Order

WHEREAS on August 27, 2020 the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (the “MFDA”) issued a Notice of Settlement Hearing pursuant to section 24.4 of MFDA By-law No. 1 in respect of Stefano Arena (the “Respondent”);

AND WHEREAS the Respondent entered into a settlement agreement with Staff of the MFDA, dated August 28, 2020 (the “Settlement Agreement”), in which the Respondent agreed to a proposed settlement of matters for which the Respondent could be disciplined pursuant to ss. 20 and 24.1 of MFDA By-law No. 1;

AND WHEREAS the Hearing Panel is of the opinion that:

1. between June 2016 and May 2018, the Respondent processed switches on behalf of clients using his discretion to determine the timing and amount of the switches, contrary to the Member’s policies and procedures and MFDA Rules 2.3.1(b), 2.1.1, 1.1.2 and 2.5.1.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the Settlement Agreement is accepted, as a consequence of which:

1. The Respondent shall be suspended from conducting securities related business in any capacity while in the employ of or associated with any MFDA Member for a period of 2 months commencing from the date the Settlement Agreement is accepted by the Hearing Panel, pursuant to s. 24.1.1(e) of MFDA By-law No. 1;
2. The Respondent shall pay a fine in the amount of $35,000, in certified funds upon acceptance of the Settlement Agreement by the Hearing Panel, pursuant to s. 24.1.1(b) of MFDA By-law No. 1;
3. The Respondent shall pay costs in the amount of $5,000 in certified funds upon acceptance of the Settlement Agreement by the Hearing Panel, pursuant to s. 24.2 of MFDA By-law No. 1;
4. The Respondent shall in the future comply with MFDA Rules 2.1.1, 2.3.1, 1.1.2 and 2.5.1; and
5. If at any time a non-party to this proceeding, with the exception of the bodies set out in section 23 of MFDA By-law No. 1, requests production of or access to exhibits in this proceeding that contain personal information as defined by the MFDA Privacy Policy, then the MFDA Corporate Secretary shall not provide copies of or access to the requested exhibits to the non­party without first redacting from them any and all personal information, pursuant to Rules 1.8(2) and (5) of the MFDA Rules of Procedure.