Talisman Energy Inc.
Headnote
Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport Systemand National Policy 11-203 Process For Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions - Issuer exempt from certain disclosure requirements of NI 51-101 subject to conditions including the condition to provide a modified statement of reserves data and other oil and gas information containing the information contemplated by, and consistent with, U.S. Disclosure Requirements - Issuer has already obtained the relief in a prior order and would be unduly disadvantaged in competing for investment capital if not exempted from certain disclosure requirements of NI 51-101 - Modified annual oil and gas forms and reliance on U.S. Disclosure Requirements - National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.
Applicable National Instrument
National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.
Citation: Talisman Energy Inc., 2008 ABASC 550
September 29, 2008
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF
ALBERTA AND ONTARIO
(the Jurisdictions)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
APPLICATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
TALISMAN ENERGY INC. (the Filer)
DECISION
Background
The securities regulatory authority or regulator in each of the Jurisdictions (Decision Maker) has received an application from the Filer for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdictions (the Legislation) that the Filer be exempted from the requirements contained in the Legislation:
(a) to disclose information concerning oil and gas activities in accordance with the following sections of National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (NI 51-101):
(i) section 2.1;
(ii)
A. sections 5.2(a)(iii) and (iv),
B. sections 5.2(b) and (c), and
C. section 5.3,
but only in respect of reserves as disclosed in accordance with US Disclosure Requirements defined below; and
(iii) sections 5.8, 5.15(a), 5.15(b)(i) and 5.15(b)(iv);
including as those requirements pertain to prospectuses, annual information forms and other disclosure documents (collectively, the Specified Canadian Disclosure Requirements); and
(b) that the qualified reserves evaluator appointed under section 3.2 of NI 51-101 be independent of the Filer (the Independent Evaluator Requirement).
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a dual application):
(a) the Alberta 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 each of the provinces and territories of Canada other than Ontario; and
(c) the decision is the decision of the principal regulator and evidences the decision of the securities regulatory authority or regulator in Ontario.
Interpretation
Unless otherwise defined, the terms herein have the meaning set out in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions, MI 11-102 and CSA Staff Notice 51-324 Glossary to NI 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.
Representations
This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:
1. The Filer is exempted from certain requirements of NI 51-101 pursuant to a decision document dated December 17, 2003 issued under the Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications (the Original Decision).
2. As a result of the amendments that were made to NI 51-101 on December 28, 2007, the Original Decision will terminate on December 28, 2008 as it relates to the Canadian Disclosure Requirements as defined in the Original Decision. The Filer acknowledges that this decision will supercede and replace the Original Decision in its entirety as of the effective date of this decision.
3. The basic circumstances upon which the decision to grant the relief contained in the Original Decision was based continue to apply to the Filer and the relief requested by the Filer represents a grandfathering of the relief in the Original Decision, modified as required.
4. The head office of the Filer is located in Calgary, Alberta.
5. The Filer is an oil and gas issuer that produced an average of more than 100,000 BOEs of oil and gas (converted in the ratio 6 Mcf of gas to 1 bbl of oil) per day in its most recent financial year.
6. The Filer is a reporting issuer or equivalent in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and is not in default of securities legislation in any of the provinces or territories of Canada.
7. The Filer currently has registered securities under the 1934 Act.
8. The Filer is active in capital markets outside Canada where it competes for capital with foreign issuers, and has offered and intends to continue to offer securities in the US.
9. A significant portion of the Filer's securities are held, or its security holders are located, outside of Canada.
10. The disclosure requirements relating to reserves and oil and gas activities under US securities legislation (including disclosure requirements or guidelines issued or referenced by the SEC), as interpreted and applied by the SEC (US Disclosure Requirements) are different from the oil and gas disclosure requirements prescribed by the Legislation.
11. For purposes of making an investment decision or providing investment analysis or advice, a significant portion of the Filer's investors, lenders and investment analysts in both Canada and the US routinely compare the Filer to US and international oil and gas issuers and, accordingly, comparability of its disclosure to their disclosure is of primary relevance to market participants.
12. Compliance with the Specified Canadian Disclosure Requirements would disadvantage the Filer in competing for investment capital.
13. The Filer's internally-generated reserves data are as reliable as independently-generated reserves data for the following reasons:
(a) the Filer has qualified reserves evaluators within the meaning of NI 51-101; and
(b) the Filer has a well-established reserves evaluation process that is at least as rigorous as would be the case were it to rely upon independent reserves evaluators or auditors.
14. The Filer has adopted written evaluation practices and procedures using the COGE Handbook modified to the extent necessary to reflect the definitions and standards under US Disclosure Requirements.
Decision
Each of the Decision Makers is satisfied that the decision meets the test set out in the Legislation for the Decision Maker to make the decision.
The decision of the Decision Makers under the Legislation is that:
1. the Filer is exempt from the Specified Canadian Disclosure Requirements for so long as:
(a) Annual Filings -- the Filer files with the securities regulatory authorities the following not later than the date on which it is required by the Legislation to file audited financial statements for its most recent financial year:
(i) a modified statement of reserves data and other oil and gas information relating to its oil and gas activities containing the information contemplated by, and consistent with, US Disclosure Requirements;
(ii) a modified report of qualified reserves evaluators in a form acceptable to the principal regulator; and
(iii) a modified report of management and directors on reserves data and other information in a form acceptable to the principal regulator;
(b) Use of COGE Handbook -- the Filer's estimates of reserves and related future net revenue (or, where applicable, related standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows (the standardized measure)) are prepared or audited in accordance with the standards of the COGE Handbook modified to the extent necessary to reflect the terminology and standards of the US Disclosure Requirements;
(c) Consistent Disclosure -- subject to changes in the US Disclosure Requirements and NI 51-101 and related policies, the Filer is consistent in its application of standards relating to oil and gas information and its disclosure of such information, within and between reporting periods, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any disclosure made to the public, the Filer's estimates of reserves and related future net revenue (or, where applicable, related standardized measure) must be consistent with the reserves and related future net revenue (or, where applicable, related standardized measure) reported in its most recent filing with the Decision Maker;
(d) Disclosure of Reserves -- if the Filer discloses probable reserves (which must be categorized in accordance with the COGE Handbook) separately from US proved reserves and a portion of the probable reserves includes US proved reserves, the Filer discloses that portion and explains the reason for the overlapping volume (which arises from the application of two different categorization systems);
(e) Disclosure of this Decision and Effect -- the Filer
(i) at least annually, files on SEDAR (either as a separate document or in its annual information form) a statement:
A. of the Filer's reliance on this decision;
B. that explains generally the nature of the information that the Filer has disclosed or intends to disclose in the year in reliance on this decision and that identifies the standards and the source of the standards being applied (if not otherwise readily apparent); and
C. to the effect that the information that the Filer has disclosed or intends to disclose in the year in reliance on this decision may differ from the corresponding information prepared in accordance with NI 51-101 standards (if that is the case), and briefly describes the principal differences between the standards applied and the requirements of NI 51-101; and
(ii) includes, reasonably proximate to all other written disclosure that the Filer makes in reliance on this decision, a statement:
A. of the Filer's reliance on this decision;
B. that explains generally the nature of the information being disclosed and identifies the standards and the source of the standards being applied (if it is not otherwise readily apparent);
C. that the information disclosed may differ from the corresponding information prepared in accordance with NI 51-101 standards; and
D. that reiterates or incorporates by reference the disclosure referred to in paragraph 1(e)(i)(C); and
2. the Filer is exempt from the Independent Evaluator Requirement for so long as:
(a) Internal Procedures -- the Filer maintains internal procedures that will permit preparation of the modified report of qualified reserves evaluator, and preparation of the modified report of management and directors on reserves data and other information;
(b) Explanatory and Cautionary Disclosure -- the Filer discloses:
(i) at least annually, the Filer's reasons for considering the reliability of internally-generated reserves data to be not materially less than would be afforded by strict adherence to the requirements of NI 51-101, including a discussion of:
A. factors supporting the involvement of independent qualified evaluators or auditors and why such factors are not considered compelling in the case of the Filer; and
B. the manner in which the Filer's internally-generated reserves data are determined, reviewed and approved, its relevant disclosure control procedures and the related role, responsibilities and composition of responsible management, the board of directors of the Filer and (if applicable) the reserves committee of the board of directors of the Filer; and
(ii) in each document that discloses any information derived from internally-generated reserves data and reasonably proximate to that disclosure, the fact that the reserves data was internally generated; and
(c) Disclosure of Conflicting Independent Reports -- the Filer discloses and updates its public disclosure if, despite this decision, it obtains a final report on reserves data from an independent qualified reserves evaluator or auditor that contains information that is materially different from the Filer's public disclosure record in respect of such reserves data.
This decision:
(a) will come into effect on December 28, 2008 and will supercede and replace the Original Decision in its entirety, effective that date; and
(b) will terminate one year after the effective date of any change to the Specified Canadian Disclosure Requirements, the US Disclosure Requirements or the Independent Evaluator Requirement unless:
(i) the principal regulator otherwise agrees in writing; or
(ii) the change is a clerical or other minor amendment.