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An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to financial institutions (S.C. 2005, c. 54)

Assented to 2005-11-25

1991, c. 46BANK ACT

Marginal note:1997, c. 15, s. 10

 The portion of subsection 156.06(3) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

  • Marginal note:Vote by show of hands

    (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2) and unless a shareholder or proxyholder demands a ballot, if the chairperson of a meeting of shareholders declares to the meeting that, if a ballot were conducted, the total number of votes attached to shares represented at the meeting by proxy required to be voted against what, to the knowledge of the chairperson, would be the decision of the meeting on a matter or group of matters is less than 5% of all the votes that might be cast by shareholders in person or by proxy,

Marginal note:1997, c. 15, s. 10

 Section 156.07 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Duty of intermediary
  • 156.07 (1) Shares of a bank that are registered in the name of an intermediary or an intermediary’s nominee and not beneficially owned by the intermediary may not be voted unless the intermediary sends to the beneficial owner

    • (a) a copy of the notice of the meeting, annual statement, management proxy circular and dissident’s proxy circular and any other documents, other than the form of proxy, that were sent to shareholders by or on behalf of any person for use in connection with the meeting; and

    • (b) a written request for voting instructions except if the intermediary has already received written voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

  • Marginal note:When documents to be sent

    (2) The intermediary shall send the documents referred to in subsection (1) without delay after they receive the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

  • Marginal note:Restriction on voting

    (3) An intermediary or a proxyholder appointed by them may not vote shares that the intermediary does not beneficially own and that are registered in the name of the intermediary or their nominee unless the intermediary or proxyholder, as the case may be, receives written voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

  • Marginal note:Copies

    (4) A person by or on behalf of whom a solicitation is made shall on request and without delay provide the intermediary, at the person’s expense, with the necessary number of copies of the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

  • Marginal note:Instructions to intermediary

    (5) The intermediary shall vote or appoint a proxyholder to vote in accordance with any written voting instructions received from the beneficial owner.

  • Marginal note:Beneficial owner as proxyholder

    (6) If a beneficial owner so requests and provides an intermediary with the appropriate documentation, the intermediary shall appoint the beneficial owner or a nominee of the beneficial owner as proxyholder.

  • Marginal note:Effect of intermediary’s failure to comply

    (7) The failure of an intermediary to comply with any of subsections (1) to (6) does not render void any meeting of shareholders or any action taken at the meeting.

  • Marginal note:Intermediary may not vote

    (8) Nothing in this Part gives an intermediary the right to vote shares that they are otherwise prohibited from voting.

Marginal note:Exemption

156.071 The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the conditions under which a bank is exempt from any of the requirements of sections 156.02 to 156.07.

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 165:

Marginal note:Election or appointment as director

165.1 The election or appointment of a person as a director is subject to the following:

  • (a) the person was present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place and did not refuse to hold office as a director; or

  • (b) the person was not present at the meeting when the election or appointment took place but

    • (i) consented in writing to hold office as a director before the election or appointment or within 10 days after it, or

    • (ii) acted as a director after the election or appointment.

 Paragraphs 168(1)(g) and (h) of the Act are replaced by the following:

  • (g) a director may be removed from office only if the number of votes cast in favour of a motion to remove the director is greater than the product of the number of directors required by the by-laws and the number of votes cast against the motion; and

  • (h) the number of directors required by the by-laws may be decreased only if the number of votes cast in favour of a motion to decrease the number of directors is greater than the product of the number of directors required by the by-laws and the number of votes cast against the motion.

 Subsection 177(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Directors filling vacancy
  • 177. (1) Despite section 183 but subject to subsection (2) and sections 176 and 178, a quorum of directors may fill a vacancy among the directors except a vacancy resulting from a change in the by-laws by which the number or the minimum or maximum number of directors is increased or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors provided for in the by-laws.

 Paragraph 178(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:

  • (a) the remaining directors elected by the holders of that class or series of shares may fill the vacancy except one resulting from an increase in the number or the minimum or maximum number of directors for that class or series or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors provided for in the by-laws for that class or series;

 Subsection 182(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:

  • Marginal note:Director continues to be present

    (3) A director who is present at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors but is not, in accordance with subsection 203(1), present at any particular time during the meeting is considered to be present for the purposes of this section.

 Section 184.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (4):

  • Marginal note:Evidence

    (5) Unless a ballot is demanded, an entry in the minutes of a meeting that the chairperson declared a resolution to be carried or defeated is in the absence of evidence to the contrary proof of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.

 Paragraphs 198(b) and (c) of the Act are replaced by the following:

  • (b) fill a vacancy among the directors, on a committee of directors or in the office of auditor, or appoint additional directors;

  • (c) issue or cause to be issued securities, including an issue of shares of a series that is authorized in accordance with section 62, except in accordance with any authorization made by the directors;

 Section 202 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Disclosure of interest
  • 202. (1) A director or officer of a bank shall disclose to the bank, in writing or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of directors or a meeting of a committee of directors, the nature and extent of any interest they have in a material contract or material transaction with the bank, whether entered into or proposed, if they

    • (a) are a party to the contract or transaction;

    • (b) are a director or officer of a party to the contract or transaction or a person acting in a similar capacity; or

    • (c) have a material interest in a party to the contract or transaction.

  • Marginal note:Time of disclosure — director

    (2) The disclosure shall be made in the case of a director

    • (a) at the meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, at which the proposed contract or transaction is first considered;

    • (b) if at the time of the meeting referred to in paragraph (a) the director was not interested in the proposed contract or transaction, at the first one after they become interested in it;

    • (c) if the director becomes interested after a contract or transaction is entered into, at the first one after they become interested; or

    • (d) if a person who is interested in a contract or transaction becomes a director, at the first one after they become a director.

  • Marginal note:Time of disclosure — officer

    (3) The disclosure shall be made in the case of an officer who is not a director

    • (a) immediately after they become aware that the contract, transaction, proposed contract or proposed transaction is to be considered or has been considered at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors;

    • (b) if they become interested after the contract or transaction is entered into, immediately after they become interested; or

    • (c) if a person who is interested in a contract or transaction becomes an officer, immediately after they become an officer.

  • Marginal note:Time of disclosure — contract not requiring approval

    (4) If the material contract or material transaction, whether entered into or proposed, is one that in the ordinary course of the bank’s business would not require approval by the directors or shareholders, the director or officer shall disclose to the bank, in writing or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors, the nature and extent of their interest immediately after they become aware of the contract or transaction.

Marginal note:1997, c. 15, s. 26(1)

 Subsection 203(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Director to abstain
  • 203. (1) A director who is required to make a disclosure under subsection 202(1) shall not be present at any meeting of directors, or of a committee of directors, while the contract or transaction is being considered or vote on any resolution to approve it unless the contract or transaction

    • (a) relates primarily to their remuneration as a director, officer, employee or agent of the bank, an entity controlled by the bank or an entity in which the bank has a substantial investment;

    • (b) is for indemnity under section 212 or insurance under section 213; or

    • (c) is with an affiliate of the bank.

 

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