BCSC panel permanently bans B.C. man from capital markets

VANCOUVER, Aug. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - A British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) panel has permanently banned Gordon Brent Pierce from the province's capital markets, citing his history of securities misconduct in British Columbia and in the United States.

Pierce, a B.C. resident, is the subject of two orders issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The orders include sanctions for securities related misconduct in the U.S. and were issued in 2009 and 2011.

Pierce also has a prior securities regulatory history in B.C. On June 8, 1993, Pierce entered into a settlement agreement with the Commission. As part of the settlement, Pierce agreed to an order that prohibited him from acting as a director or officer of a reporting issuer and from acting as an officer or director of any company that provides management and administrative, promotional or consulting services to any reporting issuer for a period of 15 years. The order also removed his ability to rely on trading exemptions for the same period.

In its decision, the panel stated that Pierce poses a grave risk to B.C.'s capital markets, saying:

[I]t is significant that Pierce's misconduct in the US occurred during the time period in which his sanctions from this Commission were operative.  Rather than being deterred by our order, he simply carried on with securities related misconduct in another jurisdiction.  This suggests that Pierce will not allow himself to be regulated.

The panel has ordered that Pierce resign any positions he holds as, and is permanently prohibited from becoming or acting as, a director or officer of any issuer or registrant. The panel also permanently banned Pierce from trading in or purchasing any securities or exchange contracts, becoming or acting as a registrant or promoter, acting in a management or consultative capacity in connection with activities in the securities market, and engaging in investor relations activities.

You may view the sanctions decision on our website www.bcsc.bc.ca by typing Gordon Brent Pierce or 2016 BCSECCOM 264 in the search box. Information regarding disciplinary proceedings can be found in the Enforcement section of the BCSC website.

Please visit the Canadian Securities Administrators' Disciplined List for information relating to persons and companies disciplined by provincial securities regulators, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA).

About the British Columbia Securities Commission (www.bcsc.bc.ca)

The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act. Our mission is to protect and promote the public interest by fostering:

• A securities market that is fair and warrants public confidence
• A dynamic and competitive securities industry that provides investment opportunities and access to capital

Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at www.investright.org

SOURCE British Columbia Securities Commission

Media Contact: Alison Walker, 604-899-6713; Public inquiries: 604-899-6854 or 1-800-373-6393 (toll free), [email protected]