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Question 102.01

Question: The F-Series registration statements require the signature of the registrant's authorized U.S. representative. Who is qualified to sign as an authorized U.S. representative?
Answer: The term "authorized U.S. representative" is discussed in Securities Act Release No. 6360 (Nov. 20, 1981). The release states that "the Commission generally accepts the signature of an individual who is an employee of the registrant or an affiliate, or who is the registrant's counsel or underwriter in the United States for the offering, because the signature clearly identifies an individual that is connected with the offering as subject to the liability provisions of the Securities Act. By similar reasoning, the Commission generally has refused to accept the appointment of a newly formed or shell corporation in the United States as the authorized representative."
In the case of registrants with dual governing boards, the registration statement should be signed by whichever board has the authority to bind the company and performs functions most similar to those of a U.S. company's board of directors. In some cases, this may require the signatures of the members of both governing boards. The registration statement disclosure requirements relating to the registrant's board of directors generally would apply to members of both governing boards. [Feb. 27, 2009]

Question 102.02

Question: Item 2 of Forms F-7, F-8, F-9 and F-80 and Item 3 of Form F-10 specify certain legends that should be included, to the extent applicable, on the outside front cover page of the prospectus. May a Canadian issuer substitute plain English versions of these legends? If so, is there required language that should be used in the plain English versions?
Answer: Issuers eligible to use these forms may substitute the following plain English versions of the first four legends required by these items of the forms, in place of the versions currently set forth in the forms:
"We are permitted to prepare this prospectus in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting practices, and they may be subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards. They may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies."
"Owning the [securities] may subject you to tax consequences both in the United States and Canada. This prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any applicable prospectus supplement."
"Your ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because we are incorporated in [province/Canada], [some/all] of our officers and directors and [some/all] of the experts named in this prospectus are Canadian residents, and [many/all] of our assets are located in Canada."
"Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator has approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense."
In addition, the legend required by Item 2 of Form F-9 and Item 3 of Form F-10 for prospectuses used before the effective date of the registration statement may be presented in the following plain English version:
"The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted." [Feb. 27, 2009]

Question 102.03

Question: When a foreign private issuer guarantees securities of a subsidiary that is not a foreign private issuer, may the parent company-guarantor and subsidiary-issuer of guaranteed securities use an F- series registration statement to register an offering of the securities under the Securities Act and use Form 20-F with respect to any reporting obligations?
Answer: Yes, if certain requirements are satisfied. Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X permits modified reporting by subsidiary issuers of guaranteed securities and subsidiary guarantors. Separate financial statements need not be filed for subsidiaries if any of Rules 3-10(b) through 3-10(d) apply and all applicable conditions of the rule relied upon are met in the parent company's filings. If the parent and issuer are eligible to present condensed consolidated financial information in the parent company's filings and the parent qualifies as a foreign private issuer, the parent company and its subsidiaries may use an F-series registration statement to register an offering of guarantees and guaranteed securities that are issued by a domestic or foreign subsidiary that does not qualify as a foreign private issuer and use Form 20-F with respect to any reporting obligations associated with such registration statement. The same would apply if the parent and subsidiaries are eligible to present narrative disclosure in lieu of condensed consolidating financial information under Rule 3-10. [December 8, 2016]

Question 102.04

Question: When a parent foreign private issuer issues securities that are guaranteed or co-issued by one or more subsidiaries that do not themselves qualify as a foreign private issuer, may the parent company-issuer and subsidiary-guarantor(s) or co-issuers use an F- series registration statement to register an offering of the securities under the Securities Act and use Form 20-F with respect to any reporting obligations?
Answer: Yes, if certain requirements are satisfied. In this situation, separate financial statements need not be filed for subsidiaries if either Rule 3-10(e) or 3-10(f) applies and all applicable conditions of the rule relied upon are met in the parent company's filings. As described in the last two sentences of Securities Act Forms CDI 102.03 / Exchange Act Forms CDI 110.03, when a parent foreign private issuer issues securities guaranteed or co-issued by one or more subsidiaries that do not themselves qualify as a foreign private issuer, the parent and subsidiary may use an F- series registration statement when they are eligible to present condensed consolidating financial information or narrative disclosure. [December 8, 2016]
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