NLR 37/15 - Venture Capital Tax Credit Regulations under the Income Tax Act, 2000

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR REGULATION 37/15 Venture Capital Tax Credit Regulations under the Income Tax Act, 2000 (O.C. 2015-106) Amended by: 57/18 (Filed May 19, 2015) Under the authority of section 46.2 of the Income Tax Act, 2000 the Lieutenant-Governor in Council makes the following regulations. Dated at St. John's , May 14, 2015. Julia Mullaley Clerk of the Executive Council REGULATIONS Analysis 1. Short title 2. Interpretation 3. Application for registration 4. Registration 5. Register 6. Permanent establishment 7. Restrictions on business and authorized capital 8. Restrictions on purchase of share certificates 9. Equity capital issues 10. Qualifying business activities 11. Investment in qualifying small business 12. Investment for certain purposes prohibited 13. Control of qualifying small business prohibitions 14. Non-arm's length investment prohibited 15. Aggregate qualifying venture capital fund investment 16. Action to be taken if investment becomes prohibited 17. Changes in eligibility 18. Prohibited investment recapture 19. Permitted investments and authorized expenses 20. Tax credit 21. Claiming the non refundable tax credit 22. Carry forward on tax credit 23. Recapture 24. Liability of officers and directors 25. Revocation and suspension of registration 26. Notice to minister 27. Reporting requirements 28. Commencement Short title 1. These regulations may be cited as the Venture Capital Tax Credit Regulations . 37/15 s1 Back to Top Interpretation 2. (1) In these regulations (a) "Act" means the Income Tax Act, 2000 ; (b) "affiliate", if used to indicate a relationship between corporations, means any corporation where one is the subsidiary of the other, or both are subsidiaries of the same corporation, or (i) each of them is controlled by the same person or the same group of persons, or (ii) one of them is controlled by one person and the other is controlled by an associate, as defined in subparagraphs (c)(v) or (vi), of that person; (b.1) "aggregate capital commitment" means the sum of the amount of cash committed to be contributed by all limited partners to the capital of the limited partnership; (c) "associate", if used to indicate a relationship with a person, means (i) a corporation of which the person owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying 10% or more of the outstanding voting rights for the election of the directors of the corporation, (ii) a partner of the person, (iii) a participant in a joint venture with the person, (iv) a trust or estate (A) in which the person has, in the opinion of the minister, a substantial beneficial interest, or (B) for which the person serves as trustee or in a similar capacity, (v) a spouse, common law partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister of the person, or (vi) a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister of the spouse or common law partner of the person, residing in the same residence; (d) "calculation period" means (i) where a qualifying small business or affiliate of a qualifying small business has been in business for a period of less than one year as at the date of the calculation, that entire period, or (ii) where a qualifying small business or affiliate of a qualifying small business has been in business for one year or longer, the 52 weeks immediately before the date of the calculation; (e) "closed end fund" means a fund that (i) exists for a period not exceeding 12 years, (ii) raises capital for a period not exceeding one year, and (iii) upon termination, all qualifying investments are sold; (f) "common interest group", in relation to a corporation, means 2 or more persons, whether or not associated or affiliated, who, pursuant to an agreement, commitment or understanding, exercise, or intend to exercise, in concert, any rights attached to or associated with their shares; (g) "corporation" includes a limited partnership except in paragraphs (p), (q) and (t), subsection 2(2), paragraphs 3(3)(a), 3(4)(a) and 4(1)(c), subsections 4(2), 11(2) and (3), clause 19(5)(b)(i)(A) and paragraphs 23(4)(a) and 24(a); (h) "debt obligation" includes a mortgage, bond, non-convertible debenture, note, loan or similar obligation, whether secured or unsecured; (i) "employee" includes a person engaged by a qualifying small business for the calculation period; (j) "equity capital" means the consideration in money received by a corporation before or after its registration under these regulations as a qualifying venture capital fund for its issued shares or by a qualifying small business for its issued equity shares; (k) "equity share" means (i) a share or a class of shares whether or not the share carries voting rights, but does not include a share having rights and restrictions attached to the share or rights and restrictions contained in or forming part of an agreement, commitment or understanding in respect of the share that (A) create a debt between the holder or beneficial owner of the share and any other person, (B) impair or will impair the ability of a corporation, in which a qualifying venture capital fund has made a qualifying investment, to carry on an ongoing business with a reasonable expectation of profit, or (C) will entitle the holder or beneficial owner of the share to reduce the impact of any loss he or she will sustain in holding or disposing of the share, (ii) any warrants, options or rights entitling their holders to purchase or acquire the shares referred to in subparagraph (i); or (iii) a royalty interest; (l) "major shareholder", in relation to a corporation, means a person whose shares in the corporation, together with the shares, if any, owned by the person's associates and affiliates, (i) carry in the aggregate 10% or more of the voting rights, under any circumstances, attached to shares in the corporation, or (ii) carry in the aggregate less than 10% of the voting rights, under any circumstances, attached to shares in the corporation if the person is a member of a common interest group whose members own or hold shares which allow the group to control the corporation; (m) "ownership" includes beneficial ownership; (n) "persons engaged by a qualifying small business" includes (i) officers of the qualifying small business, (ii) persons who perform work or provide services under a contract with the qualifying small business other than a contract (A) that relates to the provision of accounting, legal or other professional services on a temporary working or ad hoc consulting basis, or (B) where the qualifying small business purchases or hires equipment as the main purpose of the contract and the work and services are only incidental to that main purpose, and (iii) persons who perform work or provide services for a qualifying small business at its place of business and who were engaged or employed through a temporary help service; (o) "qualifying investment", except in sections 20 and 21, means an investment permitted by section 11 or a debt obligation that meets all of the following criteria: (i) if the debt obligation is secured by property, the property has a value that does not exceed 50% of the amount of the indebtedness under the debt obligation at the time of the investment, (ii) the debt obligation does not (A) restrict the borrower from incurring other indebtedness, or (B) penalize the borrower for incurring other indebtedness, and (iii) the outstanding balance from time to time under the debt obligation bears interest (A) at a rate not exceeding 12% a year, calculated semi-annually not in advance, or (B) at another rate set by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council; (p) "qualifying investor" means an individual, other than a trust, or a corporation who invests in a qualifying venture capital fund; (q) "qualifying small business" means a corporation that has no more than 100 employees calculated in accordance with section 11; (r) "qualifying venture capital fund" means a corporation registered under section 4; (s) "share", includes a limited partnership unit except in paragraph 2(1)(k) and subsections 2(10) and 8(3); (t) "special resolution" has the same meaning as in the Act under which a corporation was incorporated; and (u) "subsidiary" means a corporation which, in respect of another corporation, is controlled, either directly or indirectly, by that other corporation. (2) For the purpose of the definition of "special resolution" in subsection (1), a shareholder who is receiving, or is proposed to receive, any fees or remuneration from the corporation or whose associate or affiliate is receiving, or is proposed to receive, any fees or remuneration from the corporation is not entitled to vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting in respect of a special resolution to approve or ratify the payment of any fees or remuneration by the corporation. (3) A limited partnership unit for which the following criteria are met is a limited partnership unit for the purposes of subparagraph 11(1)(d)(iv): (a) the limited partnership unit is issued by a limited partnership that (i) i s formed under section 4 of the Limited Partnership Act , (ii) is managed by a general partner who, if an individual, resides in the province or, if a corporation, has a permanent establishment, as determined under the Income Tax Act (Canada), that is located in the province, (iii) will make qualifying investments in qualifying small businesses in amounts that, in total, are at least twice the amounts, in total, that the limited partnership has received from a qualifying venture capital fund as investments made by it under section 11, and (iv) will keep the qualifying investments described in subparagraph (iii) for at least 5 years; (b) the qualifying venture capital fund investing in a limited partnership by acquiring the limited partnership unit as a limited partner has satisfied the minister through agreements to which the qualifying venture capital fund is a party, or by other documentary evidence, that (i) the qualifying venture capital fund, or (ii) any of its shareholders or their associates will not claim, take advantage of or otherwise avail itself, himself or herself of any benefits, rights or entitlements, including, but not limited to, any benefits, rights or entitlements that are or may be available under the Income Tax Act (Canada), for the purpose of reducing the impact of any loss the qualifying venture capital fund or a shareholder may sustain in holding or disposing of the limited partnership unit. (4) In a determination under these regulations of whether a corporation is controlled by one or more persons, account must be taken of the relevant facts, including the existence of any option, warrant or right described in subsection (9)(b). (5) Without limiting subsection (4), a corporation is controlled by a person or a common interest group if (a) shares of the corporation carrying more than 50% of the outstanding voting rights for the election of the directors are held by or for the benefit of that person or common interest group; and (b) the votes carried by the shares referred to in paragraph (a) are sufficient, if exercised, to elect a majority of the directors of the corporation. (6) A corporation is the holding company of another corporation if that other corporation is its subsidiary. (7) S hares are considered to be held for the benefit of an individual if they are beneficially owned by a corporation controlled by the individual or by an affiliate of that corporation. (8) A corporation is considered to own shares that are owned by its affiliates. (9) Except for the definition of "affiliate" in subsection (1), in calculating the total number of shares of a corporation that are owned or controlled, (a) if a share carries the right to more than one vote, each vote carried by the share is considered to be a share; and (b) there must be included in the total number of shares any share that would be issued or transferred following the exercise of (i) an option, warrant or right, and (ii) a conversion right that is attached to a debt obligation or to a share of the corporation. (10) Two or more persons holding the same shares or holding shares jointly are required to be counted as one shareholder. (11) For the purposes of the holding of an investment referred to in sections 12 to 14 , a qualifying small business does not cease to be a qualifying small business if, after the initial investment, the number of employees of the qualifying small business and its affiliates, is more than 100. (12) A reference in these regulations to a series of transactions or events includes any related transactions or events completed in contemplation of the series. (13) Any calculation or determination under these regulations may be based on projections that the minister considers to be reasonable. 37/15 s2 ; 57/18 s1 Back to Top Application for registration 3. (1) A corporation may apply for registration under these regulations by submitting an application for registration to the minister. (2) The application shall be in the form approved by the minister. (3) The application shall be signed by (a) one director and one officer where the applicant is a corporation; or (b) one director and one officer of the general partner where the applicant is a limited partnership. (4) The application shall be accompanied by a certified copy of (a) the corporation's articles of incorporation where the applicant is a corporation; or (b) the partnership agreement where the applicant is a limited partnership. (5) The minister may request an applicant to provide information or documents in addition to that required on the application. 37/15 s3 Back to Top Registration 4. (1) The minister may register an applicant under these regulations where the applicant (a) has or will have equity capital of at least $25,000; (b) is a closed end fund; and (c) where the applicant is a corporation, it (i) is incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province, and (ii) has an authorized share structure consisting of only either or both of the following: (A) common shares without par value having no special rights or restrictions, or (B) common shares without par value having special rights relating only to the redemption of the shares by the corporation; (2) Notwithstanding the Corporations Act , a corporation, subject to its articles of incorporation (a) may allot or issue fractional shares for any purpose; and (b) may purchase or redeem any of its fractional shares and need not consolidate them into whole shares. (3) If the minister approves an application for registration under these regulations, the minister shall issue a certificate and the applicant is considered to be registered on the date of registration contained in the certificate. 37/15 s4 Back to Top Register 5. (1) The minister shall maintain a register of qualifying venture capital funds in which the minister shall list corporations registered under these regulations. (2) The register shall be open for public inspection during normal business hours of the department. (3) The register shall contain the following information: (a) the name of the qualifying venture capital fund; (b) the date the qualifying venture capital fund was registered; (c) the location of the registered office of the qualifying venture capital fund; (d) the principal place of business of the qualifying venture capital fund; (e) the total amount of equity capital approved under section 9; (f) the amount of equity capital, to the knowledge of the minister, that the qualifying venture capital fund has raised; and (g) the amount that the qualifying venture capital fund has, to the knowledge of the minister, invested in qualifying investments. 37/15 s5 Back to Top Permanent establishment 6. (1) In this section, "permanent establishment" has the same meaning as in the Act. (2) A qualifying venture capital fund shall establish a permanent establishment in Canada within 30 days after being registered and shall maintain a permanent establishment in Canada . (3) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not establish or maintain a permanent establishment outside of Canada . 37/15 s6 Back to Top Restrictions on business and authorized capital 7. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not carry on any type of activity other than (a) making investments permitted under section 19; and (b) providing business and managerial expertise to qualifying small businesses in which it has made or proposes to make a qualifying investment. (2) An act of a qualifying venture capital fund, including the transfer of property by or to it, is not invalid merely because the act contravenes subsection (1). 37/15 s7 Back to Top Restrictions on purchase of share certificates 8. (1) All issued shares of a qualifying venture capital fund shall be fully paid for in cash. (2) A qualifying venture capital fund shall issue a share certificate or limited partnership unit certificate to each qualifying investor. (3) All share certificates of a qualifying venture capital fund shall conspicuously state the following on its face: The value of the shares represented by this certificate may be significantly affected by the recapture provisions under the Venture Capital Tax Credit Regulations . The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in no way guarantees or recommends the investment in any qualifying venture capital investment, nor does it in any way express an opinion as to the financial condition of the qualifying venture capital fund or the qualifying small business. (4) All limited partnership unit certificates of a qualifying venture capital fund shall conspicuously state the following on its face: The value of the limited partnership units represented by this certificate may be significantly affected by the recapture provisions under the Venture Capital Tax Credit Regulations . The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in no way guarantees or recommends the investment in any qualifying venture capital investment, nor does it in any way express an opinion as to the financial condition of the qualifying venture capital fund or the qualifying small business. (5) A qualifying venture capital fund shall only alter the following documents with the written approval of the minister: (a) its articles of incorporation; (b) its limited partnership agreement; (c) its authorized share structure; and (d) a provision of its articles respecting a matter referred to in subparagraph 4(1)(c)(ii). 37/15 s8 Back to Top Equity capital issues 9. A qualifying venture capital fund shall apply to the minister to raise equity capital and the minister may approve the raising of equity capital subject to any condition that the minister may determine, including (a) a condition that the shares may only be issued, as the minister specifies, to qualifying investors; (b) setting the maximum consideration for which a share may be issued to those qualifying investors; and (c) a condition that the equity capital be issued only for the purposes of investment in a qualifying small business referred to in paragraph 11(1)(c) that is engaged in a qualifying business activity that is specified by the minister in the condition. 37/15 s9 Back to Top Qualifying business activities 10. (1) A qualifying business activity includes activities relating to (a) intellectual property; (b) information technology; (c) clean, ocean and marine technologies; (d) life sciences; (e) new media; and (f) manufacturing and processing of value-added goods for export. (2) A qualifying business activity shall not include (a) wholesale and retail trade; (b) food establishments or establishments that hold a licence issued under the Liquor Licensing Regulations made under the Liquor Control Act ; (c) personal services, business services, professional practices and trades, unless all or substantially all of those services relate to export related activities that the minister may determine; (d) real estate marketing and development; (e) oil and gas development and production; (f) mineral resource exploration; (g) financial services; (h) fish harvesting and primary fish processing; or (i) an activity that, in the opinion of the minister is not in keeping with the purpose of the program governed by these regulations. (3) In subsection (2), "food establishment" means a restaurant, snack bar or other place where food is served, prepared, sold or offered for sale. 37/15 s10 Back to Top Investment in qualifying small business 11. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund may make an investment in a qualifying small business if the following criteria are met: (a) the qualifying small business, together with its affiliates, has no more than 100 employees calculated in accordance with subsection (2); (b) at least 75% of the wages and salaries, determined in accordance with subsection (3), of the qualifying small business at the time of initial investment are paid to employees who regularly report to work at operations located in the province and following the initial investment that the percentage of wages and salaries of the qualifying small business paid to the employees who regularly report to work at operations located in the province will be the greater of (i) 25% of total wages and salaries, or (ii) the greater of (A) 75% of total wages and salaries paid in the province at the time of the initial investment, and (B) the actual wages and salaries paid in the province at the time of the initial investment; (c) the qualifying small business, if required by a condition of the minister, is or will be substantially engaged, as determined in accordance with subsection (8), in the province in a qualifying business activity that is specified by the minister in the condition; (d) the investment consists or will consist of (i) the direct acquisition from the qualifying small business of equity shares issued for the purpose of raising new equity capital, (ii) the acquisition by the qualifying venture capital fund of equity shares issued by the qualifying small business under a prospectus, offering memorandum or other disclosure document, (iii) the acquisition of equity shares of an affiliate of the qualifying small business directly from the affiliate, or (iv) the acquisition of limited partnership units; (e) the funds paid by the qualifying venture capital fund for (i) any equity shares referred to in paragraph (d)(iii) are in turn invested in equity shares of the qualifying small business by the affiliate within 6 years, or where the qualifying venture capital fund is a limited partnership the time period prescribed in the partnership agreement, or (ii) any limited partnership units referred to in paragraph (d)(iv) are in turn invested in equity shares in one or more qualifying small businesses by the limited partnership within 6 years or where the qualifying venture capital fund is a limited partnership the time period prescribed in the partnership agreement; (f) the investment is not and will not be prohibited under sections 12 to 15. (2) The number of employees of a corporation for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) shall be calculated, at the option of the qualifying venture capital fund, in accordance with either of the following formulas: (a) Number of Employees = Total Hours 40 x w where Total Hours = the total hours worked by all employees each of whom worked for at least 20 hours (counting all time worked by each employee whether for the qualifying small business, any of its affiliates or both) during any week of the calculation period, and w = the number of weeks in the calculation period; (b) Number of Employees = Employee Costs x 52 ÷ 45 000 W where Employee Costs = all amounts paid or payable by the qualifying small business to or on behalf of employees for work performed or services provided by them during the calculation period, and w = the number of weeks in the calculation period; (3) The percentage of wages and salaries that are paid to employees of a corporation or its affiliates for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) shall be determined in accordance with the following formula: Percentage of wages and salaries = Wages (NL) x 100 Total Wages where Wages (NL) = the total remuneration that was paid to employees, of the corporation or its affiliates, who regularly reported to work at operations located in the province during the calculation period, and Total Wages = the total remuneration that was paid to all employees, of the corporation or its affiliates, during the calculation period. (4) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply in respect of a qualifying small business in which a qualifying venture capital fund previously invested at a time when the qualifying small business had fewer than 100 employees. (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(a), in calculating the number of employees under subsection (1)(a), the minister shall not count the employees of the affiliate of the qualifying small business if (a) a qualifying small business and another company are affiliates only because one of them is controlled by one person and the other by one or more persons described in paragraph 2(1)(c); and (b) the minister is satisfied that the qualifying small business and the other company do not have any agreement, commitment or understanding to conduct, in concert, any business. (6) For the purposes of applying the formulas in subsections (2) and (3) the calculation period ends immediately before the qualifying venture capital fund proposes to make the investment. (7) Paragraph (1)(b) and (c) do not apply to an investment made or held by a qualifying venture capital fund in a qualifying small business if the minister is satisfied that the funds invested by the qualifying venture capital fund were from equity capital provided by an entity created by or controlled by the federal government. (8) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), a qualifying small business is substantially engaged in a qualifying business activity if (a) the result obtained from the following formula is greater than 0.5: Activity Assets + Activity Expenses Total Assets + Total Expenses where Activity Assets = the value of assets of the qualifying small business used in the province in the qualifying business activity Total Assets = the total value of all assets of the qualifying small business, Activity Expenses = all expenses incurred during the calculation period with respect to the portion of the qualifying business activity carried on in the province, and Total Expenses = the total of all expenses incurred during the calculation period with respect to all operations of the qualifying small business, (b) if the qualifying small business' permanent establishment as determined under the Income Tax Act ( Canada ) is located in the province; and (c) not more than 20% of the net book value of the qualifying small business' assets are located outside of the province. (9) For the purpose of the calculation in subsection (8), the value of assets and expenses shall be determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards or Canadian Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises. 37/15 s11 Back to Top Investment for certain purposes prohibited 12. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not make or hold an investment in a qualifying small business if all or part of the proceeds of that investment are directly or indirectly used or intended to be used by the qualifying small business for any of the following purposes: (a) lending; (b) investment outside the province unless the investment is incidental or ancillary to the qualifying business activities of the qualifying small business; (c) investment in land, unless the investment is incidental or ancillary to the qualifying business activities of the qualifying small business; (d) acquiring securities other than equity shares from an affiliate of a qualifying small business, or units of a limited partnership, that complies with the criteria set out in subparagraphs 11(1)(d)(iii) and (iv); (e) purchasing goods or services from (i) the qualifying venture capital fund, (ii) a director, officer, shareholder or partner of the qualifying venture capital fund, or (iii) an associate of a director, officer, shareholder or partner of the qualifying venture capital fund; (f) payment of all or part of a debt obligation, unless the payment is incidental or ancillary to the qualifying business activities of the qualifying small business; or (g) as part of a transaction or series of transactions directly or indirectly involving any of the following: (i) the payment of dividends, and (ii) the funding of all or part of the purchase by the qualifying small business of any of the assets of a proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, trust or corporation at a price that is greater than the fair market value of the asset purchased. (2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to an investment made or held by a qualifying venture capital fund in a qualifying small business if the minister is satisfied that the funds invested by the qualifying venture capital fund were from equity capital provided by an entity created by or controlled by the federal government . (3) Paragraph (1)(e) does not apply to goods or services that are sold at fair market value to the qualifying small business in the ordinary course of the seller's business as a seller of such goods or services on the open market. (4) The onus of demonstrating that goods and services are sold at fair market value to a qualifying small business in accordance with subsection (3) is on the qualifying venture capital fund and the qualifying small business. (5) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a qualifying venture capital fund from making or holding an investment in a qualifying small business if the minister is satisfied that the funds invested by the qualifying venture capital fund were raised other than through the issue of approved equity capital. 37/15 s12 Back to Top Control of qualifying small business prohibitions 13. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not make or hold an investment in a qualifying small business if it and any other qualifying venture capital fund or funds, either alone or in conjunction with one or more of their (a) associates or affiliates; (b) shareholders or their associates or affiliates; (c) directors or their associates; (d) officers or their associates; or (e) partners, will own, directly or indirectly, shares carrying 50% or more of the votes for the election of directors of the qualifying small business or will, in any manner, have any direct or indirect influence, that if exercised, would result in control in fact of the qualifying small business. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the minister is of the opinion that a qualifying small business in which a qualifying venture capital fund has made a qualifying investment is in financial difficulty, the minister may permit that fund to temporarily control the qualifying small business under circumstances and on terms and conditions that the minister may determine. 37/15 s13 Back to Top Non-arm's length investment prohibited 14. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not make or hold an investment in a qualifying small business if any of the shares of the qualifying venture capital fund are held by a major shareholder who is, or was at any time during the 2 years immediately preceding the investment any of the following: (a) a major shareholder of the qualifying small business; (b) an associate of a major shareholder of the qualifying small business; (c) a voting trust for which the trustee votes shares of the qualifying small business; or (d) the qualifying small business or an associate or affiliate of the qualifying small business. (2) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not make or hold an investment in a qualifying small business if the qualifying small business or an associate, affiliate, director, officer or shareholder of the qualifying small business provides or has provided, directly or indirectly, as part of any transaction or series of transactions, a loan, guarantee or any other financial assistance to any of the following: (a) the qualifying venture capital fund; (b) an associate or affiliate of the qualifying venture capital fund; (c) a director, officer, shareholder or partner of the qualifying venture capital fund; (d) a member of any common interest group respecting the qualifying venture capital fund; or (e) another person, for the purpose of that person making an investment in the qualifying venture capital fund. 37/15 s14 Back to Top Aggregate qualifying venture capital fund investment 15. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not make an investment in a qualifying small business if, as a result of that investment, the aggregate of all amounts received by that qualifying small business and any affiliates of that qualifying small business (a) from the qualifying venture capital fund, directly or indirectly, would be greater than $10 million; or (b) from the qualifying venture capital fund and any other qualifying venture capital fund or funds, directly or indirectly, would be greater than $10 million in the previous 2 years. (2) Amounts received indirectly by a qualifying small business from qualifying venture capital funds include amounts received by an affiliate of the qualifying small business from qualifying venture capital funds. (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), if in the opinion of the minister one of the reasons for the separate existence of 2 or more qualifying small businesses is to increase the amount received from one or more qualifying venture capital funds, the qualifying small businesses are considered to be one qualifying small business. 37/15 s15 Back to Top Action to be taken if investment becomes prohibited 16. (1) If an investment of a qualifying venture capital fund becomes prohibited under sections 12 to 15, the qualifying venture capital fund shall, within 12 months after the investment became prohibited, (a) dispose of that investment; or (b) pay to the Crown an amount of money calculated in accordance with section 18. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if, within the 12 months referred to in subsection (1), the circumstances that caused the investment to be prohibited are changed to the extent that it is no longer prohibited. (3) If the minister is satisfied that non-compliance with a provision of section 12 to 15 by the qualifying venture capital fund occurred even though its officers and directors exercised the degree of care, diligence and skill to ensure compliance with sections 12 to 15 that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in comparable circumstances, the minister may, with or without conditions the minister may require in any particular case, relieve the qualifying venture capital fund for a period the minister considers appropriate from the consequences of non-compliance. 37/15 s16 Back to Top Changes in eligibility 17. (1) If a qualifying small business in which a qualifying venture capital fund has made a qualifying investment ceases to conform to paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c), the qualifying venture capital fund shall, within 12 months after the qualifying small business ceases to conform to paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c), (a) dispose of that investment; or (b) pay to the Crown an amount of money calculated in accordance with section 18. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if, within the 12 months referred to in subsection (1), the circumstances that caused the non-conformance with paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c) are changed so that the qualifying small business again conforms with paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c). (3) The minister by written order may relieve a qualifying venture capital fund from the consequences of non-conformance with paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c) or extend the period referred to in subsection (1) for an additional period not exceeding 6 months , if the minister is satisfied that (a) the qualifying small business' non-conformance with paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c) was not imminent at the time the qualifying venture capital fund made the investment; and (b) the qualifying small business did not use any of the investment proceeds it received for any purposes set out in section 12 before ceasing to conform to paragraph 11(1)(b) or (c). 37/15 s17 Back to Top Prohibited investment recapture 18. The amount of money that a qualifying venture capital fund is required to pay to the Crown under paragraph 16(1)(b) or 17(1)(b) shall be determined in accordance with the following formula: Amount of money payable = A x 30% x C B where A = the amount of equity capital that was eligible for the tax credit; B = the total amount of equity capital; and C = amount of investments prohibited under sections 12 to 15 37/15 s18 Back to Top Permitted investments and authorized expenses 19. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund may only invest in the following: (a) subject to a condition of the minister under paragraph 9(c), qualifying investments; (b) liquid reserves on deposit in the province at a savings institution; and (c) a security, as defined in the Securities Act , of a qualifying small business, the equity shares of which would qualify as a qualifying investment. ( 2) A qualifying venture capital fund's portfolio shall not consist of more than 20% of debt obligation. (3) For the purposes of determining the value of the qualifying venture capital fund's portfolio in subsection (2), the valuation is based on either (a) the value of the shares at the time of purchase; or (b) where an independent third party has undertaken a re-evaluation of the qualifying venture capital fund's portfolio, that valuation. (4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(c), a qualifying venture capital fund shall not make an investment in a security under paragraph (1)(c) unless the security is issued directly to the qualifying venture capital fund by the qualifying small business. (5) A qualifying venture capital fund may incur annual expenses of no more than 20% of its aggregate capital commitment, other than expenses paid out of retained earnings, if (a) the expenses are reasonable and are incurred for (i) share issuance, (ii) office occupancy, (iii) legal fees, (iv) preparation of financial accounts by an external accountant, (v) preparation of the annual return under section 27, or (vi) a management fee of no more than 2.5% per annum of the aggregate capital commitment; and (b) any expenses paid to a person who controls directly or indirectly the qualifying venture capital fund or who belongs to a group that controls directly or indirectly the qualifying venture capital fund (i) were specifically approved by (A) special resolution in advance of payment where the qualifying venture capital fund is a corporation, or (B) two-thirds of the limited partnership unit holders in advance of payment where the qualifying venture capital fund is a limited partnership, and (ii) are made to a person whose business it is to provide the services or things in respect of which the expenses were incurred. (6) For the purposes of subsection (5), retained earnings and expenses shall be determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards or Canadian Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises. 37/15 s19 ; 57/18 s2 Back to Top Tax credit 20. (1) A qualifying venture capital fund, on behalf of its qualifying investors, may apply to the minister, in a form approved by the minister, for a tax credit certificate entitling each of the qualifying investors to a tax credit under section 46.2 of the Act , equal to 30% of the amount received in respect of a qualifying investment in a qualifying venture capital fund, in the then current calendar year, or in the case of a qualifying investor who is an individual, 60 days immediately following that calendar year. (2) If a qualifying venture capital fund makes an application under subsection (1), the minister, in accordance with the provisions of section 46.2 of the Act may issue a tax credit certificate in the amount referred to in subsection (1), unless (a) the qualifying venture capital fund is contravening or has contravened these regulations; or (b) the minister is of the opinion that the qualifying venture capital fund or its directors, officers, shareholders or partners are conducting the business or affairs of the qualifying venture capital fund in a manner that is contrary to these regulations. (3) The total tax credits that may be issued under this section to a qualifying investor for one or more qualifying investments shall not exceed a lifetime limit of $75,000. (4) The minister shall not issue a tax credit certificate under subsection (2) unless he or she is satisfied that all of the following requirements are met: (a) a tax credit certificate under this section has not previously been allowed or paid for those shares; (b) the equity capital, in respect of which the tax credit certificate applied for, consists of equity capital of the qualifying venture capital fund that has been approved in accordance with section 9; (c) an amount could not be deducted, in computing the qualifying investor's tax payable under the Income Tax Act ( Canada ) for a taxation year, in respect of the qualifying investment; (d) the qualifying investor has acquired the share directly from the qualifying venture capital fund or its agent acting in that behalf; and (e) the qualifying investor, if an individual , was a resident in the province at the date the qualifying investor subscribed for the shares. (5) A tax credit certificate issued under subsection (2) may be revoked by the minister if the minister determines that, at the time the tax credit certificate was issued or at a subsequent time, the qualifying venture capital fund was in contravention of these regulations. (6) A tax credit certificate that is revoked by the minister is considered never to have been issued. (7) The minister shall promptly give a qualifying venture capital fund notice of a refusal to issue a tax credit certificate under subsection (2) to the qualifying venture capital fund and the reasons for the refusal. (8) The minister shall promptly give a qualifying venture capital fund notice of revocation of a tax credit certificate issued under subsection (2) to the qualifying venture capital fund and the reasons for the revocation. (9) For the purposes of this section, "qualifying investment" means an investment by a qualifying investor in a qualifying venture capital fund. 37/15 s20 Back to Top Claiming the non refundable tax credit 21. (1) Where, for a taxation year, a qualifying investor has been issued a tax credit certificate, there shall be deducted from the tax otherwise payable by the qualifying investor under the Act for that taxation year, the lesser of (a) the tax otherwise payable; or (b) the amount specified in a tax credit certificate issued during the year plus amounts carried forward or back from another year in accordance with section 22. (2) A qualifying investor who is entitled to a deduction under this section shall file, with the qualifying investor's annual return for a taxation year in which a deduction is claimed under this section, a copy of the tax credit certificate to which the deduction relates. (3) A deduction made under this section may be made with respect to qualifying investments made and paid for by a qualifying investor in the taxation year for which the deduction is claimed. (4) For the purposes of this section, "qualifying investment" means an investment by a qualifying investor in a qualifying venture capital fund. 37/15 s21 Back to Top Carry forward or back on tax credit 22. Where a qualifying investor has been issued a tax credit certificate under these regulations and the amount specified in the tax credit certificate issued during the year exceeds the tax otherwise payable, the qualifying investor may carry forward an unused balance to one or more of 7 subsequent tax years, or carry back the amount to one or more of 3 preceding tax years, where (a) in the case of a qualifying investor that is an individual, it is not carried back to a taxation year that precedes the year 2014; and (b) in the case of a qualifying investor that is not an individual, it is not carried back to a taxation year that ended before January 1, 2014. 37/15 s22 Back to Top Recapture 23. (1) Where a qualifying venture capital fund (a) purchases or otherwise acquires any of its own shares; (b) proposes to wind up or dissolve; or (c) has its registration revoked, the qualifying venture capital fund shall immediately pay to the Crown an amount of money calculated according to the rules set out in this section. (2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply when a closed end fund is wound up and its assets liquidated on or after the fund termination date specified in the qualifying venture capital fund's application for registration. (3) Where a qualifying venture capital fund purchases or otherwise acquires any of its own shares for a total consideration that (a) is equal to or greater than that for which the share was issued, the qualifying venture capital fund shall pay to the Crown an amount of money equal to 30% of the consideration paid to the qualifying venture capital fund by the qualifying investor for the share at the time the share was issued; or (b) is less than that for which the share was issued, the qualifying venture capital fund shall pay to the Crown an amount equal to 30% of the gross consideration paid by the qualifying venture capital fund for the purchase or acquisition of the share. (4) Where the registration of a qualifying venture capital fund is revoked or where the qualifying venture capital fund proposes to wind up or dissolve, the qualifying venture capital fund shall pay to the Crown an amount equal to 30% of (a) in the case of a corporation, the value of its shareholders' equity; or (b) in the case of limited partnership, the value of its issued and outstanding shares to an amount not exceeding the total tax credit allowed by the minister in respect of shares then issued and outstanding at the time of the revocation, winding up or dissolution. (5) Where the minister is satisfied that the qualifying venture capital fund has conducted its business in accordance with these regulations, the minister may, on application by the qualifying venture capital fund, order that subsection (1) does not apply to the qualifying venture capital fund. (6) A qualifying venture capital fund shall not make an application and the minister shall not make an order under subsection (5) until a period of at least 5 years has expired from the date of the purchase of the shares from the qualifying venture capital fund with respect to which the application is made. (7) A qualifying venture capital fund that reduces its stated capital under the Corporations Act is, for the purposes of this section, considered to have acquired shares for a total consideration equal to the amount by which its equity capital exceeds the greater of (a) the stated capital of the qualifying venture capital fund after the reduction; and (b) the value of the shareholders' equity. (8) If the minister is of the opinion that a qualifying venture capital fund has conducted its business and affairs in a manner consistent with these regulations and held a qualifying investment for at least 3 years, the minister may reduce the amount that would otherwise be payable under subsection (3) by an amount calculated as follows: (a) firstly, multiply that amount otherwise payable by the number of days the qualifying venture capital fund held the qualifying investment; and (b) secondly, divide the product obtained under paragraph (a) by 1825 to determine the amount of the reduction. 37/15 s23 Back to Top Liability of officers and directors 24. Where (a) an officer or director of a qualifying venture capital fund, where the qualifying venture capital fund is a corporation;

or (b) an officer or director of a general partner of a qualifying venture capital fund, where the qualifying venture capital fund is a limited partnership, permits or acquiesces in a transaction, event or a series of transactions or events that he or she knows or ought to know would cause a qualifying venture capital fund to be liable to the Crown to make the payment required under section 23, the officer or director is jointly and individually liable for the amount of the payment. 37/15 s24 Back to Top Revocation and suspension of registration 25. (1) T he minister may suspend or revoke a registration of a qualifying venture capital fund in any of the following circumstances: (a) it obtained its registration fraudulently or by furnishing false or misleading information or documents; (b) it fails to supply information or records when they are required under these regulations; (c) it supplied information or records referred to in paragraph (b) that contain false or misleading information; or (d) it fails to comply with these regulations or a condition or condition of approval that the minister may impose, make or give under these regulations. (2) If the minister suspends a registration under subsection (1), the minister may (a) attach conditions to be complied with by the suspended qualifying venture capital fund during the period of suspension; and (b) reinstate the registration with or without conditions. (3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), if the minister considers that a qualifying venture capital fund is conducting its business and affairs in a manner consistent with these regulations, the minister may do any of the following: (a) for any time that the minister considers appropriate, refrain from revoking the registration of the qualifying venture capital fund; (b) permit registration of the qualifying venture capital fund and, for any time that the minister considers appropriate, refrain from revoking the registration of the qualifying venture capital fund; or (c) issue a tax credit certificate. 37/15 s25 Back to Top Notice to minister 26. A qualifying venture capital fund shall within 30 days notify the minister if (a) it ceases to maintain a place of business, or a permanent establishment, as determined under the Income Tax Act ( Canada ), in Canada ; (b) it changes its registered office; (c) it acquires a different or additional place of business or permanent establishment, as defined in the Act, in the province or elsewhere; (d) it changes its fiscal year end; (e) it fails to comply with subsections 12(1) and 13(1), sections 14 and 15, and subsections 16(1), 17(1) and 19(1), (2) or (4); (f) an investment held by a qualifying venture capital fund ceases to meet the criteria set out in section 11(1)(b) or (c); (g) it directly or indirectly acquires, redeems or cancels any of its own shares; or (h) it proposes to wind up or dissolve. 37/15 s26 Back to Top Reporting requirements 27. Within 6 months after its fiscal year end, a qualifying venture capital fund shall prepare and file with the minister a return setting out the following information: (a) the amount of the aggregate capital commitment and the amount of the equity capital raised by the qualifying venture capital fund ; (b) the aggregate value at cost of investments made by the qualifying venture capital fund , the name of each qualifying small business the shares of which the qualifying venture capital fund sold and the value at cost of those shares; (c) the aggregate amount of expenses incurred by the qualifying venture capital fund and the amount paid as management fees; (d) whether any fees or remuneration were paid to the shareholders, partners, officers or directors of the qualifying venture capital fund or to any associate or affiliate of any of them by a qualifying small business in which the qualifying venture capital fund made a qualifying investment; (e) whether the articles of the qualifying venture capital fund were amended in a manner that changed the authorized share structure of the qualifying venture capital fund or altered any rights or restrictions attached to any share of the qualifying venture capital fund; (f) the amount of all dividends received by the qualifying venture capital fund in respect of a qualifying investment made by it in a qualifying small business; (g) whether the qualifying venture capital fund redeemed any of its shares; (h) whether a share redemption referred to in paragraph (g) was reported to the minister; (i) in relation to a share redemption referred to in paragraph (g) that was not reported to the minister, the name of each investor whose shares were redeemed, the date of each redemption, the number of shares redeemed in each redemption, the investor's cost of each share redeemed in each redemption and the consideration paid by the qualifying venture capital fund in respect of the redemption; (j) whether the qualifying venture capital fund paid any expenses to any person or group of persons who, at the time the payment was made, directly or indirectly controlled the qualifying venture capital fund ; (k) whether the qualifying venture capital fund notified the minister of the occurrence of any events referred to in section 26; and (l) any other information that the minister may require. 37/15 s27 ; 57/18 s3 Back to Top Commencement 28. These regulations are considered to have come into force on January 1, 2014. 37/15 s28