Headnote National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief applications in Multiple Jurisdictions – National Instrument 52-107, s. 9.1 Acceptable Accounting Principles, Auditing Standards and Reporting Currency – the Filer granted relief from the requirements under section 3.2 of National Instrument 52-107 Acceptable Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards (NI 52-107) that financial statements be prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP applicable to publicly accountable enterprises to permit the Filer to prepare its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP for its financial years that begin on or after 1 January 2012 but before 1 January 2015 Applicable Legislative Provisions
National Instrument 52-107 Acceptable Accounting Principles and Auditing Standard, s. 5.1
July 21, 2011
IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF ONTARIO (the Jurisdiction)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF HYDRO ONE INC. (the Filer)
DECISION
Background
The principal regulator in the Jurisdiction has received an application from the Filer for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdiction (the Legislation) exempting the Filer from the requirements under section 3.2 of National Instrument 52-107 - Acceptable Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards (NI 52-107) that financial statements be prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP applicable to publicly accountable enterprises (the Exemption Sought) to permit the Filer to prepare its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP for its financial years that begin on or after January 1, 2012 but before January 1, 2015.
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a passport application):
(a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application;
(b) the Filer has provided notice that section 4.7(1) of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 - Passport System (MI 11-102) is intended to be relied upon in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador (the Passport Jurisdictions); and
(c) the decision of the principal regulator automatically results in an equivalent decision in the Passport Jurisdictions.
Interpretation
Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 - Definitions, MI 11-102 and NI 52-107 have the same meaning if used in this decision, unless otherwise defined.
Representations
This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer.
The Filer is incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The head office of the Filer is located at 483 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2P5.
The Filer is a reporting issuer or equivalent in the Jurisdiction and each Passport Jurisdiction and is not in default of securities legislation in any such jurisdiction.
The Filer is not an SEC issuer.
The Filer has “activities subject to rate regulation”, as defined in the Handbook.
As a “qualifying entity” for the purposes of section 5.4 of NI 52-107, the Filer is permitted to prepare its financial statements for its financial year commencing January 1, 2011 and ending December 31, 2011 in accordance with Canadian GAAP - Part V of the Handbook.
Were the Filer an SEC issuer, it would be permitted by section 3.7 of NI 52-107 to file financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which accords treatment of “activities subject to rate regulation” similar to that under Canadian GAAP - Part V of the Handbook.
Decision
The principal regulator is satisfied that the decision meets the test set out in the Legislation for the principal regulator to make the decision.
- The decision of the principal regulator under the Legislation is that the Exemption Sought is granted provided that:
(a) for its financial years commencing on or after January 1, 2012 but before January 1, 2015 and interim periods therein, the Filer files its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP; and
(b) information for comparative periods presented in the financial statements referred to in paragraph (a) is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
- The Exemption Sought will terminate in respect of the Filer’s financial statements for annual and interim periods commencing on or after the earlier of:
(a) January 1, 2015; and
(b) the date on which the Filer ceases to have “activities subject to rate regulation” as defined in the Handbook as at the date of this decision.
“Cameron McInnis”
Chief Accountant
Ontario Securities Commission