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Main page on: Bank Act
Disclaimer: These documents are not the official versions (more).
Source: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/B-1.01/278661.html
Act current to September 15, 2006

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PART V

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Share Capital

59. (1) Subject to this Act and the by-laws of the bank, shares of a bank may be issued at such times and to such persons and for such consideration as the directors of the bank may determine.

Shares

(2) Shares of a bank shall be in registered form and shall be without nominal or par value.

Shares of existing bank

(3) Shares with nominal or par value of a bank that was in existence immediately prior to the day this Part comes into force are deemed to be shares without nominal or par value.

Shares of continued bank

(4) Where a body corporate is continued as a bank under this Act, shares with nominal or par value issued by the body corporate before it was so continued are deemed to be shares without nominal or par value.

Deemed share conditions

(5) If a right, other than a voting right, of a holder of a share with nominal or par value of a bank referred to in subsection (3) or a body corporate continued as a bank under this Act was stated or expressed in terms of the nominal or par value of the share immediately before the coming into force of this subsection or the continuance under this Act, as the case may be, that right is deemed, after the coming into force of this Part or the continuance, as the case may be, to be the same right stated or expressed without reference to the nominal or par value of the share.

1991, c. 46, s. 59; 2001, c. 9, s. 59.

60. (1) A bank shall have one class of shares, to be designated as “common shares”, which are non-redeemable and in which the rights of the holders thereof are equal in all respects, and those rights include

(a) the right to vote at all meetings of shareholders except where only holders of a specified class of shares are entitled to vote;

(b) the right to receive dividends declared on those shares; and

(c) the right to receive the remaining property of the bank on dissolution.

Designations of shares

(2) No bank shall designate more than one class of its shares as “common shares” or any variation of that term.

Existing bank

(3) A bank that is not in compliance with subsection (2) on the coming into force of this Part shall, within twelve months after the coming into force of this Part, redesignate its shares to comply with that subsection.

Continued bank

(4) A body corporate continued as a bank under this Act that is not in compliance with subsection (2) on the date letters patent continuing it as a bank are issued shall, within twelve months after that date, redesignate its shares to comply with that subsection.

61. (1) The by-laws of a bank may provide for more than one class of shares and, if they so provide, shall set out

(a) the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of each class; and

(b) the maximum number, if any, of shares of any class that the bank is authorized to issue.

Shareholder approval

(2) Where a by-law referred to in subsection (1) is made, the directors of the bank shall submit the by-law to the shareholders at the next meeting of shareholders.

Effective date

(3) A by-law referred to in subsection (1) is not effective until it is confirmed or confirmed with amendments by special resolution of the shareholders at the meeting referred to in subsection (2).

1991, c. 46, s. 61; 2001, c. 9, s. 60.

62. (1) The by-laws of a bank may, subject to any limitations set out in them, authorize the issue of any class of shares in one or more series and may

(a) fix the maximum number of shares in each series and determine the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to them; and

(b) authorize the directors to do anything referred to in paragraph (a).

Series participation

(2) If any cumulative dividend or amounts payable on return of capital in respect of a series of shares are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the same class participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends and return of capital.

Voting rights

(3) Where voting rights are attached to any series of a class of shares, the shares of every other series of that class shall have the same voting rights.

Restriction on series

(4) No rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached to a series of shares authorized under this section confer on the series a priority in respect of dividends or return of capital over any other series of shares of the same class that are then outstanding.

Material to Superintendent

(5) If the directors exercise their authority under paragraph (1)(b), the directors shall, before the issue of shares of the series, send to the Superintendent a copy of the by-law authorizing the directors to fix the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions of those shares and shall provide the Superintendent with particulars of the proposed series of shares.

1991, c. 46, s. 62; 2005, c. 54, s. 8.

63. Where voting rights are attached to a share of a bank, the voting rights may confer only one vote in respect of that share.

64. Shares issued by a bank after the coming into force of this section are non-assessable and the shareholders are not liable to the bank or to its creditors in respect thereof.

65. (1) No share of any class of shares of a bank shall be issued until it is fully paid for in money or, with the approval of the Superintendent, in property.

Other currencies

(2) When issuing shares, a bank may provide that any aspect of the shares relating to money or involving the payment of or the liability to pay money be in a currency other than the currency of Canada.

66. (1) A bank shall maintain a separate stated capital account for each class and series of shares it issues.

Addition to stated capital account

(2) A bank shall record in the appropriate stated capital account the full amount of any consideration it receives for any shares it issues.

Exception

(3) Despite subsection (2), a bank may, subject to subsection (4), record in the stated capital account maintained for the shares of a class or series any part of the consideration it receives in an exchange if it issues shares

(a) in exchange for

(i) property of a person who immediately before the exchange did not deal with the bank at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act,

(ii) shares of or another interest in a body corporate that immediately before the exchange or because of it did not deal with the bank at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act, or

(iii) property of a person who immediately before the exchange dealt with the bank at arm’s length within the meaning of that expression in the Income Tax Act if the person, the bank and all of the holders of shares in the class or series of shares so issued consent to the exchange;

(b) under an agreement referred to in subsection 224(1); or

(c) to shareholders of an amalgamating body corporate who receive the shares in addition to or instead of securities of the amalgamated bank.

Limit on addition to a stated capital account

(4) On the issuance of a share, a bank shall not add to the stated capital account in respect of the share an amount greater than the amount of the consideration it receives for the share.

Constraint on addition to a stated capital account

(5) Where a bank that has issued any outstanding shares of more than one class or series proposes to add to a stated capital account that it maintains in respect of a class or series of shares an amount that was not received by the bank as consideration for the issue of shares, the addition must be approved by special resolution unless all the issued and outstanding shares are of not more than two classes of convertible shares referred to in subsection 77(4).

1991, c. 46, s. 66; 1997, c. 15, s. 7; 2005, c. 54, s. 9.

67. (1) Where a body corporate is continued as a bank under this Act, the bank shall record in the stated capital account maintained for each class and series of shares then outstanding an amount that is equal to the aggregate of

(a) the aggregate amount paid up on the shares of each class and series of shares immediately before the body corporate was so continued, and

(b) the amount of the contributed surplus of the bank that is attributable to those shares.

Contributed surplus entry

(2) The amount of any contributed surplus recorded in the stated capital account pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) shall be deducted from the contributed surplus account of the bank.

Shares issued before continuance

(3) Any amount unpaid in respect of a share issued by a body corporate before it was continued as a bank under this Act and paid after it was so continued shall be recorded in the stated capital account maintained by the bank for the shares of that class or series.

68. (1) Where the by-laws of a bank so provide, no shares of any class shall be issued unless the shares have first been offered to the shareholders holding shares of that class, and those shareholders have a pre-emptive right to acquire the offered shares in proportion to their holdings of the shares of that class, at such price and on such terms as those shares are to be offered to others.

Exception

(2) Notwithstanding the existence of a pre-emptive right, a shareholder of a bank has no pre-emptive right in respect of shares of a class to be issued

(a) for a consideration other than money;

(b) as a share dividend; or

(c) pursuant to the exercise of conversion privileges, options or rights previously granted by the bank.

Idem

(3) Notwithstanding the existence of a pre-emptive right, a shareholder of a bank has no pre-emptive right in respect of shares to be issued

(a) where the issue of shares to the shareholder is prohibited by this Act; or

(b) where, to the knowledge of the directors of the bank, the offer of shares to a shareholder whose recorded address is in a country other than Canada ought not to be made unless the appropriate authority in that country is provided with information in addition to that submitted to the shareholders at the last annual meeting.

69. (1) A bank may issue conversion privileges, options or rights to acquire securities of the bank, and shall set out the conditions thereof

(a) in the documents that evidence the conversion privileges, options or rights; or

(b) in the securities to which the conversion privileges, options or rights are attached.

Transferable rights

(2) Conversion privileges, options and rights to acquire securities of a bank may be made transferable or non-transferable, and options and rights to acquire such securities may be made separable or inseparable from any securities to which they are attached.

Reserved shares

(3) Where a bank has granted privileges to convert any securities issued by the bank into shares, or into shares of another class or series, or has issued or granted options or rights to acquire shares, if the by-laws limit the number of authorized shares, the bank shall reserve and continue to reserve sufficient authorized shares to meet the exercise of such conversion privileges, options and rights.

70. Except as provided in sections 71 to 74, or unless permitted by the regulations, a bank shall not

(a) hold shares of the bank or of any body corporate that controls the bank;

(b) hold any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the bank;

(c) permit any of its subsidiaries to hold any shares of the bank or of any body corporate that controls the bank; or

(d) permit any of its subsidiaries to hold any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the bank.

71. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and to its by-laws, a bank may, with the consent of the Superintendent, purchase, for the purpose of cancellation, any shares issued by it, or redeem any redeemable shares issued by it at prices not exceeding the redemption price thereof calculated according to a formula stated in its by-laws or the conditions attaching to the shares.

Restrictions on purchase and redemption

(2) A bank shall not make any payment to purchase or redeem any shares issued by it if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the bank is, or the payment would cause the bank to be, in contravention of any regulation referred to in subsection 485(1) or (2) or any direction made pursuant to subsection 485(3).

Donated shares

(3) A bank may accept from any shareholder a share of the bank surrendered to it as a gift, but may not extinguish or reduce a liability in respect of an amount unpaid on any such share except in accordance with section 75.

72. (1) A bank may, and may permit its subsidiaries to, hold, in the capacity of a personal representative, shares of the bank or of any body corporate that controls the bank or ownership interests in any unincorporated entity that controls the bank, but only where the bank or the subsidiary does not have a beneficial interest in the shares or ownership interests.

Security interest

(2) A bank may, and may permit its subsidiaries to, by way of a security interest

(a) hold shares of the bank or of any body corporate that controls the bank, or

(b) hold any ownership interests of any entity that controls the bank,

where the security interest is nominal or immaterial when measured by criteria established by the bank that have been approved in writing by the Superintendent.

Saving

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) precludes a bank that was in existence immediately prior to the day this Part comes into force, or any of its subsidiaries, from holding any security interest held immediately prior to the coming into force of this Part.

1991, c. 46, s. 72; 2005, c. 54, s. 10(F).

73. (1) Subject to subsection (2), where a bank purchases shares of the bank or fractions thereof or redeems or otherwise acquires shares of the bank, the bank shall cancel those shares.

Requirement to sell

(2) Where a bank or any of its subsidiaries, through the realization of security, acquires any shares of the bank or of any body corporate that controls the bank or any ownership interests in an unincorporated entity that controls the bank, the bank shall, or shall cause its subsidiaries to, as the case may be, within six months after the day of the realization, sell or otherwise dispose of the shares or ownership interests.

74. Subject to the regulations, a bank that was in existence immediately prior to the day this Part comes into force shall cause any subsidiary of the bank that holds shares of the bank, or of any body corporate that controls the bank, or any ownership interests of any unincorporated entity that controls the bank to sell or otherwise dispose of those shares or ownership interests within six months after the day this section comes into force.

75. (1) The stated capital of a bank may be reduced by special resolution.

Limitation

(2) A bank shall not reduce its stated capital by special resolution if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the bank is, or the reduction would cause the bank to be, in contravention of any regulation referred to in subsection 485(1) or (2) or any direction made pursuant to subsection 485(3).

Contents of special resolution

(3) A special resolution to reduce the stated capital of a bank shall specify the stated capital account or accounts from which the reduction of stated capital effected by the special resolution will be deducted.

Approval by Superintendent

(4) A special resolution to reduce the stated capital of a bank has no effect until it is approved in writing by the Superintendent.

Conditions for approval

(5) No approval to reduce the stated capital of a bank may be given by the Superintendent unless application therefor is made within three months after the time of the passing of the special resolution and a copy of the special resolution, together with a notice of intention to apply for approval, has been published in the Canada Gazette.

Statements to be submitted

(6) In addition to evidence of the passing of a special resolution to reduce the stated capital of a bank and of the publication thereof, statements showing

(a) the number of the bank’s shares issued and outstanding,

(b) the results of the voting by class of shares of the bank,

(c) the bank’s assets and liabilities, and

(d) the reason why the bank seeks the reduction of capital

shall be submitted to the Superintendent at the time of the application for approval of the special resolution.

76. (1) Where any money or property was paid or distributed to a shareholder or other person as a consequence of a reduction of capital made contrary to section 75, a creditor of the bank may apply to a court for an order compelling the shareholder or other person to pay the money or deliver the property to the bank.

Shares held by personal representative

(2) No person holding shares in the capacity of a personal representative and registered on the records of the bank as a shareholder and therein described as the personal representative of a named person is personally liable under subsection (1), but the named person is subject to all the liabilities imposed by that subsection.

Limitation

(3) An action to enforce a liability imposed by subsection (1) may not be commenced more than two years after the date of the act complained of.

Remedy preserved

(4) This section does not affect any liability that arises under section 207.

77. (1) On a purchase, redemption or other acquisition by a bank of shares or fractions thereof issued by it, other than shares acquired pursuant to section 72 or acquired through the realization of security and sold pursuant to subsection 73(2), the bank shall deduct from the stated capital account maintained for the class or series of shares so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired an amount equal to the result obtained by multiplying the stated capital in respect of the shares of that class or series by the number of shares of that class or series so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired and dividing by the number of shares of that class or series outstanding immediately before the purchase, redemption or other acquisition.

Idem

(2) A bank shall adjust its stated capital account or accounts in accordance with any special resolution referred to in section 75.

Shares converted to another class

(3) On a conversion of outstanding shares of a bank into shares of another class or series, or on a change of outstanding shares of the bank into shares of another class or series, the bank shall

(a) deduct from the stated capital account maintained for the class or series of shares converted or changed an amount equal to the result obtained by multiplying the stated capital of the shares of that class or series by the number of shares of that class or series converted or changed, and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class or series immediately before the conversion or change; and

(b) record the result obtained under paragraph (a) and any additional consideration received pursuant to the conversion or change in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the class or series of shares into which the shares have been converted or changed.

Stated capital of convertible shares

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) and subject to the bank’s by-laws, where a bank issues two classes of shares and there is attached to each class a right to convert a share of one class into a share of the other class and a share is so converted, the amount of stated capital attributable to a share in either class is the aggregate of the stated capital of both classes divided by the number of outstanding shares of both classes immediately before the conversion.

Conversion or change of shares

(5) Shares issued by a bank and converted into shares of another class or series, or changed under subsection 217(1) into shares of another class or series, become issued shares of the class or series of shares into which the shares have been converted or changed.

78. On a conversion of any debt obligation of a bank into shares of a class or series of shares, the bank shall

(a) deduct from the liabilities of the bank the nominal value of the debt obligation being converted; and

(b) record the result obtained under paragraph (a) and any additional consideration received for the conversion in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the class or series of shares into which the debt obligation has been converted.

79. (1) The directors of a bank may declare and a bank may pay a dividend by issuing fully paid shares of the bank or options or rights to acquire fully paid shares of the bank and, subject to subsections (4) and (5), the directors of a bank may declare and a bank may pay a dividend in money or property, and where a dividend is to be paid in money, the dividend may be paid in a currency other than the currency of Canada.

Notice to Superintendent

(2) The directors of a bank shall notify the Superintendent of the declaration of a dividend at least ten days prior to the day fixed for its payment.

Share dividend

(3) If shares of a bank are issued in payment of a dividend, the bank shall record in the stated capital account maintained or to be maintained for the shares of the class or series issued in payment of the dividend the declared amount of the dividend stated as an amount of money.

When dividend not to be declared

(4) The directors of a bank shall not declare and a bank shall not pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the bank is, or the payment would cause the bank to be, in contravention of any regulation referred to in subsection 485(1) or (2) or any direction made pursuant to subsection 485(3).

When dividend not to be declared

(5) The directors of a bank shall not declare and a bank shall not pay a dividend in any financial year without the approval of the Superintendent if, on the day the dividend is declared, the total of all dividends declared by the bank in that year would exceed the aggregate of the bank’s net income up to that day in that year and of its retained net income for the preceding two financial years.

1991, c. 46, s. 79; 2001, c. 9, s. 61.

Subordinated Indebtedness

80. (1) A bank shall not issue subordinated indebtedness unless the subordinated indebtedness is fully paid for in money or, with the approval of the Superintendent, in property.

References to subordinated indebtedness

(2) A person shall not in any prospectus, advertisement, correspondence or literature relating to any subordinated indebtedness issued or to be issued by a bank refer to the subordinated indebtedness otherwise than as subordinated indebtedness.

Deemed not to be a deposit

(3) Subordinated indebtedness issued by a bank is deemed not to be a deposit.

Other currencies

(4) When issuing subordinated indebtedness, a bank may provide that any aspect of the subordinated indebtedness relating to money or involving the payment of or the liability to pay money in relation thereto be in a currency other than that of Canada including, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the payment of any interest thereon.


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