The threshold for certain pre-closing net benefit reviews under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) and the threshold for a pre-closing merger notification under the Competition Act have been increased for 2017.
Competition Act
Canada uses a two part test for determining whether a pre-merger notification is necessary. The two-part test is based on the size of the parties and the size of the transaction. The transaction size component can be adjusted annually for inflation. Under the size of the parties test, the parties, together with their affiliates, must have aggregate assets in Canada or annual gross revenues from sales in, from or into Canada, in excess of $400 million. Under the size of transaction test, the value of the assets in Canada or the annual gross revenue from sales (generated from those assets) in or from Canada of the target operating business and, if applicable, its subsidiaries, must be greater than $88 million. The 2016 transaction size threshold was $87 million.
These changes will take effect after March 4, 2017.
Investment Canada Act
In general, any acquisition by a 'non-Canadian' of control of a 'Canadian business' is either notifiable or reviewable under the ICA. Whether an acquisition is notifiable or reviewable depends on the structure of the transaction and the value and nature of the Canadian business being acquired, namely whether the transaction is a direct or indirect acquisition of control of a Canadian business. With limited exceptions, the federal government must be satisfied that a reviewable transaction 'is likely to be of net benefit to Canada' before closing can proceed; notifiable transactions only require that the investor submit a report after closing. Separate and apart from the net benefit review, the ICA also provides that any investment in a Canadian business by a non-Canadian can be subject to a national security review.
In April 2015, the metric used to calculate the review thresholds changed. Prior to April 24, 2015, the acquisition of control of a Canadian business by a non-Canadian was generally subject to pre-closing review and approval by the responsible Minister where the book value of the assets of the Canadian business exceeded a prescribed threshold ($375 million in 2016). Lower thresholds ($5 million) existed for the acquisition of control of a business related to Canada's national identity or cultural heritage, or where the buyer was not from a member of the WTO.
As of April 24, 2015, the threshold for the net benefit review is generally based on the enterprise value of the Canadian business. The threshold was to be $600 million for two years, followed by two years at $800 million, and then $1 billion for a year, after which it would be adjusted annually for inflation. However, in order to encourage more foreign investment in Canada, the government plans to adopt the $1 billion limit effective April 24, 2017.
Under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada committed to significantly increase the threshold for review under the ICA to $1.5 billion for investors from members of the European Union in most industry sectors. Given most favoured nation clauses in other free trade agreements Canada has signed, several of Canada's other trading partners, including the United States, are poised to benefit from this provision as well. As the CETA has not yet taken effect, the timing for the $1.5 billion threshold is not known, but could be as early as summer of 2017.
How enterprise value will be determined will depend on the nature of the transaction:
| Publicly traded entity: acquisition of shares | Market capitalization plus total liabilities (excluding operating liabilities), minus cash and cash equivalents |
| Not publicly traded entity: acquisition of shares | Total acquisition value, plus total liabilities (excluding operating liabilities), minus cash and cash equivalents |
| Acquisition of assets | Total acquisition value, plus assumed liabilities, minus cash and cash equivalents transferred to buyer |
The enterprise value test will not apply to all transactions. The lower review thresholds remain for: (i) cultural industries; (ii) investors from non-WTO members; and (iii) SOEs. These investments will continue to be reviewable based on a book value of assets test using the current monetary thresholds which can be adjusted annually to account for changes in gross domestic product. Effective February 11, 2017, this threshold is now $379 million.
About Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm. We provide the world's preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have 3800 lawyers and other legal staff based in more than 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.
Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.
For more information about Norton Rose Fulbright, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.
Law around the world
nortonrosefulbright.com
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
