Settlement Agreement: In the Matter of Daniel Duic

IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES ACT

R.S.O. 1990, c.S.5, AS AMENDED

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IN THE MATTER OF DANIEL DUIC

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

I. INTRODUCTION

1. By Notice of Hearing dated *, the Ontario Securities Commission announced that it proposed to hold a hearing to consider whether, pursuant to sections 127 and 127.1 of the Securities Act, it is in the public interest for the Commission to make an order:

1. that trading in securities by Daniel Duic cease permanently or for such other period as specified by the Commission;
   
2. that any exemptions contained in Ontario securities law do not apply to Daniel Duic permanently or for such period as is specified in the order;
   
3. that Daniel Duic resign all position that he holds as a director or officer of an issuer;
   
4. that Daniel Duic be prohibited from becoming or acting as a director or offer of any issuer;
   
5. that Daniel Duic be reprimanded;
   
6. that Daniel Duic pay costs pursuant to s. 127.1 of the Act; and
   
7. such other order as the Commission may deem appropriate.
   
   

II. JOINT SETTLEMENT RECOMMENDATION

2. Staff of the Commission recommends settlement in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below. The respondent consents to the making of an order against him in the form attached as Schedule "A" on the basis of the facts set out below.

III. STATEMENT OF FACTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

3. Staff and the respondent agree with the facts set out in Part III. Staff and Duic also stipulate that the facts agreed to herein are for the purpose of this settlement only, and are made without prejudice to Duic in any other proceeding including, but not limited to, any civil proceeding which may be brought by another person or entity.

FACTS

4. Daniel Duic is an individual resident of Toronto, Ontario.

5. Andrew Rankin was the Manager Director in the Merger and Acquisition Department of RBC DS from early 1999 to mid-2001. In his former position at RBC DS, Rankin was privy to and possessed confidential material information about pending mergers and acquisition transactions of various reporting issuers in Ontario. On April 4, 2001, RBC DS announced an investigation of certain suspicious tradiing activities and as a result of this investigation, on April 23, 2001 the firm announced that it had suspended Rankin without pay. On *, RBC DS terminated the employment of Rankin.

6. Duic is a close friend of Rankin and has been close friends with him for some twenty years.

7. Between October, 1999 and March 2001, Rankin told Duic confidential information concerning material facts or material changes of Ontario reporting issuers not generally disclosed that Rankin had learned as a result of his fiduciary position at RBC DS. The material fact or change related to a pending merger and acquisition transaction about certain reporting issuers. Rankin had knowledge of these transactions in advance of their being publicly announced in that RBC DS was acting as an advisor to one of the parties or proposed parties in each of the merger or acquisition transaction.

8. Based upon the confidential information divulged by Rankin and during this period, Duic bought securities of two reporting issuers in Ontario in advance of the public announcement of their respective merger and acquisition transaction.

9. At the time Duic purchased the securities, the confidential information concerning the material fact or material change had not been generally disclosed to the public.

10. After the public announcement, the value of the securities of each reporting issuer increased in value. Immediately thereafter, Duic sold some of the securities of the reporting issuers to realize a profit of $1,292,023 and an unrealized gain of $600,075 for the remaining securities which he held.

11. For each of the merger and acquisition transaction, RBC DS and Rankin possessed confidential information concerning material facts or material changes of reporting issuers in that the Merger and Acquisition Department of RBC DS was the advisor to one of the parties, or to one of the proposed parties in the merger and acquisition transaction. For each company, the material fact or material change was the pending merger and acquisition transaction.

12. Particulars of the companies' securities which Duic purchased as set out above are as follows (hereinafter collectively defined as "the Companies"):

13. At the time that Rankin told Duic of the material facts or material changes, he was the Managing Director of the Merger and Acquisition Department of RBC DS, and as such, Rankin was a person in a special relationship for each of the reporting issuers as defined in s. 76(5)(b) of the Securities Act.

14. In that Duic then possessed the material facts or material changes not generally disclosed to the public, Duic was also in a special relationship with each of the Companies at the material time as defined in s. 76(5)(e) of the Act.

15. Duic as a person in a special relationship with each of the Companies, sold securities of each of the Companies with knowledge of a material fact that had not been generally disclosed. Accordingly Duic breached s. 76(1) of the Act.

CONDUCT CONTRARY TO LAW AND TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST

16. By engaging in the conduct described above, Duic breached Ontario securities law and also acted contrary to the public interest.

IV. TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

17. Duic agrees to the following terms of settlement:

1. Duic will cooperate with Staff in its insider trading investigation, including testifying as a witness for Staff at any proceedings which may be commenced by Staff before the Commission, the Ontario Court of Justice or the Ontario Superior Court;
   
2. Duic will make a settlement payment of $1,925,000.00 to the Commission to be allocated as follows:
   
   
   1. $1,900,000.00 to such third parties as the Commission may determine for purposes that benefit Ontario Investors; and
      
   2. $25,000.00 for costs.
      
3. Trading in any securities by Duic will cease permanently;
   
4. Any exemptions in Ontario securities law do not apply to Duic permanently;
   
5. Duic will be reprimanded by the Commission;
   
6. Duic will resign any positions that he holds as a director or officer of a reporting issuer; and
   
7. Duic is permanently prohibited from becoming or acting as director or officer of a reporting issuer.
   
   

V. STAFF COMMITMENT

18. If this settlement is approved by the Commission, Staff will not initiate any other proceeding under the Securities Act against Duic concerning those matters deposed to by him at his examination under oath pursuant to s. 13 of the Securities Act..

VI. APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT

19. Approval of the settlement shall be sought at a public hearing of the Commission on a date as agreed to by Counsel for Staff and Duic.

20. Counsel for Staff and for Duic may refer to any part, or all, of this settlement agreement at the settlement hearing. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, Staff and Duic agree that this settlement agreement will constitute the entirety of the evidence to be submitted at the settlement hearing.

21. If this settlement is approved by the Commission, Duic agrees to waive his right to a full hearing, judicial review or appeal of the matter under the Act.

22. As a fundamental term of the agreement, Duic and his Counsel agree that if this settlement is approved by the Commission, they will not make any public statement which is inconsistent with the spirit of this settlement agreement or any of the terms as set out herein.

23. Whether or not the settlement is approved by the Commission, Duic agrees that he will not, in any proceeding, refer to or rely upon this settlement agreement, the settlement discussions/negotiations or the process of approval of this settlement agreement as the basis of any attack on the Commission's jurisdiction, alleged bias or appearance of bias, alleged unfairness or any other remedies or challenges that may otherwise be available.

24. If, for any reason whatsoever, this settlement is not approved by the Commission the terms of this settlement agreement will not be referred to in any subsequent proceeding, or disclosed to any person except with the written consent of Staff and Duic or as may be required by law.

VII. DISCLOSURE OF AGREEMENT

25. Except as permitted under paragraph 20 above, this settlement agreement and its terms will be treated as confidential by Staff and Duic until approved by the Commission.

26. Any obligations of confidentiality shall terminate upon approval of this settlement by the Commission.

VIII. EXECUTION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

27. This settlement agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute a binding agreement.

28. A facsimile copy of any signature shall be as effective as an original signature.

DATED this 20th day of November,

Schedule "A"

IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES ACT

R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as amended

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IN THE MATTER OF DANIEL DUIC

ORDER

WHEREAS on * [date], the Ontario Securities Commission issued a Notice of Hearing pursuant to sections 127(1) and 127.1 of the Securities Act in respect of Daniel Duic;

AND WHEREAS Daniel Duic entered into a settlement agreement with Staff of the Commission in which he agreed to a proposed settlement of the proceeding, subject to the approval of the Commission;

AND WHEREAS Staff recommend approval of the settlement agreement;

AND UPON reviewing the settlement agreement and the Notice of Hearing of Staff of the Commission and upon hearing submissions of Counsel for Staff and Daniel Duic;

AND WHEREAS the Commission is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to make this Order;

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT pursuant to ss. 127(1) and 127.1 of the Act:

1. the Settlement Agreement is hereby approved which includes the following terms:
   
   
   1. Duic will cooperate with Staff in its insider trading investigation, including testifying as a witness for Staff at any proceedings commenced by Staff before the Commission, the Ontario Court of Justice or the Ontario Superior Court;
      
   2. Duic will make a settlement payment of $1,892,098.00 to such third parties as the Commission may determine for purposes that benefit Ontario Investors; and
      
2. Duic will pay $32,000.00 for costs pursuant to s. 127.1 of the Act.
   
3. Trading in any securities by Daniel Duic shall cease permanently;
   
4. Any exemptions contained in Ontario securities law do not apply to Daniel Duic permanently;
   
5. Daniel Duic is hereby reprimanded;
   
6. Daniel Duic must resign from all positions that he holds as a director or officer of a reporting issuer, and
   
7. Daniel Duic is permanently prohibited from becoming or acting as a director or officer of a reporting issuer.
   

DATED at Toronto this day of ,