the manner of determination thereof if offered on a non-fixed price basis); (ii) in the case of the Preferred Shares, the designation of the particular series, aggregate principal amount, the number of Preferred Shares offered, the issue price, the dividend rate, the dividend payment dates, any terms for redemption at the option of the Corporation or the holder, any exchange or conversion terms and any other specific terms; (iii) in the case of the Debt Securities, the specific designation of the Debt Securities, whether such Debt Securities are senior or subordinated, whether such Debt Securities are secured or unsecured, the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities being offered, the currency or currency unit in which the Debt Securities may be purchased, authorized denominations, any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series being offered, the issue and delivery date, the maturity date, the offering price (at par, at a discount or at a premium), the interest rate or method of determining the interest rate, the interest payment date(s), any conversion or exchange rights that are attached to the Debt Securities, any redemption provisions, any repayment provisions and any other specific terms; (iv) in the case of Subscription Receipts, the number of Subscription Receipts being offered, the offering price (or the manner of determination thereof if offered on a non-fixed price basis), the procedures for the exchange of Subscription Receipts for the applicable Securities, the currency or currency unit in which the Subscription Receipts are issued and any other specific terms; (v) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Securities purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, the currency in which the Warrants are issued and any other specific terms; and (vi) in the case of Units, the designation and terms of the Units and of the Securities comprising the Units, the currency or currency unit in which the Units are issued and any other specific terms. A Prospectus Supplement may include other specific variable terms pertaining to the Securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters described in this Prospectus.
The Securities may be sold, from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, including, in the case of Securities other than the Debt Securities (the “Equity Securities”), sales in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market distributions” as defined in National Instrument 44-102 — Shelf Distributions (“NI 44-102”), including sales made directly on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) or other existing trading markets for such Equity Securities, and as set forth in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. See “Plan of Distribution”.
All shelf information permitted under applicable laws to be omitted from this Prospectus will be contained in one or more Prospectus Supplements that will be delivered to purchasers together with this Prospectus. Each Prospectus Supplement will be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus for the purposes of securities legislation as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and only for the purposes of the distribution of the Securities to which the Prospectus Supplement pertains.
The Corporation may sell the Securities to or through underwriters or dealers purchasing as principals and may also sell the Securities to one or more purchasers directly subject to obtaining any required exemptive relief or through agents on a “best efforts” basis. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular offering of Securities will identify each underwriter, dealer or agent, if any, engaged by the Corporation in connection with the offering and sale of Securities and will set forth the terms of the offering of such Securities, the method of distribution of such Securities including, to the extent applicable, the proceeds to us, and any fees, discounts or any other compensation payable to underwriters, dealers or agents and any other material terms of the plan of distribution. Securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or fixed prices, or at non-fixed prices. If offered on a non-fixed price basis, Securities may be offered at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at prices to be negotiated with purchasers at the time of sale, which prices may vary between purchasers and during the period of distribution. If Securities are offered on a non-fixed price basis, the underwriters’, dealers’ or agents’ compensation will be increased or decreased by the amount by which the aggregate price paid for Securities by the purchasers exceeds or is less than the gross proceeds paid by the underwriters, dealers or agents to us. See “Plan of Distribution”.
The outstanding Common Shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol “VQS” and also trade on the OTCQX® Best Market by OTC Markets Group (the “OTCQX”) under the symbol “VQSLF”. There is currently no market through which the Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Subscription Receipts, Warrants or Units may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell any Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Subscription Receipts, Warrants or Units purchased under this Prospectus. This may affect the pricing of such Securities in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of such Securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See “Risk Factors” below and the “Risk Factors” section of the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
In connection with any offering of the Securities, subject to applicable laws and other than an “at-the-market distribution”, the underwriters, dealers or agents may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize or maintain the market price of the offered Securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail on the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”.
No underwriter of the “at-the-market distribution” of Equity Securities, and no person or company acting jointly or in concert with an underwriter, may, in connection with the distribution, enter into any transaction that is intended to stabilize or maintain the market price of the Equity Securities or Equity Securities of the same class as the Equity Securities distributed under the this Prospectus, including selling an aggregate number or principal amount of securities that would result in the underwriter creating an over-allocation position in the Equity Securities.
The Corporation’s head and registered offices are located at 5915 Airport Road, Suite 700, Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1T1.
The Securities are subject to certain risks. The risk factors included or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus should be carefully reviewed and considered by holders in connection with an acquisition of Securities. See “Notice to Readers — Forward-Looking Information” and “Risk Factors” in this Prospectus and in the AIF (as defined herein).