Settlement Agreement

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Staff of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (“Staff”) and the Respondent, Gabrijela Mihajlovic (“Respondent”), consent and agree to settlement of this matter by way of this agreement (“Settlement Agreement”).

2. Staff conducted an investigation of the Respondent’s activities which disclosed activity for which the Respondent could be penalized on the exercise of the discretion of the Hearing Panel pursuant to section 24.1 of MFDA By-law No. 1.

II. JOINT SETTLEMENT RECOMMENDATION

3. Staff and the Respondent jointly recommend that the Hearing Panel accept the Settlement Agreement.

4. The Respondent admits to the following violations of the By-laws, Rules or Policies of the MFDA:
   1. On or about August 22, 2014, the Respondent borrowed $5,000 from a client, thereby engaging in conduct giving rise to a conflict or potential conflict of interest which the Respondent failed to address by the exercise of responsible business judgment influenced only by the best interests of the client, contrary to the policies and procedures of the Member and MFDA Rules 2.1.1, 2.1.4, 2.5.1 and 1.1.2.

5. Staff and the Respondent agree and consent to the following terms of settlement:
   1. The Respondent’s authority to conduct securities related business in any capacity while in the employ of or associated with any MFDA Member shall be prohibited for a period of one year from the date of the order, pursuant to section 24.1.1(e) of MFDA By-law No. 1;
   2. The Respondent shall pay a fine in the amount of $5,000, pursuant to section 24.1.1(b) of MFDA By-law No. 1, payable as follows:
      1. $1,700 payable on or before the date of the settlement hearing;
      2. $1,700 payable no later than 2 months from the date that the Settlement Agreement is accepted by the Hearing Panel;
      3. $1,600 payable no later than 4 months from the date that the Settlement Agreement is accepted by the Hearing Panel;
   3. The Respondent shall in the future comply with all MFDA By-laws, Rules and Policies, and all applicable securities legislation and regulations made thereunder, including MFDA Rules 2.1.1, 2.1.4, 2.5.1 and 1.1.2; and
   4. The Respondent will attend in person, on the date set for the Settlement Hearing.

6. Staff and the Respondent agree to the settlement on the basis of the facts set out in Part III herein and consent to the making of an Order in the form attached as Schedule “A”.

III. AGREED FACTS

Registration History

7. Between June 20, 2002 and July 14, 2015, the Respondent was registered in Ontario as a mutual fund salesperson (now known as a dealing representative) with Scotia Securities Inc. (“Scotia”), a Member of the MFDA. The Respondent was terminated by the Member on July 14, 2015 due to the matters described herein.

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

9. At all material times, the Respondent conducted business in Toronto, Ontario.

Personal Financial Dealings with a Client

10. At all material times, client KA was a client of Scotia whose accounts were serviced by the Respondent.

11. At all material times, Scotia maintained policies and procedures which stated:

Any personal financial dealings, arrangements, or sharing of interest in a customer’s account other than as an [Mutual Fund Representative], is strictly prohibited.  Prohibited activities include:

• Entering a personal borrowing or lending arrangement with customers
• Using customer’s money for your personal investments
• Making personal settlements with customers as a result of a complaint (complaint resolutions may only be undertaken by the Compliance Department)
• Issuing personal cheques to customers for fees, paying losses or other reimbursements…

12. On or about February 11, 2014, the Respondent completed Scotia’s MFR Annual Certification Check-Off and MFR Annual Certification Course. The Respondent acknowledged and certified, among other things, that she had read and understood Scotia’s policies and all other Scotia business related News Items that have been issued; and conducted business on behalf of Scotia, in compliance with Scotia policies.

13. On or about August 22, 2014, the Respondent borrowed $5,000 from client KA.

14. In order to repay the loan to client KA, on or about August 22, 2014, the Respondent set up an automatic biweekly transfer of $194 from the Respondent’s bank account to client KA’s bank account, such that the loan would be repaid by September 4, 2015.

15. In January 2015, the Respondent ceased making payments to client KA to repay the loan.

16. In November 2016, the Respondent owed client KA at least $3,642 in respect of the loan the Respondent obtained from client KA.

17. The Respondent states that she has attempted to contact the client to resume repayments to the client but the client has not responded to the Respondent’s attempts

IV. ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

18. This settlement is agreed upon in accordance with section 24.4 of MFDA By-law No. 1 and Rules 14 and 15 of the MFDA Rules of Procedure.

19. The Settlement Agreement is subject to acceptance by the Hearing Panel which shall be sought at a hearing (the “Settlement Hearing”). At, or following the conclusion of, the Settlement Hearing, the Hearing Panel may either accept or reject the Settlement Agreement. MFDA Settlement Hearings are typically held in the absence of the public pursuant to section 20.5 of MFDA By-law No. 1 and Rule 15.2(2) of the MFDA Rules of Procedure. If the Hearing Panel accepts the Settlement Agreement, then the proceeding will become open to the public and a copy of the decision of the Hearing Panel and the Settlement Agreement will be made available at www.mfda.ca.

20. The Settlement Agreement shall become effective and binding upon the Respondent and Staff as of the date of its acceptance by the Hearing Panel. Unless otherwise stated, any monetary penalties and costs imposed upon the Respondent are payable immediately, and any suspensions, revocations, prohibitions, conditions or other terms of the Settlement Agreement shall commence, upon the effective date of the Settlement Agreement.

21. Staff and the Respondent agree that if this Settlement Agreement is accepted by the Hearing Panel:
    1. the Settlement Agreement will constitute the entirety of the evidence to be submitted respecting the Respondent in this matter;
    2. the Respondent waives any rights to a full hearing, a review hearing before the Board of Directors of the MFDA or any securities commission with jurisdiction in the matter under its enabling legislation, or a judicial review or appeal of the matter before any court of competent jurisdiction;
    3. Staff will not initiate any proceeding under the By-laws of the MFDA against the Respondent in respect of the contraventions described in this Settlement Agreement. Nothing in this Settlement Agreement precludes Staff from investigating or initiating proceedings in respect of any contraventions that are not set out in this Settlement Agreement.  Furthermore, nothing in this Settlement Agreement shall relieve the Respondent from fulfilling any continuing regulatory obligations;
    4. the Respondent shall be deemed to have been penalized by the Hearing Panel pursuant to section 24.1.2 of MFDA By-law No. 1 for the purpose of giving notice to the public thereof in accordance with section 24.5 of MFDA By-law No. 1; and
    5. neither Staff nor the Respondent will make any public statement inconsistent with this Settlement Agreement. Nothing in this section is intended to restrict the Respondent from making full answer and defence to any civil or other proceedings against the Respondent.

22. If, for any reason, this Settlement Agreement is not accepted by the Hearing Panel, each of Staff and the Respondent will be entitled to any available proceedings, remedies and challenges, including proceeding to a disciplinary hearing pursuant to sections 20 and 24 of MFDA By-law No. 1, unaffected by the Settlement Agreement or the settlement negotiations.

23. Staff and the Respondent agree that the terms of the Settlement Agreement, including the attached Schedule “A”, will be released to the public only if and when the Settlement Agreement is accepted by the Hearing Panel.

24. The Settlement Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute a binding agreement. A facsimile copy of any signature shall be effective as an original signature.