ASC Amends Proposed New Derivatives Rule

In our blog post of March 11, 2011, we discussed the proposed repeal by the Alberta Securities Commission of Blanket Order 91-503 and its replacement with Rule 91-505 Over-the-Counter Derivatives. At the time, and in the context of ongoing efforts by the  Canadian Securities Administrator to bring the regulation of OTC derivatives within the four corners of securities legislation to comply with G20 commitments, the proposed Rule 91-505 would have resulted in OTC derivatives and commodity futures contracts being considered "futures contracts" under the Securities Act (Alberta). Historically, under BO 91-503, such OTC derivatives and commodity futures contracts were exempted from the definition of "futures contract" and thereby not considered "securities" under the Securities Act.