The Alberta Securities Commission is advising that final implementation of National Policy 46-201 Escrow for Initial Public Offerings is taking place this weekend.

Final implementation takes effect in Alberta on June 30. The ASC’s former escrow policies, forms and notices are repealed effective on the same date.

The new policy sets out terms of escrow that apply when a prospectus is filed for an IPO (except for a capital pool company). The final policy and form differ somewhat from the versions implemented on an interim basis in September 2001. The differences, which the ACS says are not substantive, are meant to simplify understanding and application of the policy.