MFDA announces settlement hearing to take place in respect of Vasant Avhad

TORONTO, June 21, 2018 /CNW/ - The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada ("MFDA") commenced a disciplinary proceeding in respect of Vasant Avhad ("Respondent") by Notice of Hearing dated February 16, 2018.

As the result of a settlement agreement entered into between Staff of the MFDA and the Respondent, the settlement hearing in this proceeding will take place on June 25, 2018, commencing at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain) or as soon thereafter as the matter can be held, in the hearing room at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel, located at 4236 36^th Street East, Edmonton, Alberta.

The subject matter of the proposed settlement agreement concerns matters for which the Respondent may be disciplined pursuant to ss. 20 and 24.1.1 of By-law No. 1 of the MFDA. In particular, the settlement agreement concerns allegations that the Respondent:

1. between December 30, 2015 and January 4, 2016, opened two accounts for a client, recorded the client's Know-Your-Client information, and processed two transactions in the client's accounts without having met or communicated with the client, thereby failing to use due diligence to learn the essential facts relative to a client and to each order or account accepted, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.2.1 and 2.1.1; and
2. on December 30, 2015, created a note on the Member's back office system which indicated that he met with a client to open two accounts at the Member when he had not done so, contrary to MFDA Rule 2.1.1.

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.

A copy of the Notice of Hearing is available on the MFDA website at www.mfda.ca. During the period described in the Notice of Hearing, the Respondent conducted business in the Fort McMurray, Alberta area.

The MFDA is the self-regulatory organization for Canadian mutual fund dealers, regulating the operations, standards of practice and business conduct of its Members and their approximately 82,000 Approved Persons with a mandate to protect investors and the public interest. For more information about the MFDA's complaint and enforcement processes, as well as links to 'Check an Advisor' and other Investor Tools, visit the For Investors page on the MFDA website.

SOURCE Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada