Order: In the Matter of Christina Harper et al.
IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 AS AMENDED
- AND -
CHRISTINA HARPER, HOWARD RASH, MICHAEL SCHAUMER,
ELLIOT FEDER, VADIM TSATSKIN, ODED PASTERNAK,
ALAN SILVERSTEIN, HERBERT GROBERMAN, ALLAN WALKER,
PETER ROBINSON, VYACHESLAV BRIKMAN, NIKOLA BAJOVSKI,
BRUCE COHEN and ANDREW SHIFF
ORDER
(Subsections 127(7) and 127(8))
WHEREAS on April 7, 2010, the Ontario Securities Commission (the "Commission") issued a temporary cease trade order pursuant to subsections 127(1) and 127(5) of the Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as amended (the "Act") ordering the following (the “Temporary Order”):
- Christina Harper (“Harper”), Howard Rash (“Rash”), Michael Schaumer (“Schaumer”), Elliot Feder (“Feder”), Vadim Tsatskin (“Tsatskin”), Oded Pasternak (“Pasternak”), Alan Silverstein (“Silverstein”), Herbert Groberman (“Groberman”), Allan Walker (“Walker”), Peter Robinson (“Robinson”), Vyacheslav Brikman (“Brikman”), Nikola Bajovski (“Bajovski”), Bruce Cohen (“Cohen”) and Andrew Shiff (“Shiff”), collectively, the “Respondents”, shall cease trading in all securities;
- that any exemptions contained in Ontario securities law do not apply to the Respondents.
AND WHEREAS, on April 7, 2010, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order shall expire on the 15th day after its making unless extended by order of the Commission;
AND WHEREAS on April 14, 2010, the Commission issued a Notice of Hearing to consider, among other things, the extension of the Temporary Order, to be held on April 20, 2010 at 3:00 p.m;
AND WHEREAS the Notice of Hearing set out that the Hearing is to consider, amongst other things whether, in the opinion of the Commission, it is in the public interest, pursuant to subsections 127 (7) and (8) of the Act, to extend the Temporary Order until the conclusion of the hearing, or until such further time as considered necessary by the Commission;
AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, a hearing was held before the Commission and none of the Respondents appeared before the Commission to oppose Staff of the Commission’s (“Staff”) request for the extension of the Temporary Order;
AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, the Commission was satisfied that Staff had served or made reasonable attempts to serve each of the Respondents with copies of the Temporary Order, the Notice of Hearing, and the Evidence Brief of Staff as evidenced by the Affidavit of Kathleen McMillan, sworn on April 20, 2010, and filed with the Commission;
AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that: in the absence of a continuing cease-trade order, the length of time required to conclude a hearing could be prejudicial to the public interest; and, it was in the public interest to extend the Temporary Order;
AND WHEREAS, on April 20, 2010, pursuant to subsections 127 (7) and (8) of the Act, the Temporary Order was extended to June 15, 2010 and the hearing in this matter was adjourned to June 14, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.;
AND WHEREAS on June 14, 2010, a hearing was held before the Commission and the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order was extended and the hearing was adjourned to September 1, 2010, at 1:00 p.m.;
AND WHEREAS on September 1, 2010, Staff, Shiff, counsel for Feder, counsel for Robinson and counsel for Pasternak, Walker and Brikman attended the hearing;
AND WHEREAS on September 1, 2010, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that: in the absence of a continuing cease-trade order, the length of time required to conclude a hearing could be prejudicial to the public interest.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED pursuant to subsections 127(7) and 127(8) of the Act that the Temporary Order is extended to November 9, 2010;
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the hearing in this matter is adjourned to November 8, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.;
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED pursuant to subsections 127(1) and (2) of the Act that, notwithstanding the Temporary Order, Feder is permitted to trade securities in an account in his own name or in an account of his registered retirement savings plans (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) in which he has the sole legal and beneficial ownership, provided that:
- the securities traded are listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ (or their successor exchanges) which is a reporting issuer; and
- he carries out any permitted trading through a dealer registered with the Commission (which dealer must be given a copy of this order) and through accounts opened in his name only.
DATED at Toronto this 1st day of September, 2010.
Kevin J. Kelly