OSC |  Press Release   Posted May 14, 2013

OSC Seeks Input from Investors on Investing in Start-ups and
Small and Medium Sized Companies

TORONTO – The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) announced today that it will hold a roundtable on June 11, 2013 to hear from investors and potential investors on investing in start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

The OSC is considering ways to help start-ups and SMEs raise money by issuing securities, such as shares, without first having to prepare and file a prospectus. A prospectus is a document that includes detailed information about the business and the securities being offered and provides certain rights to investors. One of the options being considered by the OSC is crowdfunding, which would allow businesses to sell securities over the internet. If crowdfunding was adopted, we would need to ensure that there are sufficient protections for investors.

OSC staff are interested in finding out whether people are interested in making these types of investments and, if so, what kind of information they would want to have and how much they would be willing to invest.

People who are interested in investing in start-ups or SMEs or in learning more about crowdfunding should attend on June 11. At this session, OSC staff will give a brief presentation followed by an open discussion with attendees.

The OSC investor roundtable will take place on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 from 9 am to 11 am on the 22nd floor of the OSC’s offices, located at 20 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

Those wishing to participate in the OSC investor roundtable are asked to rsvp by email at exemptmarketconsultations@osc.gov.on.ca by June 6, 2013.

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