the related party or subscribes for a security of the related party,

(h) amends or agrees to the amendment of the terms of a security of the issuer if the security is beneficially owned or is one over which control or direction is exercised by the related party, or agrees to the amendment of the terms of a security of the related party if the security is beneficially owned by the issuer or is one over which the issuer exercises control or direction,

(i) borrows money from or lends money to the related party,

(j) releases, cancels or forgives a debt or liability owed by the related party,

(k) provides a guarantee or collateral security for a debt or liability of the related party, or amends or agrees to the amendment of the terms of the guarantee or security,

(l) is a party to an amalgamation, arrangement or merger with the related party, other than a transaction referred to in paragraph (m), or

(m) participates in a transaction with the related party that is a going private transaction in respect of the related party or would be a going private transaction in respect of the related party except that it comes within the exception in paragraph (e) of the definition of going private transaction.

1.2 Application of Part XX of the Act

(1) For the purposes of this Rule,

(a) "formal bid" and "offeror" have the respective meanings ascribed to those terms in subsection 89(1) of the Act; and

(b) "acting jointly or in concert" has the meaning ascribed to that phrase in section 91 of the Act.

(2) For the purposes of the definition of related party and subsection 1.1(2), section 90 of the Act applies in determining beneficial ownership of securities.

1.3 Liquid Market in a Class of Securities

(1) For the purposes of this Rule, a liquid market in a class of securities of an issuer in respect of a transaction involving an issuer exists at a particular time only

(a) if

(i) there is a published market for the class of securities,

(ii) during the period of 12 months before the date the transaction is agreed to in the case of a related party transaction or 12 months before the date an insider bid, issuer bid, or going private transaction is announced, in the case of an insider bid, issuer bid, or going private transaction

(A) the number of outstanding securities of the class was at all times at least 5,000,000, excluding securities beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction was exercised, by related parties and securities that were not freely tradeable,

(B) the aggregate trading volume of the class of securities on the published market on which that class is principally traded was at least 1,000,000 securities,

(C) there were at least 1,000 trades in securities of the class on the published market on which that class is principally traded, and

(D) the aggregate trading value based on the price of the trades referred to in clause (C) was at least $15,000,000, and

(iii) the market value of the class of securities on the published market on which that class is principally traded, as determined in accordance with subsections (2) and (3), was at least $75,000,000 for the calendar month preceding the calendar month

(A) in which the transaction is agreed to, in the case of a related party transaction, or

(B) in which the transaction is announced, in the case of an insider bid, issuer bid or going private transaction, or

(b) if the test set out in paragraph (a) is not met,

(i) there is a published market for the class of securities,

(ii) a qualified person or company that is independent of all interested parties to the transaction, as determined in accordance with section 6.1, provides an opinion to the issuer that there is a liquid market in the class at the date the transaction is agreed to in the case of a related party transaction or at the date the transaction is announced in the case of an insider bid, issuer bid or going private transaction, and

(iii) the opinion is included in a disclosure document for the transaction, together with a statement that the published market on which the class is principally traded has sent a letter to the Director indicating concurrence with the opinion or providing a similar opinion.

(2) For the purpose of determining whether an issuer satisfies the market value requirement of subparagraph (1)(a)(iii), the market value of a class of securities for the calendar month is calculated by multiplying

(a) the number of securities of the class outstanding as at the close of business on the last business day of the calendar month; by

(b) if

(i) the published market provides a closing price for the securities, the arithmetic average of the closing prices of the securities of that class on the published market on which that class is principally traded for each of the trading days during the calendar month, or

(ii) the published market does not provide a closing price, but provides only the highest and lowest prices of securities traded on a particular day, the arithmetic average of the simple averages of the highest and lowest prices of the securities of that class on the published market on which that class is principally traded for each of the trading days for which the securities traded during the calendar month.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), in calculating the number of securities of the class, an issuer shall exclude those securities of the class that were beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction was exercised, by related parties and securities that were not freely tradeable.

(4) An issuer that relies on an opinion referred to in paragraph (1)(b) shall cause the letter referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(iii) to be provided promptly to the Director.

1.4 Arm's Length Dealings

(1) It is a question of fact whether two or more persons or companies act, negotiate or deal with each other at arm's length.

(2) Despite subsection (1), an issuer does not act, negotiate or deal at arm's length with a related party of the issuer and an interested party does not act, negotiate or deal at arm's length with a related party of the interested party.

1.5 Interpretation

(1) In this Rule, a person or company is considered to be an affiliated entity of another person or company if one is a subsidiary entity of the other or if both are subsidiary entities of the same person or company, or if each of them is controlled by the same person or company.

(2) In this Rule, a person or company is considered to be a subsidiary entity of another person or company if

(a) it is controlled by

(i) that other, or

(ii) that other and one or more persons or companies, each of which is controlled by that other, or

(iii) two or more persons or companies, each of which is controlled by that other; or

(b) it is a subsidiary entity of a person or company that is that other's subsidiary entity.

(3) In this Rule for the purposes of interpreting the terms "subsidiary entity" and "affiliated entity", a person or company is considered to be controlled by another person or company if

(a) in the case of a person or company

(i) the other person or company beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over voting securities of the first-mentioned person or company carrying more than 50 percent of the votes for the election of directors, and

(ii) the votes carried by the securities are entitled, if exercised, to elect a majority of the directors of the first-mentioned person or company;

(b) in the case of a partnership that does not have directors, other than a limited partnership, the other person or company beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over more than 50 percent of the interests in the partnership; or

(c) in the case of a limited partnership, the other person or company is the general partner.

(4) For the purposes of this Rule, a person or company is considered to be a wholly-owned subsidiary entity of an issuer if the issuer owns, directly or indirectly, all the voting and equity securities and securities convertible or exchangeable into voting and equity securities of the person or company.

PART 2 INSIDER BIDS

2.1 Application

(1) This Part applies to every insider bid, except an insider bid that is exempt from Part XX of the Act under

(a) clause 93(1)(a) of the Act, unless it is a stock exchange insider bid;

(b) clauses 93(1)(b) through (f) of the Act; or

(c) a decision made by the Commission under clause 104(2)(c) of the Act, unless the decision otherwise provides.

(2) Despite subsection (1), this Part does not apply to a take-over bid that is an insider bid by reason solely of the application of section 90 of the Act to an agreement between the offeror and a securityholder of the offeree issuer that offeree securities beneficially owned by the securityholder, or over which the securityholder exercises control or direction, will be tendered to the bid, if

(a) the securityholder is not acting jointly or in concert with the offeror; and

(b) the general nature and material terms of the agreement to tender are disclosed in a news release and report filed under section 101 of the Act or are otherwise generally disclosed.

(3) Despite subsection (1), this Part does not apply to an MJDS take-over bid circular, an MJDS directors' circular, or an MJDS director's or officer's circular, in respect of an insider bid, unless securityholders of the offeree issuer whose last address as shown on the books of the issuer is in Canada, as determined in accordance with subsections 12.1(2) through (4) of National Instrument 71-101 The Multijurisdictional Disclosure System, hold 20 percent or more of the class of securities that is the subject of the bid.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (3), the terms "MJDS take-over bid circular", "MJDS directors' circular" and "MJDS director's or officer's circular" have the meaning ascribed to those terms in National Instrument 71-101.

2.2 Disclosure

(1) An offeror shall disclose in a disclosure document for an insider bid

(a) the background to the insider bid; and

(b) in accordance with section 6.8, every prior valuation in respect of the offeree issuer

(i) that has been made in the 24 months before the date of the insider bid, and

(ii) the existence of which is known after reasonable inquiry to the offeror or any director or senior officer of the offeror.

(2) An offeror shall include in the required disclosure document for a stock exchange insider bid the disclosure required by Form 33 of the Regulation, appropriately modified.

(3) The board of directors of an offeree issuer shall

(a) disclose in the directors' circular for an insider bid in accordance with section 6.8 every prior valuation in respect of the offeree issuer not disclosed in the disclosure document for the insider bid

(i) that has been made in the 24 months before the date of the insider bid, and

(ii) the existence of which is known after reasonable inquiry to the offeree issuer or to any director or senior officer of the offeree issuer;

(b) disclose in the directors' circular a description of the background to the insider bid to the extent the background has not been disclosed in the disclosure document for the insider bid;

(c) disclose in the directors' circular any bona fide prior offer that relates to the offeree securities or is otherwise relevant to the insider bid, which offer was received by the issuer during the 24 months before the insider bid was publicly announced, and a description of the offer and the background to the offer; and

(d) include in the directors' circular a discussion of the review and approval process adopted by the board of directors and the independent committee, if any, of the offeree issuer for the insider bid, including any materially contrary view or abstention by a director and any material disagreement between the board and the independent committee.

2.3 Formal Valuation

(1) Subject to section 2.4, the offeror in an insider bid shall

(a) obtain, at its own expense, a formal valuation;

(b) provide the disclosure required by section 6.2;

(c) disclose, in accordance with section 6.5, a summary of the formal valuation in the disclosure document for the insider bid, unless the formal valuation is included in its entirety in the disclosure document; and

(d) comply with the other provisions of Part 6 applicable to it relating to formal valuations.

(2) An independent committee of the offeree issuer shall, and the offeror shall enable the independent committee to

(a) determine who the valuator will be; and

(b) supervise the preparation of the formal valuation.

2.4 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement

(1) Section 2.3 does not apply to an offeror in connection with an insider bid in any of the following circumstances if the facts supporting reliance upon an exemption are disclosed in the disclosure document for the insider bid:

1. Discretionary Exemption - The offeror has been granted an exemption from section 2.3 under section 9.1.

2. Lack of Knowledge and Representation - The offeror does not have and has not had within the preceding 12 months any board or management representation in respect of the offeree issuer and has no knowledge of any material non-public information concerning the offeree issuer or its securities.

3. Previous Arm's Length Negotiations - If

(a) the consideration under the insider bid is at least equal in value to and is in the same form as the highest consideration agreed to with one or more selling securityholders of the offeree issuer in arm's length negotiations

(i) in connection with the making of the insider bid,

(ii) in connection with another transaction involving securities of the class of offeree securities, if the agreement was entered into not more than 12 months before the date of the first public announcement of the bid, or

(iii) in connection with two or more transactions or a combination of transactions referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii),

(b) at least

(i) one of the selling securityholders party to an agreement referred to in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii) beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over, or beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, and agreed to sell,

(A) at least five percent of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), if the offeror beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, 80 percent or more of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), or

(B) at least 10 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), if the offeror beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, less than 80 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), and

(c) one or more of the selling securityholders party to any of the transactions referred to in paragraph (a) beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over, or beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, and agreed to sell, in the aggregate, at least 20 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (3), beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, by persons or companies other than the offeror and persons or companies acting jointly or in concert with the offeror,

(d) the offeror reasonably believes, after reasonable inquiry, that at the time of each of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a)

(i) each selling securityholder party to the agreement had full knowledge and access to information concerning the offeree issuer and its securities, and

(ii) any factors peculiar to a selling securityholder party to the agreement, including non-financial factors, that were considered relevant by that selling securityholder in assessing the consideration did not have the effect of reducing the price that would otherwise have been considered acceptable by that selling securityholder,

(e) at the time of each of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a), the offeror did not know, and to the knowledge of the offeror, after reasonable inquiry, no selling securityholder party to the agreement knew, of any material non-public information in respect of the offeree issuer or the offeree securities that,

(i) was not disclosed generally, and

(ii) if disclosed, could have reasonably been expected to increase the agreed consideration,

(f) any of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a) was entered into with a selling securityholder by a person or company other than the offeror, the offeror reasonably believes, after reasonable inquiry, that at the time of that agreement, the person or company did not know of any material non-public information in respect of the offeree issuer or the offeree securities that

(i) was not disclosed generally, and

(ii) if disclosed, could have reasonably been expected to increase the agreed consideration, and

(g) the offeror does not know, after reasonable inquiry, of any material non-public information in respect of the offeree issuer or the offeree securities since the time of each of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a) that has not been disclosed generally and could reasonably be expected to increase the value of the offeree securities.

4. Auction - If

(a) the insider bid is publicly announced or made while

(i) one or more formal bids for securities of the same class that are the subject of the insider bid have been made and are outstanding,

(ii) one or more going private transactions for securities of the same class that are the subject of the insider bid and ascribe a per security value to those securities are outstanding, or

(iii) one or more transactions are outstanding that

(A) would be going private transactions in respect of securities of the same class that are the subject of the insider bid except that they come within the exception in paragraph (e) of the definition of going private transaction, and

(B) ascribe a per security value to those securities,

(b) at the time the insider bid is made, the offeree issuer has provided equal access to the offeree issuer and information concerning the offeree issuer and its securities, to the offeror in the insider bid, all other offerors and all other persons or companies that proposed the transactions described in subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (a), and

(c) the offeror, in the disclosure document for the insider bid,

(i) includes all material non-public information concerning the offeree issuer and its securities that is known to the offeror after reasonable inquiry but has not been generally disclosed, together with a description of the nature of the offeror's access to the issuer; and

(ii) states that the offeror does not know, after reasonable inquiry, of any material non-public information concerning the offeree issuer and its securities other than information that has been disclosed under subparagraph (i) or that has otherwise been generally disclosed.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph 3(b) of subsection (1), the number of outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities

(a) is calculated at the time of the agreement referred to in subparagraph 3(a)(i) or (ii) of subsection (1), if the offeror knows the number of securities of the class outstanding at that time; or

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, is determined based upon the information most recently provided by the offeree issuer in a material change report or under section 2.1 of National Instrument 62-102 Disclosure of Outstanding Share Data, immediately preceding the date of the agreement referred to in subparagraph 3(a)(i) or (ii) of subsection (1).

(3) For the purpose of paragraph 3(c) of subsection (1), the number of outstanding securities of the class of offeree securities

(a) is calculated at the date of the last of the agreements referred to in paragraph 3(a) of subsection (1), if the offeror knows the number of securities of the class outstanding at that time; or

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, is determined based upon the information most recently provided by the offeree issuer in a material change report or under section 2.1 of National Instrument 62-102, immediately preceding the date of the last of the agreements referred to in paragraph 3(a) of subsection (1).

PART 3 ISSUER BIDS

3.1 Application

(1) This Part applies to every issuer bid, except an issuer bid that is exempt from Part XX of the Act under

(a) clauses 93(3)(a) through (d) and (f) through (i) of the Act;

(b) clause 93(3)(e) of the Act, unless it is a stock exchange issuer bid; or

(c) a decision made by the Commission under clause 104(2)(c) of the Act, unless the decision otherwise provides.

(2) Despite subsection (1), this Part does not apply to a MJDS issuer bid circular, unless securityholders of the offeree issuer whose last address as shown on the books of the issuer is in Canada, as determined in accordance with subsections 12.1(2) through (4) of National Instrument 71-101, hold 20 percent or more of the class of securities that is the subject of the bid.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (2), the term "MJDS issuer bid circular" has the meaning ascribed to that term in National Instrument 71-101.

3.2 Disclosure

(1) An issuer shall

(a) include in a disclosure document for an issuer bid the disclosure required by item 16 of Form 32 of the Regulation, to the extent applicable;

(b) disclose in the disclosure document a description of the background to the issuer bid;

(c) disclose in the disclosure document in accordance with section 6.8 every prior valuation in respect of the offeree issuer

(i) that has been made in the 24 months before the date of the issuer bid, and

(ii) the existence of which is known after reasonable inquiry to the issuer or to any director or senior officer of the issuer;

(d) disclose in the disclosure document any bona fide prior offer that relates to the offeree securities or is otherwise relevant to the issuer bid, which offer was received by the issuer during the 24 months before the issuer bid was publicly announced, and a description of the offer and the background to the offer;

(e) include in the disclosure document a discussion of the review and approval process adopted by the board of directors and the independent committee, if any, of the issuer for the issuer bid, including any materially contrary view or abstention by a director and any material disagreement between the board and the independent committee; and

(f) include in the disclosure document

(i) a statement of the intention, if known to the issuer after reasonable inquiry, of every interested party to accept or not to accept the issuer bid; and

(ii) a description of the effect that the issuer anticipates the issuer bid, if successful, will have on the direct or indirect voting interest in the issuer of every interested party.

(2) An issuer shall include in the required disclosure document for a stock exchange issuer bid the applicable disclosure required by Form 33 of the Regulation.

3.3 Formal Valuation

(1) Subject to section 3.4, an issuer that makes an issuer bid shall

(a) obtain a formal valuation;

(b) provide the disclosure required by section 6.2;

(c) disclose, in accordance with section 6.5, a summary of the formal valuation in the disclosure document for the issuer bid, unless the formal valuation is included in its entirety in the disclosure document;

(d) if there is an interested party other than the issuer, state in the disclosure document who will pay or has paid for the valuation; and

(e) comply with the other provisions of Part 6 applicable to it relating to formal valuations.

(2) The board of directors of the issuer or an independent committee of the board shall

(a) determine who the valuator will be; and

(b) supervise the preparation of the formal valuation.

3.4 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement - Section 3.3 does not apply to an issuer in connection with an issuer bid in any of the following circumstances if the facts supporting reliance upon an exemption are disclosed in the disclosure document for the issuer bid:

1. Discretionary Exemption - The issuer has been granted an exemption from section 3.3 under section 9.1.

2. Bid for Non-Convertible Securities - The issuer bid is for securities that are not participating securities and that are not, directly or indirectly, convertible into or exchangeable for participating securities.

3. Liquid Market - The issuer bid is made for securities for which

(a) a liquid market exists,

(b) it is reasonable to conclude that, following the completion of the bid, there will be a market for beneficial owners of the securities who do not tender to the bid that is not materially less liquid than the market that existed at the time of the making of the bid, and

(c) if an opinion referred to in subparagraph (b)(ii) of subsection 1.3(1) is provided, the person or company providing the opinion reaches the conclusion described in subparagraph 3(b) of this section 3.4 and so states in its opinion.

PART 4 GOING PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS

4.1 Application

(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Part applies to every going private transaction.

(2) This Part does not apply to a going private transaction

(a) if the issuer is not a reporting issuer;

(b) if the issuer is a mutual fund;

(c) if

(i) persons or companies

(A) whose last address as shown on the books of the issuer is in Ontario do not hold more than two percent of each class of the outstanding affected securities of the issuer, or

(B) who are in Ontario and who beneficially own affected securities of the issuer do not beneficially own more than two percent of each class of the outstanding affected securities of the issuer, and

(ii) all documents concerning the transaction that are sent generally to other holders of affected securities of the issuer are concurrently sent to all holders of the securities whose last address as shown on the books of the issuer is in Ontario; or

(d) if the transaction

(i) was announced before the coming into force of this Rule,

(ii) has not been completed before the coming into force of this Rule,

(iii) is being carried out in accordance with the guidelines of Ontario Securities Commission Policy 9.1, and

(iv) is completed substantially in accordance with the terms generally disclosed at the time the transaction was announced or thereafter before the coming into force of this Rule.

4.2 Meeting and Information Circular

(1) If minority approval is required to be obtained for a going private transaction, the issuer shall

(a) call a meeting of holders of affected securities; and

(b) send an information circular to holders of affected securities.

(2) An issuer shall include in the information circular referred to in paragraph (1)(b)

(a) the disclosure required by Form 33 of the Regulation, to the extent applicable and with necessary modifications;

(b) the disclosure required by item 16 of Form 32 of the Regulation, to the extent applicable, together with a description of rights that may be available to securityholders opposed to the transaction and of legal developments, if any, relating to the type of transaction;

(c) a description of the background to the going private transaction;

(d) disclosure in accordance with section 6.8 of every prior valuation in respect of the issuer

(i) that has been made in the 24 months before the date of the information circular, and

(ii) the existence of which is known after reasonable inquiry to the issuer or to any director or senior officer of the issuer;

(e) disclosure of any bona fide prior offer that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the transaction, which offer was received by the issuer during the 24 months before the transaction was publicly announced, and a description of the offer and the background to the offer; and

(f) a discussion of the review and approval process adopted by the board of directors and the independent committee, if any, of the issuer for the transaction, including any materially contrary view or abstention by a director and any material disagreement between the board and the independent committee.

(3) If, after sending the information circular referred to in paragraph (1)(b) and before the date of the meeting, a change occurs that, if disclosed, would reasonably be expected to affect the decision of a beneficial owner of affected securities to vote for or against the going private transaction or to retain or dispose of affected securities, the issuer shall promptly disseminate disclosure of the change

(a) in a manner that the issuer reasonably determines will inform beneficial owners of affected securities of the change; and

(b) sufficiently in advance of the meeting that the beneficial owners of affected securities will be able to assess the impact of the change.

(4) If subsection (3) applies, the issuer shall file a copy of the information disseminated contemporaneously with its dissemination.

4.3 Conditions for Relief from Timing for OBCA Information Circular

(1) The conditions for the granting of an exemption from the requirement in subsection 190(3) of the OBCA to send a management information circular not less than 40 days before the date of a meeting called to consider a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA are that

(a) Part 4 does not apply to the transaction by reason of subsection 4.1(2);

(b) the transaction is not a going private transaction as defined in subsection 1.1(3); or

(c) the transaction is carried out in accordance with Part 4.

(2) If any one of the conditions in subsection (1) applies, an issuer that proposes to carry out a transaction that is a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA

(a) is exempt from the 40 day requirement in subsection 190(3) of the OBCA in respect of a meeting called to consider a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA; and

(b) is not required to make an application under subsection 190(6) of the OBCA for the requisite exemption.

4.4 Formal Valuation

(1) Subject to section 4.5, an issuer whose affected securities are the subject of a proposed going private transaction shall

(a) obtain a formal valuation;

(b) provide the disclosure required by section 6.2;

(c) disclose, in accordance with section 6.5, a summary of the formal valuation in the disclosure document for the going private transaction, unless the formal valuation is included in its entirety in the disclosure document;

(d) state in the disclosure document for the going private transaction who will pay or has paid for the valuation; and

(e) comply with the other provisions of Part 6 applicable to it relating to formal valuations.

(2) The board of directors of the issuer or an independent committee of the board shall

(a) determine who the valuator will be; and

(b) supervise the preparation of the formal valuation.

4.5 Exemptions from Formal Valuation Requirement

(1) Section 4.4 does not apply to an issuer in connection with a going private transaction in any of the following circumstances if the facts supporting reliance upon an exemption are disclosed in the disclosure document:

1. Discretionary Exemption - The issuer has been granted an exemption from section 4.4 under section 9.1.

2. Previous Arm's Length Negotiations - If

(a) the consideration under the going private transaction is at least equal in value to and is in the same form as the highest consideration agreed to with one or more selling securityholders of the issuer in arm's length negotiations

(i) in connection with the going private transaction,

(ii) in connection with another transaction involving securities of the class of affected securities, if the agreement was entered into not more than 12 months before the date of the first public announcement of the going private transaction, or

(iii) in connection with two or more transactions or a combination of transactions referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii),

(b) at least

(i) one of the selling securityholders party to an agreement referred to in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii) beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over, or beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, and agreed to sell,

(A) at least five percent of the outstanding securities of the class of affected securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), if the person or company proposing the going private transaction beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, 80 percent or more of the outstanding securities of the class of affected securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), or

(B) at least 10 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of affected securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), if the person or company proposing the going private transaction beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, less than 80 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of affected securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (2), and

(c) one or more of the selling securityholders party to any of the transactions referred to in paragraph (a) beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over, or beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, and agreed to sell, in the aggregate, at least 20 percent of the outstanding securities of the class of affected securities, as determined in accordance with subsection (3), beneficially owned or over which control or direction is exercised by persons or companies other than an interested party and persons or companies acting jointly or in concert with an interested party,

(d) the person or company proposing the going private transaction reasonably believes, after reasonable inquiry, that at the time of each of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a)

(i) each selling securityholder party to the agreement had full knowledge of and access to information concerning the issuer and its securities,

(ii) any factors peculiar to a selling securityholder party to the agreement, including non-financial factors, that were considered relevant by the selling securityholder in assessing the consideration did not have the effect of reducing the price that would otherwise have been considered acceptable by that selling securityholder,

(e) at the time of each of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a), the person or company proposing the going private transaction did not know, and to the knowledge of the person or company proposing the going private transaction, after reasonable inquiry, no selling securityholder party to the agreement knew, of any material non-public information in respect of the issuer or the affected securities that

(i) was not disclosed generally, and

(ii) if disclosed, could have reasonably been expected to increase the agreed consideration,

(f) any of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a) was entered into with a selling securityholder by a person or company other than the person or company proposing the going private transaction, the person or company proposing the going private transaction reasonably believes, after reasonable inquiry, that at the time of that agreement, the person or company did not know of any material non-public information in respect of the issuer or the affected securities that,

(i) was not disclosed generally, and

(ii) if disclosed, could have reasonably been expected to increase the agreed consideration, and

(g) the person or company proposing the going private transaction, after reasonable inquiry, does not know of any material non-public information in respect of the issuer or the affected securities since the time of each of the agreements referred to in paragraph (a) that has not been disclosed generally and could reasonably be expected to increase the value of the affected securities.

3. Auction - If

(a) the going private transaction is publicly announced while

(i) one or more going private transactions for the affected securities that ascribe a per security value to those securities are outstanding,

(ii) one or more transactions are outstanding that

(A) would be going private transactions in respect of the affected securities, except that they come within the exception in paragraph (e) of the definition of going private transaction, and

(B) ascribe a per security value to those securities, or

(iii) one or more formal bids for the affected securities have been made and are outstanding, and

(b) at the time the disclosure document for the going private transaction has been sent, the issuer has provided equal access to the issuer and information concerning the issuer and its securities, to the person or company proposing the going private transaction, the persons or companies that have proposed the other transactions described in clauses (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (a) and the offerors that have made the formal bids.

4. Second Step Going Private Transaction - If

(a) the going private transaction in respect of the offeree issuer is being effected by a person or company or an affiliated entity of the person or company following a formal bid by the person or company and is in respect of the outstanding securities of the same class that were the subject of the bid,

(b) the going private transaction is completed no later than 120 days after the date of expiry of the formal bid,

(c) the intent to effect the going private transaction was disclosed in the disclosure document for the formal bid,

(d) the consideration per security paid by the person or company or the affiliated entity of the person or company in the going private transaction

(i) is at least equal in value to the consideration per security that was paid by the person or company in the formal bid, and

(ii) is in the same form as the consideration per security that was paid by the person or company in the formal bid, and if the consideration paid consisted of securities of the person or company, consists of the same securities, and

(e) the disclosure document for the formal bid

(i) described the tax consequences of both the formal bid and the subsequent going private transaction, if, at the time of making the formal bid, the tax consequences arising from the subsequent going private transaction

(A) were known or reasonably foreseeable to the person or company that made the formal bid, and

(B) were reasonably expected to be different from the tax consequences of tendering to the formal bid, or

(ii) disclosed that the tax consequences of the formal bid and the subsequent going private transaction may be different, if, at the time of making the formal bid, the person or company that made the formal bid did not know or could not reasonably foresee the tax consequences arising from the subsequent going private transaction.

5. Non-redeemable Investment Fund - The issuer is a non-redeemable investment fund that

(a) at least once each quarter calculates and publicly disseminates the net asset value of its securities, and

(b) at the time of announcing the going private transaction, publicly disseminates the net asset value of its securities as at the business day before announcing the going private transaction.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2(b) of subsection (1), the number of outstanding securities of the class of affected securities

(a) is calculated at the time of the agreement referred to in subparagraph 2(a)(i) or (ii) of subsection (1), if the person or company proposing the going private transaction knows the number of securities of the class outstanding at that time; or

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, is determined based upon the information most recently provided by the issuer of the affected securities, in a material change report or under section 2.1 of National Instrument 62-102, immediately preceding the date of the agreement referred to in subparagraph 2(a)(i) or (ii) of subsection (1).

(3) For the purposes of paragraph 2(c) of subsection (1), the number of outstanding securities of the class of affected securities

(a) is calculated at the date of the last of the agreements referred to in paragraph 2(a) of subsection (1), if the person or company proposing the going private transaction knows the number of securities of the class outstanding at that time; or

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, is determined based upon the information most recently provided by the issuer of the affected securities in a material change report or under section 2.1 of National Instrument 62-102, immediately preceding the date of the last of the agreements referred to in paragraph 2(a) of subsection (1).

4.6 Conditions for Relief from OBCA Valuation Requirement

(1) The conditions for the granting of an exemption from the requirements of subsection 190(2) and clauses 190(3)(a) and (c) of the OBCA for a transaction that is a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA are that

(a) Part 4 does not apply to the transaction by reason of subsection 4.1(2);

(b) the transaction is not a going private transaction as defined in subsection 1.1(3);

(c) section 4.4 does not apply by reason of section 4.5; or

(d) the issuer complies with section 4.4.

(2) If any one of the conditions referred to in subsection (1) applies, an issuer that proposes to carry out a transaction that is a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA

(a) is exempt from the requirements of subsection 190(2) and clauses 190(3)(a) and (c) of the OBCA; and

(b) is not required to make an application under subsection 190(6) of the OBCA for the requisite exemptions.

4.7 Minority Approval - Subject to section 4.8, no going private transaction shall be carried out in respect of an issuer unless minority approval for the going private transaction has been obtained under Part 8.

4.8 Exemptions from Minority Approval Requirement

(1) Section 4.7 does not apply to a going private transaction in any of the following circumstances if the facts supporting reliance upon an exemption are disclosed in the disclosure document for the going private transaction:

1. Discretionary Exemption - The issuer has been granted an exemption from section 4.7 under section 9.1.

2. 90 Percent Exemption - Subject to subsection (2), one or more interested parties beneficially owns 90 percent or more of the outstanding securities of a class of affected securities at the time that the going private transaction is proposed and either

(a) an appraisal remedy is available to holders of the class of affected securities under the statute under which the issuer is organized or is governed as to corporate law matters, or

(b) if the appraisal remedy referred to in subparagraph (a) is not available, holders of the class of affected securities are given an enforceable right that is substantially equivalent to the appraisal remedy provided for in subsection 185(4) of the OBCA and that is described in the disclosure document for the going private transaction.

(2) If there are two or more classes of affected securities, paragraph 2 of subsection (1) applies only to a class for which the interested party beneficially owns or the interested parties beneficially own 90 percent or more of the outstanding securities of the class.

4.9 Conditions for Relief from OBCA Minority Approval Requirement

(1) The conditions for the granting of an exemption from the requirements of clauses 190(3)(b) and (d) and subsection 190(4) of the OBCA for a transaction that is a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA are that

(a) Part 4 does not apply to the transaction by reason of subsection 4.1(2);

(b) the transaction is not a going private transaction as defined in subsection 1.1(3);

(c) section 4.7 does not apply by reason of section 4.8; or

(d) the issuer complies with section 4.7.

(2) If any one of the conditions referred to in subsection (1) applies, an issuer that proposes to carry out a transaction that is a "going private transaction" as defined in the OBCA

(a) is exempt from the requirements of clauses 190(3)(b) and (d) and subsection 190(4) of the OBCA; and

(b) is not required to make an application under subsection 190(6) of the OBCA for the requisite exemptions.

PART 5 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

5.1 Application

(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Part applies to every related party transaction.

(2) This Part does not apply to a related party transaction

(a) if the issuer is not a reporting issuer;

(b) if the issuer is a mutual fund;

(c) if

(i) persons or companies

(A) whose last address as shown on the books of the issuer is in Ontario do not hold more than two percent of each class of the outstanding affected securities of the issuer, or

(B) who are in Ontario and who beneficially own affected securities of the issuer do not beneficially own more than two percent of each class of the outstanding affected securities of the issuer, and

(ii) all documents concerning the transaction that are sent generally to other holders of affected securities of the issuer are concurrently sent to all holders of the securities whose last address as shown on the books of the issuer is in Ontario;

(d) that is a statutory amalgamation between

(i) the issuer and one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiary entities, but no other person or company, or

(ii) two or more wholly-owned subsidiary entities of the issuer, but no other person or company;

(e) that is a going private transaction in respect of the issuer carried out in accordance with Part 4 or exempt from Part 4 under subsection 4.1(2);

(f) that would be a going private transaction in respect of the issuer except that it comes within the exceptions in paragraphs (a) through (e) of the definition of going private transaction;

(g) that

(i) is part of a series of related transactions that the issuer or a predecessor of the issuer negotiated at arm's length with a person or company that became a related party of the issuer only as a consequence of one of the transactions in the series of related transactions, and

(ii) the issuer is obligated to and does complete the transaction substantially in accordance with the terms negotiated at arm's length;

(h) that was agreed to by the issuer or a predecessor of the issuer before July 5, 1991, if the issuer is obligated to complete the transaction in accordance with the terms agreed to and generally disclosed at that time or thereafter before the coming into force of this Rule;

(i) that

(i) was agreed to by the issuer or a predecessor of the issuer after July 5, 1991 but before the coming into force of this Rule,

(ii) has not been completed before the coming into force of this Rule,

(iii) is being carried out in accordance with the guidelines of Ontario Securities Commission Policy 9.1, and

(iv) the issuer is obligated to and does complete the transaction substantially in accordance with the terms agreed to and generally disclosed at the time the transaction was agreed to or thereafter before the coming into force of this Rule;

(j) if

(i) the transaction was agreed to by the issuer or a predecessor of the issuer on or before the date that the issuer became a reporting issuer, and

(ii) the issuer is obligated to and does complete the transaction substantially in accordance with the terms agreed to and generally disclosed at the time the transaction was agreed to or thereafter on or before the date that the issuer became a reporting issuer;

(k) if the transaction represents an issuance or transfer by an issuer of securities upon the exercise by a holder of a right to purchase, convert, exchange or retract previously granted by the issuer, which right is attached to a class of securities for which there is a published market, and the issuer is obligated to complete the transaction;

(l) that is carried out by an issuer to which the Rule In the Matter of Certain Trades in Securities of Junior Resource Issuers (1997), 20 OSCB 1218, as amended by (1999), 22 OSCB 2152, or any successor to that Rule applies, in accordance with that Rule or any successor to that Rule; or

(m) that is a distribution

(i) of the securities of an issuer and is a related party transaction in respect of the issuer solely because the interested party is an underwriter of the distribution, and

(ii) carried out in compliance with, or under an exemption from, the requirements of

(A) until Multilateral Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts comes into force, Part XIII of the Regulation, and

(B) after Multilateral Instrument 33-105 comes into force, that Multilateral Instrument.

(3) This Part does not apply to a person or company that is subject to the requirements of Part IX of the Loan and Trust Corporations Act, Part XI of the Bank Act (Canada), Part XI of the Insurance Companies Act (Canada), or Part XI of the Trust and Loan Companies Act (Canada), and the person or company complies with those provisions.

5.2 Disclosure: News Release and Material Change Report

(1) An issuer shall include in a material change report required to be filed under the Act for a related party transaction

(a) a description of the transaction and its material terms;

(b) the purpose and business reasons for the transaction;

(c) the anticipated effect of the transaction on the issuer's business and affairs;

(d) a description of

(i) the interest in the transaction of every interested party that is expected to receive, directly or indirectly, as a consequence of the transaction, a benefit that is not also expected to be received on a pro rata basis by all other holders of affected securities, and the issuer insiders, associates, affiliated entities and other related parties of that interested party,

(ii) the effect of the transaction on every person or company referred to in subparagraph (i), and

(iii) the nature of any benefit that will accrue as a consequence of the transaction to every person or company referred to in subparagraph (i);

(e) if subsection 5.4(2) does not apply to the issuer, a discussion of the review and approval process adopted by the board of directors, and the independent committee, if any, of the issuer for the transaction, including any materially contrary view or abstention by a director and any material disagreement between the board and the independent committee;

(f) a summary in accordance with section 6.5 of the formal valuation, if any, obtained for the transaction, unless the formal valuation is included in its entirety in the material change report or will be included in its entirety in another disclosure document for the transaction;

(g) disclosure in accordance with section 6.8 of every prior valuation in respect of the issuer that has been made in the 24 months before the date of the material change report

(i) that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the transaction, and

(ii) the existence of which is known after reasonable inquiry to the issuer or to any director or senior officer of the issuer; and

(h) the general nature and material terms of any agreement entered into by the issuer, or a related party of the issuer, with an interested party, or a person or company acting jointly or in concert with an interested party, in connection with the transaction.

(2) If a material change report is filed by a reporting issuer less than 21 days before the expected date of closing of the transaction, the issuer shall explain in the news release required to be issued under the Act and material change report why the shorter period is reasonable or necessary in the circumstances.

(3) Despite paragraph (1)(f), if an issuer is required to include a summary of the formal valuation in the material change report and the formal valuation is not available at the time the issuer files the material change report, the issuer shall file a supplementary material change report containing the disclosure required by paragraph (1)(f) as soon as the formal valuation is available.

5.3 Copy of Material Change Report - An issuer shall send a copy of any material change report prepared by it in respect of the related party transaction to any securityholder of the issuer upon request and without charge.

5.4 Meeting and Information Circular

(1) If minority approval is required to be obtained for a related party transaction, the issuer shall

(a) call a meeting of holders of affected securities; and

(b) send an information circular to holders of affected securities.

(2) An issuer shall include in the information circular referred to in paragraph (1)(b)

(a) the disclosure required by Form 33 of the Regulation, to the extent applicable and with necessary modifications;

(b) the disclosure required by item 16 of Form 32 of the Regulation, to the extent applicable, together with a description of rights that may be available to securityholders opposed to the transaction and of legal developments, if any, relating to the type of transaction;

(c) a description of the background to the related party transaction;

(d) disclosure in accordance with section 6.8 of every prior valuation in respect of the issuer that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the transaction

(i) that has been made in the 24 months before the date of the information circular, and

(ii) the existence of which is known after reasonable inquiry to the issuer or to any director or senior officer of the issuer;

(e) disclosure of any bona fide prior offer that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the transaction, which was received by the issuer during the 24 months before the transaction was publicly announced, and a description of the offer and the background to the offer; and

(f) a discussion of the review and approval process adopted by the board of directors and the independent committee, if any, of the issuer for the transaction, including any materially contrary view or abstention by a director and any material disagreement between the board and the independent committee.

(3) If, after sending the information circular referred to in paragraph (1)(b) and before the date of the meeting, a change occurs that would, if disclosed, reasonably be expected to affect the decision of a beneficial owner of affected securities to vote for or against the related party transaction or to retain or dispose of affected securities, the iss