Notice of Hearing

PARTICULARS

NOTICE is further given that the following is a summary of the facts alleged and intended to be relied upon by the MFDA at the hearing:

Registration

1. The Respondent has been registered in the securities industry since 2005.

2. Between February 5, 2009 and February 10, 2015, the Respondent was registered in British Columbia as a mutual fund salesperson (now known as a Dealing Representative) with HSBC Investment Funds (Canada) Inc. (“HSBC”), a Member of the MFDA.

3. At all material times the Respondent was designated as a Branch Manager with HSBC.

4. On February 10, 2015, the Respondent resigned from HSBC.

5. The Respondent is not currently registered in the securities industry in any capacity.

6. At all material times the Respondent carried on business in the Vancouver, British Columbia area.

The Respondent Signed the Signatures of 2 Clients

7. At all material times, HSBC prohibited its Approved Persons from signing client signatures.

8. On January 29, 2015, the Respondent signed the signatures of 2 clients on 3 Know-Your-Client account forms, contrary to MFDA Rule 2.1.1.

Pre-Signed Account Forms

9. At all material times, HSBC prohibited its Approved Persons from maintaining or using blank or partially complete pre-signed account forms.

10. In or about March 2014, the Respondent, obtained, possessed and used 1 pre-signed mutual fund contribution form.

11. By virtue of the foregoing, the Respondent obtained, possessed and used 1 pre-signed form to process a transaction, contrary to MFDA Rule 2.1.1.

NOTICE is further given that the Respondent shall be entitled to appear and be heard and be represented by counsel or agent at the hearing and to make submissions, present evidence and call, examine and cross-examine witnesses.

NOTICE is further given that MFDA By-laws provide that if, in the opinion of the Hearing Panel, the Respondent:

• has failed to carry out any agreement with the MFDA;
• has failed to comply with or carry out the provisions of any federal or provincial statute relating to the business of the Member or of any regulation or policy made pursuant thereto;
• has failed to comply with the provisions of any By-law, Rule or Policy of the MFDA;
• has engaged in any business conduct or practice which such Regional Council in its discretion considers unbecoming or not in the public interest; or
• is otherwise not qualified whether by integrity, solvency, training or experience,

the Hearing Panel has the power to impose any one or more of the following penalties:

1. a reprimand;
2. a fine not exceeding the greater of:
   1. $5,000,000.00 per offence; and
   2. an amount equal to three times the profit obtained or loss avoided by such person as a result of committing the violation;
3. suspension of the authority of the person to conduct securities related business for such specified period and upon such terms as the Hearing Panel may determine;
4. revocation of the authority of such person to conduct securities related business;
5. prohibition of the authority of the person to conduct securities related business in any capacity for any period of time;
6. such conditions of authority to conduct securities related business as may be considered appropriate by the Hearing Panel;

NOTICE is further given that the Hearing Panel may, in its discretion, require that the Respondent pay the whole or any portion of the costs of the proceedings before the Hearing Panel and any investigation relating thereto.

NOTICE is further given that the Respondents must serve a Reply on Enforcement Counsel and file a Reply with the Office of the Corporate Secretary within twenty (20) days from the date of service of this Notice of Hearing.

A Reply shall be served upon Enforcement Counsel at:

Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
650 West Georgia Street, Suite 1220
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 4N9
Attention: Christopher Corsetti
Fax: 604-683-6577
Email: ccorsetti@mfda.ca

A Reply shall be filed by:

1. providing four (4) copies of the Reply to the Director of Regional Councils by personal delivery, mail or courier to:
   1. The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
      121 King Street West
      Suite 1000
      Toronto, ON M5H 3T9
      Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary; or
2. transmitting one (1) copy of the Reply to the Director of Regional Councils by fax to fax number 416-361-9781, provided that the Reply does not exceed 16 pages, inclusive of the covering page, unless the Director of Regional Councils permits otherwise; or
3. transmitting one (1) electronic copy of the Reply to the Director of Regional Councils by e-mail at CorporateSecretary@mfda.ca.

A Reply may either:

1. specifically deny (with a summary of the facts alleged and intended to be relied upon by the Respondent, and the conclusions drawn by the Respondent based on the alleged facts) any or all of the facts alleged or the conclusions drawn by the MFDA in the Notice of Hearing; or
2. admit the facts alleged and conclusions drawn by the MFDA in the Notice of Hearing and plead circumstances in mitigation of any penalty to be assessed.

NOTICE is further given that the Hearing Panel may accept as having been proven any facts alleged or conclusions drawn by the MFDA in the Notice of Hearing that are not specifically denied in the Reply.

NOTICE is further given that if the Respondent fails:

1. to serve and file a Reply; or
2. attend at the hearing specified in the Notice of Hearing, notwithstanding that a Reply may have been served,

the Hearing Panel may proceed with the hearing of the matter on the date and the time and place set out in the Notice of Hearing (or on any subsequent date, at any time and place), without any further notice to and in the absence of the Respondent, and the Hearing Panel may accept the facts alleged or the conclusions drawn by the MFDA in the Notice of Hearing as having been proven and may impose any of the penalties described in the By-laws.

End.