A hearing panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) has accepted a settlement agreement between IIROC staff and Bert Griffin.

IIROC formally initiated the investigation into Griffin’s conduct on Oct. 4, 2007. The equity trading rule violations occurred when he was a registered representative with Berkshire Securities Inc.

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Griffin admitted that on January 27, 2006, April 11, 2006 and April 21, 2006, he engaged in conduct that resulted in contraventions of UMIR 5.3 and Policy 5.3 (Client Priority) for which he is liable under UMIR 10.3(4).

As a penalty, the panel fined Griffin $15,000, ordered him to successfully complete the Conduct and Practices Handbook Exam and the Trader Training Course Exam within six months, and him to pay costs in the amount of $5,000.

The hearing panel issued its decision orally on August 20.

Griffin is still within the industry in a registered capacity with Manulife Securities Inc., an IIROC-regulated firm.

IE