July 9, 2018 @ 6:26 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) published its 2018-2019 “Statement of Priorities” June 5th, but the document provides zero helpful guidance to Ontario companies trying to engage with cutting-edge blockchain-based financial technologies, says Toronto-based blockchain lawyer Amy ter Haar. The “OSC…Statement of Priorities for the Financial… Read More

July 1, 2018 @ 2:00 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has published a report on a comprehensive survey of 2500 Ontarians regarding their interest in and knowledge of digital currencies like Bitcoin. The report, commissioned by the OSC’s Investor Office and conducted by Innovative Research Group, found that 5%, or… Read More

February 15, 2018 @ 6:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

Investment banking is a highly profitable business. Goldman Sachs, perhaps the most prominent investment bank in the world, raked in $32 billion during fiscal 2017 with the majority of this revenue driven specifically by investment banking. Yet arguably, much of the value that is provided… Read More

December 24, 2017 @ 6:23 am By JD Alois  |  

One of the attractive aspects of Reg A+, as created by the JOBS Act of 2012, is the fact issuers may immediately trade securities following a funding round. This has led to a growing number of SMEs to raise capital under Reg A+ and quickly… Read More

October 25, 2017 @ 10:05 am By JD Alois  |  

Recently the Canadian regulators have gone out of their way to embrace innovation and Fintech in general. This past week, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) published a decision on the application of Token Funder to launch an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and the tokenized security… Read More

October 11, 2017 @ 3:07 am By JD Alois  |  

While some financial regulators have simply stopped Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) or slowed activity in the cryptocurrency space, others have been more receptive towards embracing change and recognizing the fact you need to be more innovative. The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is one of the… Read More

February 22, 2017 @ 10:34 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the securities regulator in the UK, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).  The agreement is designed to provide support to innovative Fintech firms seeking entry into either market. The Agreement allows the FCA and the… Read More

November 3, 2016 @ 10:29 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Under a new agreement, fintech companies in Australia and Ontario will be able to draw on support from the combined resources of their financial regulators as they seek to operate in the others’ market. Signed in Toronto this week, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission… Read More

November 1, 2016 @ 8:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is joining a growing roster of global securities regulators to acknowledge the shifting environment of finance and the need to better understand Fintech innovation. The OSC is now seeking applications for a Fintech Advisory Commmittee (FAC) that will advise staff… Read More

October 25, 2016 @ 9:27 am By Erin Hobey  |  

A new program partnership between AngelList and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC),  is now available to investors in Ontario, reported BetaKit. Eligible investors can now invest in Creative Destruction Lab and NEXT Canada startups raising capital through an AngelList Syndicate, provided the startups are headquartered in, or have significant… Read More

September 28, 2016 @ 12:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at the Toronto Region Board of Trade this week, Maureen Jensen, Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) Chair and CEO, delivered a wide-ranging keynote address that tackled the topic of Fintech, regulations and announced a forthcoming regulatory Sandbox for entrepreneurs. Jensen acknowledged the rise of Fintech… Read More

February 20, 2015 @ 12:11 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

In a statement yesterday (Thursday, February 19th), the Ontario Securities Commission shared they expect to release crowdfunding rules this coming summer.  The proposed rules entered a comment period last year and the Commission has been in the process of reviewing the feedback; “The comment period… Read More

April 27, 2014 @ 3:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

As part of a scheduled series of cross country events designed to spread the gospel of crowdfunding, the Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada (ECFA Canada) hosted their inaugural conference in the financial district of Toronto to a packed crowd.  Tickets quickly sold out for the… Read More

March 21, 2014 @ 8:41 am By JD Alois  |  

Below is the backgrounder published by the Ontario Securities Commission which outlines the proposed exemptions for crowdfunding in Ontario.  There is a comment period that ends on June 18, 2014.     ____________________________ [scribd id=213678602 key=key-1swrg4keo903570hmjzc mode=scroll]

March 21, 2014 @ 8:01 am By JD Alois  |  

In a release issued by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the regulatory body for the Ontario’s capital markets.  A 90 day public comment period starts for four new exemptions.  These exemptions are intended to facilitate capital raising by businesses at different stages in their development,… Read More

December 6, 2013 @ 12:16 pm By Charles Luzar  |  

CNN Money | How IBM bypasses bureaucratic purgatory IBM has an in-house crowdfunding platform that they use to allow employees to vet and evaluate their colleagues’ ideas. It’s an effort to “improve the way we do things internally” according to the head of IBM’s CIO… Read More

December 5, 2013 @ 8:48 am By JD Alois  |  

Objective is to Modernize Exempt Market Regulations, Facilitate Capital Raising for Startups. The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has announced they intend on publishing in the  first quarter of 2014 the following new capital raising prospectus exemptions for a 90-day public comment period: Offering memorandum exemption,… Read More

September 25, 2013 @ 10:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Impact investing crowdfunding platform Social Venture Connexion (SVX) rang the bell last week on the Toronto Stock Exchange, thus officially launching their new platform.  The Ontario Securities Commission had issued an “exemptive relief order” earlier this year to allow the non-profit entity SVX to sell… Read More

August 29, 2013 @ 10:30 am By JD Alois  |  

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) today published OSC Notice 45-712 Progress Report on Review of Prospectus Exemptions to Facilitate Capital Raising, which sets out the next steps in the OSC’s exempt market review and consideration of four prospectus exemptions. The objective of this work is to facilitate… Read More

August 1, 2013 @ 9:06 am By JD Alois  |  

Our neighbors to the North while much smaller in population have already established a vibrant crowdfunding scene.  With over 45% of the entire Canadian workforce employed in small business driving 28% of Canada’s GDP, it is clear that the importance of fostering a positive environment… Read More