IN THE MATTER OF Karen Elizabeth Abbott - Settlement Hearing

TORONTO, Jan. 3, 2012 /CNW/ - A hearing has been scheduled before a Hearing Panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) to consider whether to accept a Settlement Agreement between IIROC staff and Karen Elizabeth Abbott.

The proposed agreement concerns an allegation that Ms. Abbott forged client signatures, contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 29.1.

The hearing will not be open to the public, but will become open in the event the panel accepts the agreement. If the agreement is accepted, the panel's decision and reasons, together with the Settlement Agreement, will be made available at www.iiroc.ca.

Hearing Date:	Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 10:00am
Location:	IIROC, 121 King St. West, 20^th Floor, Vancouver Room Toronto, ON

IIROC formally initiated the investigation into Ms. Abbott's conduct in August 2011.  The alleged violations occurred when she was a Registered Representative with the London, Ontario branch of Manulife Securities Inc., an IIROC-regulated firm.   She is no longer registered with an IIROC-regulated firm.

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IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada. Created in 2008 through the consolidation of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Market Regulation Services

Inc., IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while maintaining efficient and competitive capital markets.

IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of dealer firms and their registered employees and through setting and enforcing market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian equity marketplaces.

IIROC investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and/or individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in penalties including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms.

All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by IIROC-regulated firms is available free of charge through the IIROC AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1.877.442.4322.