Insights

Our innovative thinking and legal analysis keep our clients up to speed. Browse our expert perspectives on the latest developments below.


Guide

2019 – 2024 Data Trends

Nov. 19, 2024 – In this issue of Insolvency Now, we report on the data trends we are seeing so far in 2024 compared with when we first started tracking data in 2019. Key Takeaways: Overall, we are seeing a marked increase in filings, but we are not yet seeing the level of sector-specific distress one...


Latest

Bulletin

Capital Markets Tribunal Establishes New Framework for Evaluating Poison Pills

Nov. 21, 2024 – The Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal recently released its highly anticipated reasons for cease trading a shareholder rights plan adopted by Bitfarms Ltd. (Bitfarms) with a 15% trigger (15% Rights Plan). In Riot Platforms, Inc. v. Bitfarms Ltd., 2024 ONCMT 27, the Tribunal exercised...

Guide

2019 – 2024 Data Trends

Davies Insolvency Now, Issue 11

Nov. 19, 2024 – In this issue of Insolvency Now, we report on the data trends we are seeing so far in 2024 compared with when we first started tracking data in 2019. Key Takeaways: Overall, we are seeing a marked increase in filings, but we are not yet seeing the level of sector-specific distress...

Guide

The IBA 2025 Toronto City Guide

Sept. 27, 2024 – It was a pleasure to connect with international colleagues at IBA 2024 in Mexico City last week. We look forward to welcoming attendees to Toronto next year, when it will be the host destination for IBA 2025. To help conference attendees from out of town to prepare, we created the Davies IBA...

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Better Late Than Never? Not So for Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Coverage

Aug. 29, 2024 – Directors and officers facing liability claims, including investigations and enforcement proceedings, must pay careful attention to the notice provisions of their directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability coverage policies and ensure that they report claims to their insurer in a timely manner. As...

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Federal Impact Assessment: Legislative Amendments and Cabinet Directive

July 29, 2024 – Background The Canadian government recently enacted the highly anticipated amendments to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). These amendments, which came into force on June 20, 2024, address the constitutional overreach in the IAA, as identified by the Supreme Court...

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U.S. Supreme Court Upends 40 Years of Judicial Deference to Regulations

July 25, 2024 – In a historical opinion in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, released at the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the “Chevron” doctrine, which for so long had controlled judicial review of U.S. federal regulations. Chevron, decided in...

Bulletin

Is Canada Pulling the Plug on Chinese Electric Vehicles?

July 12, 2024 – Background The Canadian government has prioritized the promotion of the domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry, with the objective of establishing Canada as a leader in the global end-to-end EV supply chain. This effort includes providing financial support and tax credits to...

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Canada Finally Enacts the Digital Services Tax (Maybe)

July 09, 2024 – The new Digital Services Tax Act came into force with an order-in-council on June 28, 2024, imposing a 3% digital services tax (DST) on certain Canadian-source digital services revenue of large entities. The DST would first be payable in 2025, with the initial payments retroactively...

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IRS Proposes to Limit Application of Funding Rule on Stock Buyback Excise Tax

June 20, 2024 – In prior bulletins from February 2023 and December 2022, we described a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that outlined the rules that the IRS intended to issue with respect to the 1% stock buyback excise tax. This tax generally applies to the repurchase of stock of a public U.S. ...

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IRS Relaxes Rules for Domestically Controlled REITs

June 19, 2024 – Non-U.S. investors are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains from investments in private U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs). Two exceptions (among others) are for investments in “domestically controlled” REITs and for investors that are “qualified foreign pension funds....

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Bill S-285: A Canadian Contribution to the Stakeholder Governance Debate

June 11, 2024 – Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne recently introduced the 21st-Century Business Act (Bill S-285), a Senate public bill that proposes substantive amendments to the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). The legislative proposal seeks to define the “purpose” of business corporations...

Article

Davies Comments on First Proposed Canadian Sustainability Disclosure Standards

June 10, 2024 – Davies recently submitted a comment letter in response to public consultations initiated by the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) regarding their draft sustainability and climate disclosure standards, which aim to set a new benchmark for the disclosure of sustainability-related...

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Taking AIM at the Mithaq Decision: A Critique

May 28, 2024 – The recent decision of the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal to allow a defensive private placement amidst a battle for control places another nail in the coffin for hostile bids in Canada In a perplexing decision, Mithaq Canada Inc (Re), the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal...

Bulletin

Federal Budget 2024: How It Impacts You and Your Business

Apr. 16, 2024 – The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance, delivered the Liberal Party’s federal budget (Budget 2024) on April 16, 2024. Budget 2024 included a number of proposed changes to the Income Tax Act (ITA) and other tax legislation. The most...

Guide

2023 Business Insolvencies in Canada

Davies Insolvency Now, Issue 10

Mar. 05, 2024 – As we predicted in earlier issues of Davies Insolvency Now, the year 2023 reflected the anticipated increase in business insolvency activity. In this issue, we perform a comparative review of business insolvencies from 2023, examine the fluctuating volume and decreasing asset values, look...

Guide

Governance Insights: 10 Trends that GCs and Boards Need to Know

Jan. 24, 2024 – The latest edition of Davies’ Governance Insights is now available. In this issue, we explore 10 important trends that will help general counsel and boards navigate the year ahead. In order to help you with your strategic and compliance planning, we discuss issues including the...

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First Set of Major Changes to Canada’s Competition Act in Force

Dec. 19, 2023 – With royal assent to Bill C-56, The Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, occurring on December 15, 2023, important changes to Canada’s competition law framework came into force. The amendments that came into effect immediately on December 15, 2023: repeal...

Guide

Doing Business in Québec

Dec. 15, 2023 – Our Doing Business in Québec guide provides an overview of the legal framework governing Canadian business operations in the province of Québec. This guide provides up-to-date information about the following topics: corporate registration and filing requirements, taxes, labour and...

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Major Expropriation Reform in Québec

Dec. 05, 2023 – The Act respecting expropriation was adopted on November 29, 2023. It applies to expropriations initiated by the Government of Québec and municipal bodies. The Act provides for important changes, notably with regards to contesting the right to expropriation as well as to the procedural...

Bulletin

Overhaul of Québec Legislation Concerning Publicity Contests

Nov. 28, 2023 – Québec recently repealed the province’s strict regulations concerning contests open to Québec participants by amending the Act respecting lotteries, publicity contests, and amusement machines (Act) and by abolishing the Rules Respecting Publicity Contests (Rules). ...

Bulletin

Great FESpectations: Further Changes to Canadian Competition Law Ahead

Nov. 23, 2023 – Canada’s Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, delivered the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement (FES) on November 21, 2023, in which she announced the government’s intention to introduce “generational changes to competition law in Canada,” which will “help stabilize prices and...

Guide

Guide to Shareholder Activism and Proxy Contests in Canada

Nov. 16, 2023 – Davies’ Shareholder Activism and Proxy Contests in Canada guide draws on our market-leading expertise to offer our insights on the principal legal and practical considerations for both activists and target companies, as well as notable recent developments and key differences between...

Guide

Doing Business in Canada

Nov. 14, 2023 – Davies’ Doing Business in Canada guide provides executives, in-house counsel and foreign investors with an overview of the legal framework governing Canadian business operations and outlines key considerations for investing and conducting business in Canada, particularly in Ontario and...

Bulletin

The SEC Amends Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rules

Oct. 24, 2023 – On October 10, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted final amendments to the rules that govern beneficial ownership reporting and provided guidance on the application of those rules. The SEC also articulates two overarching themes which arguably reveal a new SEC perspective...

Bulletin

Preparing for the Corporate Transparency Act

Oct. 20, 2023 – Overview The beneficial ownership reporting requirements under the U.S. Corporate Transparency Act (the CTA) will go into effect on January 1, 2024. All entities formed or registered to do business in a U.S. state,1 other than certain types of exempt entities, will...

Guide

As the Pandemic Abates, Activists Advance: Shareholder Activism Rebounds in Canada

Oct. 20, 2023 – Canadian shareholder activism continued its post-pandemic resurgence into the first half of 2023. Emerging trends include the “activist swarm,” where multiple—yet uncoordinated—activists converge on a single target with competing demands. Activism has also been on the rise in response to M&A...

Bulletin

Supreme Court of Canada Finds Impact Assessment Act Unconstitutional

Oct. 17, 2023 – On October 13, 2023, in a 5-2 split decision, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) found the federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA) to be, in part, unconstitutional in Reference re Impact Assessment Act. The SCC determined that the IAA’s treatment of “designated projects” was...

Guide

Business Insolvency on the Rise in Canada: Understanding the Role of AI

Davies Insolvency Now, October 2023

Oct. 12, 2023 – The first half of 2023 saw a significant increase in business insolvencies as economic sectors responded to uncertain financial conditions in Canada and around the world. In this issue of Davies Insolvency Now, we examine the impact of this rolling recession by sector and region. We...

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New GST Rebate for Purpose-Built Rental Property

Sept. 26, 2023 – As an incentive to builders to create more rental housing units, the federal government has announced the effective elimination of the goods and services tax (GST) payable on newly constructed rental housing, such as apartment buildings, student housing and senior residences built specifically...

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Canadian Government Announces “First Set” of Competition Act Reforms

Sept. 19, 2023 – In a recent press release, Canada’s Prime Minister announced a “first set” of proposed changes to the Competition Act, with additional “comprehensive legislative reforms” to follow in the coming months. While the federal government launched a consultation process on Competition...

Guide

Governance Insights: Charting a (Safe) Path Through the ESG Wilderness

June 08, 2023 – The rapid and growing recognition of the importance of accounting for ESG factors in strategic decision-making and corporate reporting has, perhaps predictably, been followed by a notable increase in anti-ESG sentiment and a questioning of the integrity of measures purported to advance...

Bulletin

Major Expropriation Reform on the Horizon in Québec

May 30, 2023 – On May 25, 2023, the Québec government tabled a bill to replace the current Expropriation Act. Like the current law, the bill will apply to expropriations initiated by both the provincial and municipal governments. The bill provides for major changes related to: contesting the right...

Bulletin

Competition Bureau Tests Canada’s New Drip Pricing Law

May 25, 2023 – Canada’s Commissioner of Competition filed an application under the deceptive marketing provisions of the Competition Act (Act) on May 18, 2023, alleging that Cineplex Inc. is making false or misleading representations to the public on its website and mobile app about the prices of its...

Bulletin

Canada Imposes Forced and Child Labour Reporting Obligations

May 05, 2023 – The House of Commons has adopted Bill S-211, whose short title is Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (the Bill). The Bill, which was adopted on May 3, 2023, will become law as soon as it receives royal assent and will enter into force on January 1, 2024....

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OBCA Changes Could Be Used to Restrict Shareholder Rights

Apr. 28, 2023 – The Ontario government introduced an omnibus bill (Bill 91) on April 3, 2023 that proposes both welcome and concerning amendments to the Ontario Business Corporations Act’s (OBCA) regulation of shareholder meetings. The inclusion of a provision that authorizes corporations to limit...

Guide

Governance Insights: Trends and Developments in Diversity

Apr. 21, 2023 – Davies Governance Insights analyzes the top trends and issues most important to Canadian public companies and provides practical guidance for boards to meet these challenges head on. In the 2020 edition of Davies Governance Insights, we highlighted how boards and senior...

Bulletin

Two Percent Tax on Share Buybacks by Public Companies

Apr. 18, 2023 – As part of the 2023 federal budget, tabled on March 28, 2023, the government has introduced draft legislation to implement a new 2% tax on share buybacks that was first announced in November 2022 as part of the government’s Fall Economic Statement. This tax (referred to below as the “Buyback...

Bulletin

Federal Courts Weigh in on the FBAR: Providing Relief from Outrageous Penalties

Mar. 22, 2023 – In this bulletin, we highlight two recent federal court cases in which U.S. taxpayers won major victories against the United States with respect to their obligations to report non-U.S. accounts on FinCEN Form 114 – Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, more commonly referred to...

Guide

Rolling Into 2023: Mild Slumps and Jumps in Insolvency Numbers

Davies Insolvency Now, Issue 8

Mar. 09, 2023 – What does a “rolling recession” mean from an insolvency perspective? In this issue of Davies Insolvency Now, we look to the 2022 Q4 data from across Canada for answers. We also set out the court-supervised arrangement process under the Canada Business Corporations Act, an...

Bulletin

Continuation Funds: Key Considerations

Mar. 07, 2023 – Continuation funds, commonly referred to as General Partner (GP)-led secondaries or restructurings, have long divided sponsor and investor opinion. While a leading European pension fund investor recently described them as part of a broader industry “pyramid scheme,” others view them positively,...

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U.S. Tax Laws: A Review of 2022 and a Look Ahead to 2023

Feb. 21, 2023 – As we settle into the new year, let’s take a moment to first consider last year’s tax developments and then take a look ahead to what 2023 might have in store for us. Review of U.S. Tax Developments in 2022 In 2022 we finally saw some movement on President Biden’s tax policy with the...

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Québec’s Enterprise Transparency Regime Is Coming Into Force

Feb. 15, 2023 – Amendments to the Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises (LPA), which require registrants (described below) to declare their “ultimate beneficiaries,” will come into force on March 31, 2023. Corporate ownership transparency requirements are being mandated across Canada to...

Bulletin

First OPC Ruling for 2023 Will Impact Third-Party Processor Contracts

Feb. 08, 2023 – The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) recently released findings stemming from a customer complaint that Home Depot of Canada (Home Depot) had violated the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) by disclosing customers’ personal information...

Bulletin

Canadian Foreign Investment Law in 2023: National Security Is (Still) Paramount

Feb. 03, 2023 – In this annual review of Canadian foreign investment law, we discuss developments over the past year, including proposed amendments to the Investment Canada Act (ICA) and new government policies on the treatment of specific categories of investments. We also consider how these trends...

Bulletin

SEC Adopts Amendments to Insider Trading Rules and Reporting Requirements

Jan. 20, 2023 – In late 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted final amendments to certain rules and reporting requirements concerning insider trading arrangements, including Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Rule 10b5-1(c) provides...

Bulletin

Federal Trade Commission Proposes Rule to Ban Non-Compete Clauses

Jan. 19, 2023 – The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a proposed rule that, if adopted, would broadly prohibit employers from entering into post-employment non-compete agreements with workers, and would also require employers to rescind any such existing non-compete agreements. The...

Bulletin

The CRA’s New Power to Compel Oral Interviews

Jan. 17, 2023 – The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can now require taxpayers or any other person to answer “all proper questions” and provide all reasonable assistance for any purpose relating to the administration or enforcement of the Income Tax Act (ITA), including by submitting to oral questioning at...

Bulletin

Upcoming Proposed Regulatory Changes to Stock Buyback Excise Tax

Dec. 29, 2022 – With another new year nearly upon us, we call attention to regulatory changes to the Stock Buyback Excise Tax that will be proposed to take effect on January 1 and the implications on more non-U.S. corporations. Specifically, we address exceptions for (i) a broad new per se funding rule...

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New Rules and Reporting Requirements Coming for the Real Estate Sector

Dec. 23, 2022 – As 2022 comes to a close, we draw your attention to certain new and proposed legislation that the Canadian federal government has introduced and that will have important implications for Canadian residential real estate and the Canadian real estate sector more broadly. Specifically, we offer...

Bulletin

Canada Moves to Strengthen National Security Review of Foreign Investments

Dec. 14, 2022 – The Canadian government has proposed legislation to update and reinforce its national security review process under the Investment Canada Act (ICA). The proposed changes contained in Bill C-34, National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act (Bill) are the most...

Article

The International Investigations Review: Canada

Dec. 12, 2022 – In the 12th edition of The International Investigations Review, Davies partners Léon Moubayed and Corey Omer highlight the major issues with and critical characteristics of criminal and regulatory investigations that corporate counsel face in Canada's legal system.

Bulletin

Canada Releases Revised Draft Legislation on New Interest Deductibility Rules

Dec. 08, 2022 – The Department of Finance (Canada) (Finance) has released revised draft legislation on the proposed rules regarding excessive interest and financing expenses limitation (EIFEL). The revised draft legislation, released on November 3, 2022, contains several significant updates to Finance’s...

Bulletin

SEC Adopts Final Rules for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation

Dec. 06, 2022 – After years of deliberations and delays, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted final rules on clawbacks in October 2022. The new rules (known as Rule 10D-1) require U.S. national securities exchanges and securities associations to establish standards requiring listed issuers...

Bulletin

Government Report Indicates Robust Foreign Investment Review in Canada

Dec. 01, 2022 – The Canadian government recently released the 2021-2022 Annual Report covering non-cultural1 foreign investment reviews under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Given the government’s reluctance to publicize details of its ICA reviews,...

Guide

Davies Governance Insights 2015

Authors: Ivana Gotzeva, William M. Ainley and Jennifer F. Longhurst

This fifth annual edition of Davies Governance Insights presents our analysis of the important trends and developments in corporate governance for Canadian public companies during 2015. Our report provides guidance for boards and senior management of public companies and their investors on emerging and recurring governance themes including the following:

  • Board composition and compensation. We explore the debate over board tenure restrictions and turnover, and  the best means of ensuring board effectiveness, and review the trend in say on pay advisory votes in Canada, for which there is continued momentum. We also review director and CEO compensation trends.
  • Gender diversity initiatives and trends. Women continue to make modest progress in being elected to boards of directors and appointed to senior management positions of Canadian public companies. The number of issuers that adopted a diversity policy has increased significantly, but we are expecting more prescriptive disclosure requirements from regulators, particularly with respect to the adoption of written gender-diversity policies and targets.
  • Shareholder issues. Shareholder engagement in its many forms continued to grow and gain prominence in 2015. We also consider issues surrounding majority voting policies and practices, including enhanced quorum requirements and the carve-outs for exceptional circumstances, advance notice requirements and forum selection by-laws. We examine new proxy access and universal proxy proposals, as well as 2015 trends in proxy contests.
  • Selected issues in board risk management: Boards are responsible for the oversight of risk management, encompassing a wide range of topics. We discuss several risks that a board must be aware of, including those relating to securities class actions, parent liability for subsidiary governance, cybersecurity breaches and corruption, both domestic and foreign. We also provide recommended best practices for addressing several of these issues.
  • Changes to rights plans, takeover bid amendments and corporate law reform. We review the proposed changes to the way in which unsolicited bids are carried out, proposed amendments aimed at modernizing the Canada Business Corporation Act and recommendations for updating the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) to reflect technological advancements and legislative and case law developments.

Download the executive summary.

Download our guide.

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