June 21, 2022
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 GAMESQUARE ESPORTS 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 of the principal regulator (the Legislation) that the requirements under:
a) section 12.2 of National Instrument 41-101 General Prospectus Requirements (NI 41-101), relating to the use of restricted security terms, and sections 1.13 and 10.6 of Form 41-101F1 Information Required in a Prospectus (Form 41-101F1) and sections 1.12 and 7.7 of Form 44-101F1 Short Form Prospectus (Form 44-101F1), relating to restricted security disclosure, shall not apply to the common shares (the Common Shares) in the capital of the Filer (the Prospectus Disclosure Exemption) in connection with any prospectuses that may be filed by the Filer (the “Prospectuses”) under National Instrument 44-101 Short Form Prospectus Distributions (NI 44‑101), including a prospectus filed under National Instrument 44-102 Shelf Distributions;
b) section 12.3 of NI 41-101 relating to prospectus filing eligibility for distributions of restricted securities, subject securities or securities that are, directly or indirectly, convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, restricted securities or subject securities, shall not apply to distributions of Common Shares, PV Shares (as defined below) or securities that are, directly or indirectly, convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Common Shares or PV Shares (the Prospectus Eligibility Exemption) in connection with the Prospectuses;
c) Part 2 of Ontario Securities Commission Rule 56-501 Restricted Shares (OSC Rule 56‑501) relating to the use of restricted share terms and restricted share disclosure shall not apply to the Common Shares (the OSC Rule 56-501 Disclosure Exemption) in connection with dealer and adviser documentation, rights offering circulars and offering memoranda (collectively, OSC Rule 56-501 Documents) of the Filer;
d) Part 3 of OSC Rule 56-501 relating to the withdrawal of prospectus exemptions for distributions of restricted shares, subject securities or securities that are, directly or indirectly, convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, restricted shares or subject securities, shall not apply to the distribution of the Common Shares, PV Shares (as defined below) or securities that are, directly or indirectly, convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Common Shares or PV Shares (the OSC Rule 56-501 Withdrawal Exemption) in connection with stock distributions (as defined in OSC Rule 56-501) of the Filer; and
e) Part 10 of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102) relating to the use of restricted security terms and restricted security disclosure shall not apply to the Common Shares (the CD Disclosure Exemption) in connection with continuous disclosure documents (the CD Documents) that may be filed by the Filer under NI 51-102.
The aforementioned requirements are collectively referred to as the Restricted Security Rules. The Prospectus Disclosure Exemption, the Prospectus Eligibility Exemption, the OSC Rule 56‑501 Disclosure Exemption, the OSC Rule 56-501 Withdrawal Exemption and the CD Disclosure Exemption are collectively referred to as the Exemption Sought.
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; and
b) the Filer has provided notice that subsection 4.7(1) of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System (MI 11-102) is intended to be relied upon in Alberta and British Columbia (other than with respect to the OSC Rule 56-501 Disclosure Exemption and the OSC Rule 56-501 Withdrawal Exemption), which, pursuant to subsection 8.2(2) of National Policy 11-202 Process for Prospectus Reviews in Multiple Jurisdictions (NP 11-202) and subsection 5.2(6) of National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (NP 11-203), also satisfies the notice requirement of paragraph 4.7(1)(c) of MI 11-102.
Interpretation
Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions, MI 11-102, NP 11-202, NP 11-203, NI 41-101, NI 44-101, NI 51-102 and OSC Rule 56-501 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 a corporation governed under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. The Filer is not in default of securities legislation in any jurisdiction.
The head and registered office of the Filer is located in Toronto, Ontario.
The authorized capital of the Filer consists of an unlimited number of common shares (Common Shares).
As of May 31, 2022, the Filer had 264,422,329 Common Shares issued and outstanding. The Filer has no other shares outstanding.
The Common Shares are currently listed and posted for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol “GSQ”, on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol “GMSQF” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “29Q1”.
At the annual general and special meeting (Meeting) of the shareholders of the Filer held on June 21, 2022, the Filer put to vote a special resolution to authorize and approve an amendment of the articles of the Filer to amend the rights and restrictions of the existing class of Common Shares and to create a new class of shares to be designated as “proportionate voting shares” (PV Shares, and together with the Common Shares, the Shares) (Reclassification). The Reclassification was approved by special resolution of the shareholders of the Filer at the Meeting. On June 21, 2022, the Filer amended its articles to reflect the Reclassification.
The Reclassification is intended to minimize the proportion of the outstanding voting securities of the Filer that are held by "U.S. persons" for purposes of determining whether the Filer is a "foreign private issuer", for purposes of United States securities laws.
Following the implementation of the Reclassification by the Filer, the PV Shares constitute subject securities (as defined in NI 41-101, NI 51-102 and OSC Rule 56-501) and the Filer's only issued and outstanding subject securities are the PV Shares.
Following the implementation of the Reclassification by the Filer:
a) A new class of PV Shares was created.
b) The Common Shares may at any time, at the option of the holder thereof, be converted into PV Shares at a ratio of one (1) PV Share for one hundred (100) Common Shares.
c) The PV Shares may at any time, at the option of the holder thereof, be converted into Common Shares on the basis of one hundred (100) Common Shares for one (1) PV Share, with fractional PV Shares convertible into Common Shares on the same ratio.
d) If the board of directors of the Filer determines that it is no longer advisable to maintain the PV Shares as a separate class of shares, then the PV Shares shall be converted into Common Shares on the basis of one hundred (100) Common Shares for one (1) PV Share, with fractional PV Shares convertible into Common Shares on the same ratio.
e) Holders of Common Shares and PV Shares will be entitled to dividends if, as and when dividends are declared by the board of directors of the Filer, with each PV Share being entitled to one hundred (100) times the amount of the dividend declared per Common Share (or, if a stock dividend is declared on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, only if the board of directors of the Filer simultaneously declares a stock dividend in: (A) PV Shares on the PV Shares, in a number of shares per PV Share (or fraction thereof) equal to the number of shares declared per Common Share (or fraction thereof); or (B) Common Shares on the PV Shares, in a number of shares per PV Share (or fraction thereof) equal to the number of shares declared per Common Share (or fraction thereof) multiplied by one hundred (100)), and fractional PV Shares will be entitled to the application thereof, and otherwise without preference or distinction among or between the shares.
f) In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Filer, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets of the Filer among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, the holders of Common Shares and PV Shares will, subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of the Filer ranking in priority to the Common Shares and the PV Shares, be entitled to participate ratably along with the holders of the Common Shares and the PV Shares, with each PV Share being entitled to one hundred (100) times the amount distributed per Common Share and fractional PV Shares being entitled to the applicable fraction thereof, and otherwise without preference or distinction among or between the Common Shares and PV Shares.
g) Holders of Common Shares and PV Shares will be entitled to notice of and to attend and to vote at any meeting of the shareholders of the Filer, except those meetings at which holders of another particular class or series of shares of the Filer are entitled to vote separately as a class or series under applicable law.
h) The Common Shares will carry one (1) vote per share and the PV Shares will carry one hundred (100) votes per share. Fractional PV Shares will be entitled to the number of votes calculated by multiplying the fraction by one hundred (100).
The rights, privileges, conditions and restrictions attaching to the Shares may be modified if the amendment is authorized by not less than 66⅔% of the votes cast at a meeting of holders of the Shares duly held for that purpose. However, holders of Common Shares and holders of PV Shares shall each be entitled to vote separately as a class, in addition to any other vote of shareholders that may be required, in respect of any alteration, repeal or amendment that would prejudice or interfere with any rights or special rights of the holders of Common Shares or PV Shares, as applicable, or that would affect the rights of the holders of the Common Shares and the holders of PV Shares differently, on a per share basis that differs from the basis of one (1) per share in the case of the Common Shares and one hundred (100) per share in the case of the PV Shares.
No subdivision or consolidation of the Common Shares or PV Shares may be carried out unless, at the same time, the shares of the other class are subdivided or consolidated in the same manner and on the same basis, so as to preserve the relative rights of the holders of each such class of shares.
In addition to the conversion rights described above, if an offer (PV Offer) is made for PV Shares where: (a) by reason of applicable securities legislation or stock exchange requirements, the PV Offer must be made to all holders of the class of PV Shares; and (b) no equivalent offer is made for the Common Shares for consideration per Common Share equal to 0.01 of the consideration offered per PV Share, the holders of Common Shares shall have the right, at their option, to convert their Common Shares into PV Shares (or fraction thereof) on the basis of one hundred (100) Common Shares for one (1) PV Share for the purposes of allowing the holders of the Common Shares to tender to the PV Offer, provided however that such conversion will be solely for the purpose of tendering the PV Shares to the PV Offer in question and that any PV Shares that are tendered to the PV Offer but that are not, for any reason, taken up and paid for by the offeror will automatically be reconverted into the Common Shares on the basis of one (1) PV Share for one hundred (100) Common Shares that existed prior to such conversion.
In addition to the conversion rights described above, if an offer (CS Offer) is made for Common Shares where: (a) by reason of applicable securities legislation or stock exchange requirements, the CS Offer must be made to all holders of the class of Common Shares; and (b) no equivalent offer is made for the PV Shares for consideration per PV Share equal to one hundred (100) times the consideration offered per Common Share, the holders of PV Shares shall have the right, at their option, to convert their PV Shares into Common Shares (or fraction thereof) on the basis of one hundred (100) Common Shares for one (1) PV Share for the purposes of allowing the holders of the PV Shares to tender to the CS Offer, provided however that such conversion will be solely for the purpose of tendering the PV Shares to the CS Offer in question and that any Common Shares that are tendered to the CS Offer but that are not, for any reason, taken up and paid for by the offeror will automatically be reconverted into the PV Shares on the basis of one hundred (100) Common Shares for one (1) PV Share that existed prior to such conversion.
The Filer is seeking the Exemption Sought in respect of, among other things, references to the Common Shares in Prospectuses and CD Documents.
Section 12.2 of NI 41-101 requires that an issuer must not refer to a security in a prospectus by a term or a defined term that includes the word “common” unless the security is an equity security to which are attached voting rights exercisable in all circumstances, irrespective of the number or percentage of securities owned, that are not less, per security, than the voting rights attached to any other outstanding security of the issuer.
Section 12.3 of NI 41-101 requires that an issuer must not file a prospectus under which restricted securities, subject securities or securities that are, directly or indirectly, convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, restricted securities or subject securities, are distributed unless:
a) the distribution has received prior majority approval of the securityholders of the issuer in accordance with applicable law, including approval on a class basis if required and excluding any votes attaching at the time to securities held, directly or indirectly, by affiliates of the issuer or control persons of the issuer, or
b) at the time of any restricted security reorganization related to the securities to be distributed:
i) the restricted security reorganization received prior majority approval of the securityholders of the issuer in accordance with applicable law, including approval on a class basis if required and excluding any votes attaching at the time to securities held, directly or indirectly, by affiliates of the issuer or control persons of the issuer,
ii) the issuer was a reporting issuer in at least one jurisdiction, and
iii) no purposes or business reasons for the creation of restricted securities were disclosed that are inconsistent with the purpose of the distribution.
Sections 1.13 and 10.6 of Form 41-101F1 and sections 1.12 and 7.7 of Form 44-101F1 require that an issuer provide certain restricted security disclosure.
Section 2.2 of OSC Rule 56-501 requires dealer and adviser documentation to include the appropriate restricted share term if restricted shares and the appropriate restricted share term or a code reference to restricted shares or the appropriate restricted share term are included in a trading record published by the CSE or other exchange listed in OSC Rule 56-501.
Section 2.3 of OSC Rule 56-501 requires that a rights offering circular or offering memorandum for a stock distribution prepared for a reporting issuer comply with certain requirements including, among others, that restricted shares may not be referred to by a term or a defined term that includes “common”, “preference” or “preferred” and that such shares shall be referred to using a term or a defined term that includes the appropriate restricted share term.
Section 3.2 of OSC Rule 56-501 provides that the prospectus exemptions under Ontario securities law are not available for a stock distribution of securities of a reporting issuer unless either the stock distribution received minority approval of shareholders or all the conditions set out in subsection 3.2(2) are satisfied and the information circular relating to the shareholders’ meeting held to obtain such minority approval for the stock distribution included prescribed disclosure.
Section 10.1 of NI 51-102 requires a reporting issuer that has outstanding restricted securities, or securities that are directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for restricted securities or securities that will, when issued, result in an existing class of outstanding securities being considered restricted securities, to provide specific disclosure with respect to such securities in its information circular, a document required by NI 51-102 to be delivered upon request by a reporting issuer to any of its securityholders, an annual information form prepared by the reporting issuer as well as any other documents that it sends to its securityholders.
Section 10.2 of NI 51-102 sets out the procedure to be followed with respect to the dissemination of disclosure documents to holders of restricted securities.
Pursuant to the Restricted Security Rules, a “restricted security” means an equity security of a reporting issuer if any of the following apply:
a) there is another class of securities of the reporting issuer that, to a reasonable person, appears to carry a greater number of votes per security relative to the equity security,
b) the conditions attached to the class of equity securities, the conditions attached to another class of securities of the reporting issuer, or the reporting issuer’s constating documents have provisions that nullify or, to a reasonable person, appear to significantly restrict the voting rights of the equity securities, or
c) the reporting issuer has issued another class of equity securities that, to a reasonable person, appears to entitle the owners of securities of that other class to participate in the earnings or assets of the reporting issuer to a greater extent, on a per security basis, than the owners of the first class of equity securities.
- As the PV Shares will entitle the holders thereof to multiple votes per PV Share held, it will technically represent a class of securities to which multiple votes are attached. The multiple votes attaching to the PV Shares would, absent the Exemption Sought, have the following consequences in respect of the technical status of the Common Shares:
a) pursuant to NI 41-101 and NI 44-101, the Filer would be unable to use the word “common” to refer to the Common Shares in the Prospectuses and the Filer would be required to provide the specific disclosure required by NI 41-101 and NI 44‑101 because the PV Shares would represent a security to which are attached voting rights exercisable in all circumstances, irrespective of the number or percentage of securities owned, that are more, per security, than the voting rights attached to the Common Shares,
b) the Common Shares would be considered “restricted shares” pursuant to OSC Rule 56-501 and the Filer would be subject to the dealer and advisor documentary disclosure obligations and distribution restrictions in OSC Rule 56‑501 because the PV Shares would represent a security to which is attached voting rights exercisable in all circumstances, irrespective of the number of percentage of shares owned, that are more, on a per share basis, than the voting rights attaching to the Common Shares and the Filer would be unable to use the word “common” to refer to the Common Shares in a rights offering circular or offering memorandum for a stock distribution, and
c) the Common Shares could be considered “restricted securities” pursuant to para. (a) of the definition of the term in NI 51-102 and the Filer would be required to provide the specific disclosure required by NI 51-102 in respect of the Common Shares because the PV Shares would represent another class of securities of the Filer that, to a reasonable person, appears to carry a greater number of votes per security relative to the Common Shares.
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) in connection with the Prospectus Disclosure Exemption and the Prospectus Eligibility Exemption as they apply to Prospectuses, at the time the Filer relies on the Exemption Sought:
i) the representations in paragraphs 8-15, above, continue to apply;
ii) the Filer has no restricted securities (as defined in section 1.1 of NI 41-101) issued and outstanding other than the Common Shares; and
iii) the Prospectuses should include disclosure consistent with the representations in paragraphs 8-15 above;
b) in connection with the OSC Rule 56-501 Disclosure Exemption as it applies to the OSC Rule 56-501 Documents, at the time the Filer relies on the Exemption Sought:
i) the representations in paragraphs 8-15, above, continue to apply; and
ii) the Filer has no restricted shares (as defined in section 1.1 of OSC Rule 56‑501) issued and outstanding other than the Common Shares;
c) in connection with the OSC Rule 56-501 Withdrawal Exemption, at the time the Filer relies on the Exemption Sought:
i) the representations in paragraphs 8-15, above, continue to apply; and
ii) the Filer has no restricted shares (as defined in section 1.1 of OSC Rule 56‑501) issued and outstanding other than the Common Shares; and
d) in connection with the CD Disclosure Exemption as it applies to the CD Documents, at the time the Filer relies on the Exemption Sought:
i) the representations in paragraphs 8-15, above, continue to apply; and
ii) the Filer has no restricted securities (as defined in subsection 1.1(1) of NI 51-102) issued and outstanding other than the Common Shares.
“Lina Creta”
Manager, Corporate Finance
Ontario Securities Commission OSC File #: 2022/0236