In the Matter of Agrinam Acquisition Corporation, 2023 CanLII 6140

February 1, 2023

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 AGRINAM ACQUISITION CORPORATION (THE FILER)

DECISION

Background

The principal regulator in the Jurisdiction has received an application (the 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 in the capital of the Filer (the Common Shares) (the Prospectus Disclosure Exemption) in connection with (i) the final prospectus the Filer will be required to file pursuant to the Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual (the TSX Company Manual) containing disclosure regarding a proposed qualifying acquisition for the Filer (the Filer’s Prospectus) and (ii) other prospectuses (together with the Filer’s Prospectus, Prospectuses) that may be filed by the Filer 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 Prospectuses;

(c) Part 2 of OSC 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 (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, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon (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.

1. Representations made by the Filer

1.1 The Filer is a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the BCBCA) and is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

1.2 The head office of the Filer is located in Miami, Florida and the registered office of the Filer is located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1.3 The Filer is a special purpose acquisition corporation incorporated for the purpose of effecting a qualifying acquisition (a Qualifying Acquisition) pursuant to the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX).

1.9 Upon completion of a Qualifying Acquisition, the PV Shares will constitute subject securities (as defined in NI 41-101 and OSC Rule 56-501) and the Filer’s only issued and outstanding subject securities will be the PV Shares.

1.10 Following a Qualifying Acquisition:

(f) The holders of the Common Shares and PV Shares will be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Filer, except those meetings at which holders of a specific class of shares are entitled to vote separately as a class under the BCBCA.

1.12 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.

1.13 In addition to the conversion rights described above, if an offer (Offer) is made for PV Shares where: (a) by reason of applicable securities legislation or stock exchange requirements, the Offer must be made to all holders of the class of PV Shares; and (b) no equivalent offer is made for the Common Shares, the holders of Common Shares shall have the right, at their option, to convert their Common Shares into PV Shares for the purposes of allowing the holders of the Common Shares to tender to the Offer, provided however that such conversion will be solely for the purpose of tendering the PV Shares to the Offer in question and that any PV Shares that are tendered to the Offer but that are not, for any reason, taken up and paid for by the offeror will automatically be reconverted into the Common Shares that existed prior to such conversion.

1.15 The Filer is seeking the Exemption Sought in respect of, among other things, references to the Common Shares in Prospectuses and CD Documents.

1.16 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.

1.17 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

(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.

1.18 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.

1.21 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.

1.22 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.

1.23 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.

1.24 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.

(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,

(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.

1.26 The TSX advised the Filer on September 13, 2022 that they will permit the Filer to designate the Common Shares as 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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 include disclosure consistent with the representations in paragraphs 1.8 to 1.14 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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.

"Michael Balter"

Michael Balter Manager, Corporate Finance Ontario Securities Commission OSC File#: 2023/0013

DECISION

Background

(a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application; and

Interpretation

Representations

1. Representations made by the Filer

1.2 The head office of the Filer is located in Miami, Florida and the registered office of the Filer is located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1.3 The Filer is a special purpose acquisition corporation incorporated for the purpose of effecting a qualifying acquisition (a Qualifying Acquisition) pursuant to the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX).

1.7 Rights are convertible after the closing date of a Qualifying Acquisition, with each Right entitling the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a Common Share for no additional consideration, provided that Rights will only be converted for a whole number of Common Shares.

1.9 Upon completion of a Qualifying Acquisition, the PV Shares will constitute subject securities (as defined in NI 41-101 and OSC Rule 56-501) and the Filer’s only issued and outstanding subject securities will be the PV Shares.

1.10 Following a Qualifying Acquisition:

(a) The Common Shares may at any time, at the option of the holder thereof and with the consent of the Filer, be converted into PV Shares at a ratio of one (1) PV Share for one hundred (100) Common Shares.

(f) The holders of the Common Shares and PV Shares will be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Filer, except those meetings at which holders of a specific class of shares are entitled to vote separately as a class under the BCBCA.

(g) 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).

1.15 The Filer is seeking the Exemption Sought in respect of, among other things, references to the Common Shares in Prospectuses and CD Documents.

(b) at the time of any restricted security reorganization related to the securities to be distributed:

(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.

1.18 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.

1.23 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.

1.24 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,

1.26 The TSX advised the Filer on September 13, 2022 that they will permit the Filer to designate the Common Shares as common shares.

Decision

(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 1.8 to 1.14, 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 include disclosure consistent with the representations in paragraphs 1.8 to 1.14 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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 1.8 to 1.14, 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.