ASC sanctions Wayne Loderick Bennett for breaching Alberta securities laws
CALGARY, Nov. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - An Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) panel has sanctioned Wayne Loderick Bennett for breaching Alberta securities laws in connection with the distribution of securities of Environmental Sentry Services Inc. (ESSI).
Between 2010 and 2016, Bennett – the president, sole director and guiding mind of ESSI since its incorporation until early 2016 – directly and indirectly raised approximately $3.8 million for ESSI by distributing ESSI shares and debentures to at least 100 investors in Alberta and Ontario. The ASC panel found, consistent with a statement of admissions, that Bennett illegally distributed ESSI securities without a prospectus or any apparent attempt to ensure that prospectus exemptions were available for such transactions, made misleading or untrue statements in relation to ESSI's intellectual property and made prohibited representations to investors.
The ASC panel ordered that Bennett:
- must pay an administrative penalty of $50,000, and $30,000 of the costs of the investigation and hearing;
- must resign all positions, and is permanently prohibited from becoming, a director or officer (or both) of any issuer, registrant, investment fund manager, recognized exchange, recognized self-regulatory organization, recognized clearing agency, recognized trade repository or recognized quotation and trade reporting system;
- must permanently cease trading in or purchasing securities or derivatives, and all of the exemptions contained in Alberta securities laws do not apply to him; and
- be subject to a number of permanent market-access bans, including a prohibition from engaging in investor relations activities, from advising in securities or derivatives and from acting in a management or consultative capacity in connection with activities in the securities market.
The ASC panel considered that the public interest required the imposition of permanent market-access bans, given "the seriousness of Bennett's misconduct and the harm done to investors, along with the apparent ease with which he was able to raise capital while having little or no regard for Alberta securities laws."
A copy of the sanction decision can be found on the ASC website at www.albertasecurities.com.
The ASC is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets.
SOURCE Alberta Securities Commission
For Media Inquiries: Hilary McMeekin, Manager, Communications, 403.592.8186; For Investor Inquiries: ASC Public Inquiries, Toll Free 1.877.355.4488
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