A mining exploration corporation (the "Purchaser") agreed with another mining exploration corporation (the "Vendor") to acquire an interest in the Vendor's unproven resource properties (the "Properties") in consideration for incurring specified exploration expenses. As part of this agreement, the Vendor also agreed to issue, for no significant consideration, warrants to the Purchaser to acquire treasury common shares.
The amount of the Canadian exploration expense otherwise considered to be incurred by the Purchaser was to be reduced by the value of the warrants. In commenting on such value, the Directorate stated:
In determining the portion of the total consideration for the warrants, we would consider the amount that would have been the benefit under subsection 15(1) if no consideration had been paid for the warrants. According to Interpretation Bulletin IT-96R6, that amount is the greater of the following amounts:
- the trading value of the rights received; and
- the amount by which the fair market value of the shares subject to the option at the time of the option's distribution exceeds the exercise price provided in the option.