MFDA Hearing Panel issues Reasons for Decision in the matter of Al Wei Loong Thong

TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2016 /CNW/ - A Hearing Panel of the Prairie Regional Council of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada ("MFDA") has issued its Reasons for Decision in connection with a settlement hearing held in Edmonton, Alberta on November 17, 2016 in the matter of Al Wei Loong Thong (the "Respondent"). The Reasons for Decision relate to the Hearing Panel's acceptance of the settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") entered into between the Respondent and Staff of the MFDA. In its Reasons for Decision dated December 1, 2016, the Hearing Panel confirmed the sanctions imposed on the Respondent:

• a prohibition from conducting securities related business while in the employ of or associated with any MFDA Member for a period of three (3) years.
• a fine in the amount of $10,000; and
• costs in the amount of $5,000.

In the Settlement Agreement, the Respondent admitted that prior to being registered, he referred one (1) client, and between August 12, 2008 and 2010, referred two (2) individuals to a company selling an exempt market product, and received at least $4,505.08 in referral fees for doing so, thereby participating in a referral arrangement to which the Member was not a party and which did not otherwise comply with MFDA Rules 1.1.1 and 2.4.2, and sections 13.7 to 13.10 of National Instrument 31-103.

Copies of the Reasons for Decision and the Settlement Agreement are available on the MFDA website at www.mfda.ca. During the period described in the Reasons for Decision, the Respondent carried on business in Edmonton, Alberta.

The MFDA is the self-regulatory organization for Canadian mutual fund dealers, regulating the operations, standards of practice and business conduct of its Members and their approximately 83,000 Approved Persons with a mandate to protect investors and the public interest. For more information about the MFDA's complaint and enforcement processes, as well as links to 'Check an Advisor' and other Investor Tools, visit the For Investors page on the MFDA website.

SOURCE Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada

Charles Toth, Director, Litigation, 416-943-4619, [email protected]; Mark Stott, Vice-President, Prairie Region, 403-215-8329, [email protected]