The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has released its Corporate Finance Division Annual Report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, outlining the division’s operational and policy work, providing regulatory guidance, and offering updates on key initiatives.
This marks the first report under the newly formed Corporate Finance Division, which brings together the Corporate Finance, Chief Accountant, and Mergers & Acquisitions departments.
Winnie Sanjoto, senior vice president of the Corporate Finance Division, emphasized the OSC’s commitment to enhancing transparency and efficiency in Ontario’s capital markets. "Engagement with our stakeholders continues to be a critical component of our work," she said, highlighting the division’s role in overseeing reporting issuers and other significant market participants.
The report provides insights and guidance to issuers, advisors, and investors. The report indicates that Ontario has approximately 3,000 reporting issuers, with the OSC serving as the principal regulator for over 1,100 of them. The total market capitalization of these issuers is $2,000 billion, with 21 percent attributed to the banking sector.
The report also includes observations from compliance and prospectus reviews, best practices, and updates on regulatory projects. Among the division’s priorities are climate-related disclosures, easing regulatory burdens, and developing prospectus exemptions to foster capital formation.
The OSC’s six-year strategic plan, released in May, serves as the foundation for the division’s activities. The plan sets out objectives for enhancing Ontario’s capital markets, emphasizing adaptation to technological innovation and evolving investor preferences.
The Corporate Finance Division collaborated with the Canadian Securities Administrators to advance key projects during the fiscal year. These efforts addressed emerging trends and risks, aligning with the OSC’s strategic goals. The division also identified areas requiring enhanced regulatory responses, which remain a focus for the upcoming fiscal year.
The report includes updates from the Chief Accountant’s office and the Mergers & Acquisitions department. It also reinforces the importance of compliance with Ontario securities laws and provides issuers with practical guidance to navigate their regulatory obligations.
The full report, OSC Staff Notice 51-736 Corporate Finance Division 2024 Annual Report, is available on the OSC website. In her message, Sanjoto invited stakeholders to provide feedback, emphasizing the division’s aim to remain proactive and responsive to market changes.