Securities register for an Alberta (ABCA) corporation

ABCA securities register (s. 50)

Section 50 of the ABCA requires every Alberta corporation to maintain a securities register containing:

• The name and address of every holder of every security
• The number and class of securities held by each holder
• The date and particulars of the issue and transfer of each security
• The date and number of the certificate issued (where certificated)
• Any cancellation or surrender

The register may be kept at the registered office or at another Alberta location designated by directors. It may be maintained in electronic form provided the information is reproducible.

Inspection rights (s. 23)

Shareholders, creditors, and their personal representatives may examine the securities register during business hours, take extracts free of charge, and obtain copies on payment of a reasonable fee. The right is statutory and does not require demonstration of proper purpose.

Alberta's ISC register

Since 2022, Alberta private corporations must maintain a register of Individuals with Significant Control under ABCA s. 21.1. The register identifies natural persons with significant control over the corporation, typically those with 25%+ ownership or voting rights, directly or indirectly. The ISC register is separate from the securities register and has its own access rules, primarily for law enforcement and tax authorities rather than for general shareholder inspection.

Practical considerations for Alberta corporations

Alberta corporations in capital-intensive industries (oil and gas, agriculture, resource extraction) frequently have complex ownership structures involving multiple holding companies. The securities register must trace ownership at the corporation level; the ISC register must trace through the holding structure to the natural persons with significant control. Maintaining both registers accurately requires regular reconciliation, especially after corporate restructuring or major share transfers.