Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and National Bank of Canada – s. 6.1 of NI 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids

Headnote

Section 6.1 of NI 62-104 – Issuer bid – relief from the requirements applicable to issuer bids in Part 2 of NI 62-104 – issuer proposes to purchase, pursuant to a repurchase program and at a discounted purchase price, up to a specified number of its common shares under its normal course issuer bid from a third party – the third party will abide by the requirements governing normal course issuer bids as though it was the issuer, subject to certain modifications, including that the third party will not make any purchases under the program pursuant to a pre-arranged trade – common shares delivered to the issuer for cancellation will be common shares from the third party's existing inventory – due to the discounted purchase price, the common shares cannot be acquired through the TSX trading system – but for the fact that the common shares cannot be acquired through the TSX trading system, the Issuer could otherwise acquire such shares in accordance with TSX rules and in reliance upon the issuer bid exemption available under section 4.8 of NI 62-104 – the third party will purchase common shares under the program on the same basis as if the issuer had conducted the bid in reliance on the normal course issuer bid exemptions set out in securities legislation – no adverse economic impact on, or prejudice to the issuer or its security holders – acquisition of securities exempt from the requirements applicable to issuer bids in Part 2 of NI 62-104, subject to conditions, including that the number of common shares transferred by the third party from its existing inventory to the issuer for purchase under the program be equivalent to the number of common shares that the third party has purchased, or had purchased on its behalf, on Canadian markets.

Statutes Cited

National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids, Part 2 and s. 6.1.

IN THE MATTER OF

THE SECURITIES ACT,

R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, AS AMENDED

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LIMITED AND

NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA

ORDER

(Section 6.1 of National Instrument 62-104)

                UPON the application (the Application) of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (the Issuer) and National Bank of Canada (NBC, and together with the Issuer, the Filers) to the Ontario Securities Commission (the Commission) for an order pursuant to section 6.1 of National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids (NI 62-104) exempting the Issuer from the requirements applicable to issuer bids in Part 2 of NI 62-104 (the Issuer Bid Requirements) in respect of the proposed purchases by the Issuer of up to 134,000 (the Program Maximum) of its common shares (the Common Shares) from NBC pursuant to a share repurchase program (the Program);

                AND UPON considering the Application and the recommendation of staff of the Commission;

                AND UPON the Issuer having represented to the Commission the matters set out in paragraphs 1 to 4, inclusive, 10 to 37, inclusive, 39, and 40, as they relate to the Issuer;

                AND UPON NBC and National Bank Financial Inc. (NBF, and together with NBC, the NBC Entities) having represented to the Commission the matters set out in paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18 to 21, inclusive, 24, 26, 28 to 32, inclusive, 34, 38, 40, and 41, as they relate to the NBC Entities, as applicable:

1.             The Issuer is a corporation governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act.

2.             The registered, executive and head office of the Issuer is located at 7550 Ogden Dale Road S.E., Calgary, Alberta, T2C 4X9.

3.             The Issuer is a reporting issuer in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and the Common Shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) and the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the symbol “CP”. The Issuer is not in default of any requirement of securities legislation in the jurisdictions in which it is a reporting issuer.

4.             The Issuer's authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares, an unlimited number of First Preferred Shares and an unlimited number of Second Preferred Shares, of which 144,993,338 Common Shares, no First Preferred Shares, and no Second Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding as of November 16, 2017.

5.             NBC is a Schedule I bank governed by the Bank Act (Canada). The head office of NBC is located in Montreal, Quebec.

6.             NBF is registered as an investment dealer under the securities legislation of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. NBF is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, a participating organization or member of the TSX, the TSX Venture Exchange, a dealer with the Canadian Securities Exchange, and an approved participant of the Bourse de Montreal. The head office of NBF is located in Montreal, Quebec.

7.             NBC does not own, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

8.             NBC is the beneficial owner of at least 134,000 Common Shares, none of which were acquired by, or on behalf of, NBC in anticipation or contemplation of resale to the Issuer (such Common Shares over which NBC has beneficial ownership, the Inventory Shares). All of the Inventory Shares are held by NBC in the Province of Ontario, and all purchases of Inventory Shares by the Issuer from NBC will be executed and settled in the Province of Ontario. No Common Shares were purchased by, or on behalf of, NBC on or after October 18, 2017, being the date that was 30 days prior to the date of the Application, in anticipation or contemplation of a sale of Common Shares by NBC to the Issuer.

9.             NBC is at arm's length to the Issuer and is not an "insider" of the Issuer, an "associate" of an "insider" of the Issuer, or an "associate" or "affiliate" of the Issuer, as such terms are defined in the Securities Act (Ontario) (the Act). NBC is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions.

10.          On May 10, 2017, the Issuer announced a normal course issuer bid (the NCIB) to purchase for cancellation, during the 12 month period beginning on May 15, 2017 and ending on May 14, 2018, up to 4,384,062 Common Shares, representing approximately 3% of the Issuer’s “public float” as of the date specified in the “Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid” submitted to, and accepted by, the TSX (the Initial Notice). On November 30, 2017, the TSX accepted an amendment to the Initial Notice (the Initial Notice, as amended, the Notice) to specify that purchases under the NCIB may be conducted through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE and alternative trading systems or by such other means as may be permitted by the TSX, the NYSE or a securities regulatory authority, including under automatic purchase programs and by private agreements or share repurchase programs under issuer bid exemption orders issued by applicable securities regulatory authorities.

11.          The NCIB is being conducted in reliance upon the exemption from the Issuer Bid Requirements set out in subsection 4.8(2) of NI 62-104 (the Designated Exchange Exemption).

12.          The NCIB is also being conducted in the normal course on the NYSE and other permitted published markets (collectively with the NYSE, the Other Published Markets) in reliance upon the exemption from the Issuer Bid Requirements set out in subsection 4.8(3) of NI 62-104 (the Other Published Markets Exemption, and together with the Designated Exchange Exemption, the Exemptions).

13.          Pursuant to the rules in respect of normal course issuer bids set out in sections 628 to 629.3 of Part VI of the TSX Company Manual (the TSX Rules), the Issuer has appointed RBC Dominion Securities Inc. as its designated broker in respect of the NCIB (the Responsible Broker).

14.          On May 10, 2017, the Issuer also announced the implementation of an automatic share repurchase plan (the ASPP) to permit the Issuer to make purchases under the NCIB at such times when the Issuer would not be permitted to trade in its securities, including during regularly scheduled quarterly blackout periods and other internal blackout periods (each such time, a Blackout Period). The ASPP was approved by the TSX and is in compliance with the TSX Rules and applicable securities laws. The ASPP will not be in effect during the Program Term (as defined below).

15.          To the best of the Issuer's knowledge, the "public float" (calculated in accordance with the TSX Rules) for the Common Shares as at November 16, 2017 consisted of approximately 144.2 million Common Shares. The Common Shares are "highly-liquid securities" as that term is defined in section 1.1 of OSC Rule 48-501 Trading During Distributions, Formal Bids and Share Exchange Transactions (OSC Rule 48-501) and section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules (UMIR).

16.          Concurrently with the Application, the Issuer has filed an additional application with the Commission for exemptive relief from the Issuer Bid Requirements in connection with the proposed purchase by the Issuer of up to 621,000 Common Shares (the CIBC Program Maximum) from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce pursuant to a share repurchase program (the CIBC Program, and together with the Program, the Programs). The CIBC Program will commence on the Trading Day (as defined below) following the termination of the Program and will terminate on the earlier of May 14, 2018 and the date on which the Issuer will have purchased the CIBC Program Maximum (the CIBC Program Term).

17.          As at November 30, 2017, the Issuer has purchased 1,888,100 Common Shares under the NCIB, none of which were purchased pursuant to issuer bid exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities.

18.          The Filers wish to participate in the Program during, and as part of, the NCIB to enable the Issuer to purchase from NBC, and for NBC to sell to the Issuer, a number of Common Shares up to the Program Maximum.

19.          Pursuant to the terms of the Program Agreement (as defined below), NBF has been retained by NBC to acquire Common Shares through the facilities of the TSX and on Other Published Markets in Canada (each, a Canadian Other Published Market and collectively with the TSX, the Canadian Markets) under the Program. No Common Shares will be acquired under the Program on a market that is not a Canadian Market.

20.          The Program will be governed by, and conducted in accordance with, the terms and conditions of a Share Repurchase Program Agreement (the Program Agreement) that will be entered into among the Filers and NBF prior to the commencement of the Program and a copy of which will be delivered by the Filers to the Commission promptly thereafter.

21.          The Program will terminate on the earlier of May 14, 2018 and the date on which the Issuer will have purchased the Program Maximum under the Program (the Program Term). Neither the Issuer nor any of the NBC Entities may unilaterally terminate the Program Agreement during the Program Term, except in the case of an event of default by a party thereunder or a change in law or announced change in law that would have adverse consequences to the transactions contemplated thereunder or to the Issuer or either of the NBC Entities.

22.          At least two clear Trading Days prior to the commencement of the Program, the Issuer will issue and file a press release (the Commencement Press Release) that has been pre-cleared by the TSX that (a) describes the material features of the Programs, including the Program Term and the CIBC Program Term; (b) discloses the Issuer's intention to participate in the Programs during the NCIB; (c) states that it is the Issuer’s current intention to purchase the Program Maximum and the CIBC Program Maximum, but that the number of Common Shares purchased pursuant to the Programs may be less than the Program Maximum and the CIBC Program Maximum, respectively; (d) provides an explanation as to why less than the Program Maximum and the CIBC Program Maximum may be purchased; and (e) states that, immediately following the completion of the Program, the Issuer will issue and file the Completion Press Release (as defined below).

23.          The Program Maximum, together with the CIBC Program Maximum, will not exceed the number of Common Shares remaining that the Issuer is entitled to acquire under the NCIB, calculated as at the date of the Program Agreement.

24.          The Program Term may include a Blackout Period. During a Blackout Period, the Program will:

(a)           be an “automatic securities purchase plan” as defined in National Instrument 55-104 Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions (as applied, mutatis mutandis, to purchases made by an issuer), and NBF will conduct the Program in its sole discretion, in accordance with the irrevocable instructions established by the Issuer, and conveyed by the Issuer to NBF, at a time when the Issuer was not in a Blackout Period (the Irrevocable Instructions); and

(b)           comply with applicable securities regulatory requirements and guidance, including, inter alia, clause 175(2) of Regulation 1015 of the Act, OSC Staff Notice 55-701 Automatic Securities Disposition Plans and Automatic Securities Purchase Plans and similar rules and regulations regarding automatic acquisitions of securities under Canadian securities laws.

25.          The TSX has (a) been advised of the Issuer's intention to enter into the Program; (b) been provided with a draft of the Program Agreement; and (c) confirmed that it has no objection to the Issuer conducting the Program as part of the NCIB.

26.          At such times during the Program Term when the Issuer is not in a Blackout Period, NBF will purchase Common Shares on the applicable Trading Day in accordance with instructions received by NBF from the Issuer prior to the opening of trading on such day, which instructions will be the same instructions that the Issuer would give to the Responsible Broker if the Issuer had been conducting the NCIB in the absence of the ASPP in reliance on the Exemptions.

27.          The Issuer will not give purchase instructions in respect of the Program to NBF at any time that the Issuer is aware of Undisclosed Information (as defined below).

28.          All Common Shares acquired for the purposes of the Program by NBF on a day during the Program Term on which Canadian Markets are open for trading (each, a Trading Day) must be acquired on Canadian Markets in accordance with the TSX Rules and any by-laws, rules, regulations or policies of the Canadian Markets upon which purchases are carried out (collectively, the NCIB Rules) that would be applicable to the Issuer in connection with the NCIB, provided that:

(a)           the aggregate number of Common Shares to be acquired on Canadian Markets by NBF on each Trading Day shall not exceed the maximum daily limit that is imposed upon the NCIB pursuant to the TSX Rules, determined with reference to an average daily trading volume that is based on the trading volume of the Common Shares on all Canadian Markets rather than being limited to the trading volume on the TSX only (the Modified Maximum Daily Limit), it being understood that the aggregate number of Common Shares to be acquired on the TSX by NBF on each Trading Day will not exceed the maximum daily limit that is imposed on the NCIB pursuant to the TSX Rules; and

(b)           notwithstanding the block purchase exception provided for in the TSX Rules, no purchases will be made by NBF on any Canadian Markets pursuant to a pre-arranged trade.

29.          The aggregate number of Common Shares acquired by NBF in connection with the Program:

(a)           shall not exceed the Program Maximum; and

(b)           on Canadian Other Published Markets, shall not exceed that number of Common Shares remaining eligible for purchase by the Issuer pursuant to the Other Published Markets Exemption, calculated as at the date of the Program Agreement.

30.          On every Trading Day, NBF will purchase the Number of Common Shares. The Number of Common Shares will be no greater than the least of:

(a)           the maximum number of Common Shares that can be purchased: (i) as established in the instructions received by NBF from the Issuer prior to the opening of trading on such day at such times when the Issuer is not in a Blackout Period; or (ii) pursuant to the Irrevocable Instructions at such times when the Issuer is in a Blackout Period;

(b)           the Program Maximum less the aggregate number of Common Shares previously purchased by NBF under the Program;

(c)           on a Trading Day where trading ceases on the TSX or some other event that would impair NBF’s ability to acquire Common Shares on Canadian Markets occurs (a Market Disruption Event), the number of Common Shares acquired by NBF on such Trading Day up until the time of the Market Disruption Event; and

(d)           the Modified Maximum Daily Limit.

The Discounted Price per Common Share will be equal to: (a) the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Markets on the Trading Day on which purchases were made less an agreed upon discount; or (b) upon the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event, the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Markets at the time of the Market Disruption Event less an agreed upon discount.

31.          NBC will deliver to the Issuer that number of Inventory Shares equal to the Number of Common Shares purchased by NBF on a Trading Day under the Program on the Trading Day immediately thereafter (or such other Trading Day as agreed to between the parties to the Program Agreement), and the Issuer will pay NBC a purchase price equal to the Discounted Price for each such Inventory Share. Each Inventory Share purchased by the Issuer under the Program will be cancelled upon delivery to the Issuer.

32.          NBC will not sell any Inventory Shares to the Issuer unless NBF has purchased the equivalent number of Common Shares on Canadian Markets under the Program. The number of Common Shares that are purchased by NBF on Canadian Markets under the Program on a Trading Day will be equal to the Number of Common Shares for such Trading Day. NBF will provide the Issuer with a daily written report of NBF’s purchases, which report will indicate, inter alia, the aggregate number of Common Shares acquired under the Program, the Canadian Market on which such Common Shares were acquired, and the Modified Maximum Daily Limit.

33.          During the Program Term, the Issuer will: (a) not purchase, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares (other than Inventory Shares purchased under the Program); (b) prohibit the Responsible Broker from acquiring any Common Shares on its behalf; and (c) prohibit the designated broker under the ASPP from acquiring any Common Shares on its behalf.

34.          All purchases of Common Shares under the Program will be made by NBF and neither of the NBC Entities will engage in any hedging activity in connection with the conduct of the Program.

35.          The Issuer will report its purchases of Common Shares under the Program to the TSX in accordance with the TSX Rules. In addition, immediately following the completion of the Program, the Issuer will: (a) report the total number of Common Shares acquired under the Program to the TSX and the Commission; and (b) issue and file a press release that announces the completion of the Program and sets out the number of Common Shares acquired under the Program and the aggregate dollar amount paid for such Common Shares (the Completion Press Release).

36.          The Issuer is of the view that: (a) it will be able to purchase Common Shares from NBC at a lower price than the price at which it would be able to purchase an equivalent quantity of Common Shares under the NCIB in reliance on the Exemptions; and (b) the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Program is in the best interests of the Issuer and constitutes a desirable use of the Issuer's funds.

37.          The entering into of the Program Agreement, the purchase of Common Shares by NBF in connection with the Program, and the sale of Inventory Shares by NBC to the Issuer will not adversely affect the Issuer or the rights of any of the Issuer's security holders and such actions will not materially affect control of the Issuer.

38.          The sale of Inventory Shares to the Issuer by NBC will not be a "distribution" (as defined in the Act).

39.          The Issuer will be able to acquire the Inventory Shares from NBC without the Issuer being subject to the dealer registration requirements of the Act.

40.          At the time that the Issuer and the NBC Entities enter into the Program Agreement, neither the Issuer, nor any member of the trading products group of NBC, nor any personnel of either of the NBC Entities that negotiated the Program Agreement or made, participated in the making of, or provided advice in connection with, the decision to enter into the Program Agreement and sell the Common Shares, will be aware of any "material change" or "material fact" (each as defined in the Act) with respect to the Issuer or the Common Shares that has not been generally disclosed (the Undisclosed Information).

41.          Each of the NBC Entities:

(a)           has policies and procedures in place to ensure that the Program will be conducted in accordance with, among other things, the Program Agreement and this Order, and to preclude those persons responsible for administering the Program from acquiring any Undisclosed Information during the conduct of the Program; and

(b)           will, prior to entering into the Program Agreement: (i) ensure that its systems are capable of adhering to, and performing in accordance with, the requirements of the Program, the Program Agreement and this Order; and (ii) provide all necessary training and take all necessary actions to ensure that the persons administering and executing the purchases under the Program are aware of, and understand the terms of, the Program Agreement and this Order.

                AND UPON the Commission being satisfied that to do so would not be prejudicial to the public interest;

                IT IS ORDERED pursuant to section 6.1 of NI 62-104 that the Issuer be exempt from the Issuer Bid Requirements in respect of the purchase of Inventory Shares from NBC pursuant to the Program, provided that:

(a)           at least two clear Trading Days prior to the commencement of the Program the Issuer issues and files the Commencement Press Release;

(b)           all purchases of Common Shares under the Program are made on Canadian Markets by NBF, and are:

(i)            made in accordance with the NCIB Rules applicable to the NCIB, as modified by paragraph 28 hereof;

(ii)           taken into account by the Issuer when calculating the maximum annual aggregate limits that are imposed upon the NCIB in accordance with the TSX Rules, with those Common Shares purchased on Canadian Other Published Markets being taken into account by the Issuer when calculating the maximum aggregate limits that are imposed upon the Issuer in accordance with the Other Published Markets Exemption;

(iii)          marked with such designation as would be required by the applicable marketplace and UMIR for trades made by an agent of the Issuer; and

(iv)          monitored by the NBC Entities on a continual basis for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the terms of this Order, the NCIB Rules, and applicable securities law;

(c)           during the Program Term: (i) the Issuer does not purchase, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares (other than Inventory Shares purchased under the Program); (ii) no Common Shares are purchased on behalf of the Issuer by the Responsible Broker; and (iii) no Common Shares are acquired on behalf of the Issuer by the designated broker under the ASPP;

(d)           the number of Inventory Shares transferred by NBC to the Issuer for purchase under the Program in respect of a particular Trading Day is equal to the number of Common Shares purchased by NBF on Canadian Markets under the Program in respect of the Trading Day;

(e)           no hedging activity is engaged in by the NBC Entities in connection with the conduct of the Program;

(f)            at the time that the Program Agreement is entered into by the Filers and NBF:

(i)            the Common Shares are "highly liquid securities", as that term is defined in section 1.1 of OSC Rule 48-501 and section 1.1 of UMIR; and

(ii)           none of the Issuer, any member of the trading products group of NBC, or any personnel of either of the NBC Entities that negotiated the Program Agreement, or made, participated in the making of, or provided advice in connection with, the decision to enter into the Program Agreement and sell the Common Shares, were aware of any Undisclosed Information;

(g)           no purchase instructions in respect of the Program are given by the Issuer to NBF at any time that the Issuer is aware of Undisclosed Information;

(h)           the NBC Entities maintain records of all purchases of Common Shares that are made by NBF pursuant to the Program, which will be available to the Commission and IIROC upon request; and

(i)            in addition to reporting its purchases of Common Shares under the Program to the TSX in accordance with the TSX Rules, immediately following the completion of the Program, the Issuer will: (i) report the total number of Common Shares acquired under the Program to the TSX and the Commission; and (ii) issue and file the Completion Press Release.

                DATED at Toronto, Ontario this 8th day of December, 2017.

“Naizam Kanji”

Director, Office of Mergers & Acquisitions

Ontario Securities Commission