Bank Act (S.C. 1991, c. 46)

Marginal note:Approval for indirect investments

• 469 (1) If a bank obtains the approval of the Minister under subsection 468(5) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase, the bank indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Minister under subsection 468(5) or the Superintendent under subsection 468(6) and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Minister in writing before the approval is obtained, the bank is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Minister or the Superintendent for that indirect acquisition or increase.

• Marginal note:Approval for indirect investments

  (2) If a bank obtains the approval of the Superintendent under subsection 468(6) to acquire control of, or to acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity and, through that acquisition or increase the bank indirectly acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, another entity that would require the approval of the Superintendent under that subsection and that indirect acquisition or increase is disclosed to the Superintendent in writing before the approval is obtained, the bank is deemed to have obtained the approval of the Superintendent for that indirect acquisition or increase.

Marginal note:Undertakings

• 470 (1) If a bank controls a permitted entity, other than an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 468(1)(a) to (f), the bank shall provide the Superintendent with any undertakings that the Superintendent may require regarding

  • (a) the activities of the entity; and

  • (b) access to information about the entity.

• Marginal note:Undertakings

  (2) If a bank acquires control of an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 468(1)(g) to (j), the bank shall provide the Superintendent with any undertakings concerning the entity that the Superintendent may require.

• Marginal note:Agreements with other jurisdictions

  (3) The Superintendent may enter into an agreement with the appropriate official or public body responsible for the supervision of an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 468(1)(g) to (j) in each province or in any other jurisdiction concerning any matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) or any other matter the Superintendent considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Access to records

  (4) Despite any other provision of this Part, a bank shall not control a permitted entity, other than an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 468(1)(a) to (f), unless, in the course of the acquisition of control or within a reasonable time after the control is acquired, the bank obtains from the permitted entity an undertaking to provide the Superintendent with reasonable access to the records of the permitted entity.

Exceptions and Exclusions

Marginal note:Temporary investments in entity

• 471 (1) Subject to subsection (4), a bank may, by way of a temporary investment, acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity but, within two years, or any other period that may be specified or approved by the Superintendent, after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment, as the case may be, it shall do all things necessary to ensure that it no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.

• Marginal note:Transitional

  (2) Despite subsection (1), if a bank that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the bank subsequently increases that substantial investment by way of a temporary investment, the bank shall, within two years, or any other period that is specified or approved by the Superintendent, after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.

• Marginal note:Extension

  (3) The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular bank that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period of two years, or the other period specified or approved by the Superintendent, that is referred to in subsection (1) or (2) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.

• Marginal note:Temporary investment

  (4) If a bank, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Minister would have been required under subsection 468(5) if the bank had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 468, the bank must, within 90 days after acquiring control or after acquiring or increasing the substantial investment,

  • (a) apply to the Minister for approval to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for a period specified by the Minister or for an indeterminate period on any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate; or

  • (b) do all things necessary to ensure that, on the expiry of the 90 days, it no longer controls the entity or does not have a substantial investment in the entity.

• Marginal note:Indeterminate extension

  (5) If a bank, by way of temporary investment, acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity for which the approval of the Superintendent would have been required under subsection 468(6) if the bank had acquired the control, or acquired or increased the substantial investment, under section 468, the Superintendent may, on application, permit the bank to retain control of the entity or to continue to hold the substantial investment in the entity for an indeterminate period, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate.

Marginal note:Loan workouts

• 472 (1) Despite anything in this Part, if a bank or any of its subsidiaries has made a loan to an entity and, under the terms of the agreement between the bank, or any of its subsidiaries, and the entity with respect to the loan and any other documents governing the terms of the loan, a default has occurred, the bank may acquire

  • (a) if the entity is a body corporate, all or any of the shares of the body corporate;

  • (b) if the entity is an unincorporated entity, all or any of the ownership interests in the entity;

  • (c) all or any of the shares or all or any of the ownership interests in any entity that is an affiliate of the entity;

  • (d) all or any of the shares of a body corporate that is primarily engaged in holding shares of, ownership interests in or assets acquired from the entity or any of its affiliates; or

  • (e) all or any of the ownership interests in any entity that is primarily engaged in holding shares of, ownership interests in or assets acquired from the entity or any of its affiliates.

• Marginal note:Obligation of bank

  (2) If a bank acquires shares or ownership interests in an entity under subsection (1), the bank shall, within five years after acquiring them, do all things necessary to ensure that the bank does not control the entity or have a substantial investment in the entity.

• Marginal note:Transitional

  (3) Despite subsection (1), if a bank that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the bank later increases that substantial investment by way of an investment made under subsection (1), the bank shall, within five years after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.

• Marginal note:Extension

  (4) The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular bank that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.

• Marginal note:Exception — entities controlled by foreign governments

  (5) Despite anything in this Part, if a bank has made a loan to, or holds a debt obligation of, the government of a foreign country or an entity controlled by the government of a foreign country and, under the terms of the agreement between the bank and that government or the entity, as the case may be, and any other documents governing the terms of the loan or debt obligation, a default has occurred, the bank may acquire all or any of the shares of, or ownership interests in, that entity or in any other entity designated by that government, if the acquisition is part of a debt restructuring program of that government.

• Marginal note:Time for holding shares

  (6) If a bank acquires any shares or ownership interests under subsection (5), the bank may, on any terms and conditions that the Superintendent considers appropriate, hold those shares or ownership interests for an indeterminate period or for any other period that the Superintendent may specify.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (7) If, under subsection (1), a bank acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 468, the bank may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period, if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3), including any extension of it granted under subsection (4).

Marginal note:Realizations

• 473 (1) Despite anything in this Act, a bank may acquire

  • (a) an investment in a body corporate,

  • (b) an interest in an unincorporated entity, or

  • (c) an interest in real property

  if the investment or interest is acquired through the realization of a security interest held by the bank or any of its subsidiaries.

• Marginal note:Disposition

  (2) Subject to subsection 73(2), if a bank acquires control of, or acquires a substantial investment in, an entity by way of the realization of a security interest held by the bank or any of its subsidiaries, the bank shall, within five years after the day on which control or the substantial investment is acquired, do all things necessary, or cause its subsidiary to do all things necessary, as the case may be, to ensure that the bank no longer controls the entity or has a substantial investment in the entity.

• Marginal note:Transitional

  (3) Despite subsection (2), if a bank that was in existence immediately before June 1, 1992 had an investment in an entity on September 27, 1990 that is a substantial investment within the meaning of section 10 and the bank later increases that substantial investment by way of a realization of a security interest under subsection (1), the bank shall, within five years after increasing the substantial investment, do all things necessary to ensure that its substantial investment in the entity is no greater than it was on September 27, 1990.

• Marginal note:Extension

  (4) The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular bank that makes an application under this subsection, extend the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (5) If, under subsection (1), a bank acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity that it would otherwise be permitted to acquire or increase under section 468, the bank may retain control of the entity or continue to hold the substantial investment for an indeterminate period if the approval in writing of the Minister is obtained before the end of the period referred to in subsection (2) or (3), including any extension of it granted under subsection (4).

Marginal note:Regulations restricting ownership

474 The Governor in Council may make regulations

• (a) for the purposes of subsection 468(4), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which that subsection does not apply or the banks or other entities in respect of which that subsection does not apply, including prescribing banks or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;

• (b) for the purposes of subsection 468(5) or (6), permitting the acquisition of control or the acquisition or increase of substantial investments, or prescribing the circumstances under which either of those subsections does not apply or the banks or other entities in respect of which either of those subsections does not apply, including prescribing banks or other entities on the basis of the activities they engage in;

• (c) for the purposes of subsection 468(11), permitting a bank to give up control of an entity; and

• (d) restricting the ownership by a bank of shares of a body corporate or of ownership interests in an unincorporated entity under sections 468 to 473 and imposing terms and conditions applicable to banks that own such shares or interests.

Portfolio Limits

Marginal note:Exclusion from portfolio limits

• 475 (1) Subject to subsection (3), the value of all loans, investments and interests acquired by a bank and any of its prescribed subsidiaries under section 472 or as a result of a realization of a security interest is not to be included in calculating the value of loans, investments and interests of the bank and its prescribed subsidiaries under sections 476 to 478

  • (a) for a period of twelve years following the day on which the interest was acquired, in the case of an interest in real property; and

  • (b) for a period of five years after the day on which the loan, investment or interest was acquired, in the case of a loan, investment or interest, other than an interest in real property.

• Marginal note:Extension

  (2) The Superintendent may, in the case of any particular bank, extend any period referred to in subsection (1) for any further period or periods, and on any terms and conditions, that the Superintendent considers necessary.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to an investment or interest described in that subsection if the investment or interest is defined by a regulation made under section 479 to be an interest in real property and

  • (a) the bank or the subsidiary acquired the investment or interest as a result of the realization of a security interest securing a loan that was defined by a regulation made under section 479 to be an interest in real property; or

  • (b) the bank or the subsidiary acquired the investment or interest under section 472 as a result of a default referred to in that section in respect of a loan that was defined by a regulation made under section 479 to be an interest in real property.

Real Property

Marginal note:Limit on total property interest

476 A bank shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to, purchase or otherwise acquire an interest in real property or make an improvement to any real property in which the bank or any of its prescribed subsidiaries has an interest if the aggregate value of all interests of the bank in real property exceeds, or the acquisition of the interest or the making of the improvement would cause that aggregate value to exceed, the prescribed percentage of the regulatory capital of the bank.

Equities

Marginal note:Limits on equity acquisitions

477 A bank shall not, and shall not permit its prescribed subsidiaries to,

• (a) purchase or otherwise acquire any participating shares of any body corporate or any ownership interests in any unincorporated entity, other than those of a permitted entity in which the bank has, or by virtue of the acquisition would have, a substantial investment, or

• (b) acquire control of an entity that holds shares or ownership interests referred to in paragraph (a),

if the aggregate value of

• (c) all participating shares, excluding participating shares of permitted entities in which the bank has a substantial investment, and

• (d) all ownership interests in unincorporated entities, other than ownership interests in permitted entities in which the bank has a substantial investment,

beneficially owned by the bank and its prescribed subsidiaries, exceeds, or the purchase or acquisition would cause that aggregate value to exceed, the prescribed percentage of the regulatory capital of the bank.