IN THE MATTER OF Roger Michael Biduk - Discipline Hearing

MONTRÉAL, April 23, 2012 /CNW/ - A hearing has been scheduled before a Hearing Panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), in the matter of Roger Michael Biduk.

The hearing concerns allegations Mr. Biduk incorrectly defined the investment objectives and risk tolerance of certain clients, most of whom were retired or nearing retirement. He also recommended aggressive and speculative investment strategies, which were incompatible with his clients' personal and financial circumstances, and which resulted in substantial losses.

The hearing is open to the public, unless the Hearing Panel orders otherwise. The decision of the panel will be made available at www.iiroc.ca.

Documents related to ongoing IIROC enforcement proceedings - including Reasons and Decisions of Hearing Panels - are posted on the IIROC website as they become available. Click here to search and access all IIROC enforcement documents.

Hearing Date:						10:00 a.m., May 8-10, 2012
Location:						Delta Montréal 475 Président-Kennedy Avenue Montréal, Québec Beethoven Room

Specifically, the allegations are:

(a)	Between February 2006 and May 2008, Mr. Biduk failed to properly discharge his Know-Your-Client obligations for a number of clients, and to define their investment objectives and risk tolerance according to their personal and financial circumstances, contrary to Regulation 1300.1 a) of the IDA (IIROC Rule 1300.1 o);
(b)	Between February 2006 and May 2008, Mr. Biduk failed to use due diligence when he recommended a high-risk trading strategy inappropriate to his clients' personal and financial circumstances, contrary to Regulation 1300.1 q) of the IDA (IIROC Rule 1300.1 p).

IIROC formally initiated the investigation into Mr. Biduk's conduct in September 2008. The alleged violations occurred when Mr. Biduk was a Registered Representative with the Hudson branch of Union Securities Ltd., an IIROC-regulated firm. Mr. Biduk is no longer a registrant with an IIROC-regulated firm.

The Notice of Hearing which sets out the allegations is available at http://docs.iiroc.ca/DisplayDocument.aspx?DocumentID=9F77D33D858545148B2CB9A4E672E52C&Language=en

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IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada. Created in 2008 through the consolidation of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Market Regulation Services Inc., IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while maintaining efficient and competitive capital markets.

IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of dealer firms and their registered employees and through setting and enforcing market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian equity marketplaces.

IIROC investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and/or individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in penalties including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms.

All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by IIROC-regulated firms is available free of charge through the IIROC AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1.877.442.4322.

For further information:

Enforcement Contact: 

Carmen Crépin
Vice president, Québec
514 878-2854
[e-mail] 

Media Contact: 

David Thomas
Director, Public Affairs
416 943-6921
[e-mail]