Order: In the Matter of Global Energy Group, Ltd. et al.

Order






IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 AS AMENDED

- AND -

GLOBAL ENERGY GROUP, LTD., NEW GOLD LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS,
CHRISTINA HARPER, HOWARD RASH, MICHAEL SCHAUMER,
ELLIOT FEDER, VADIM TSATSKIN, ODED PASTERNAK,
ALAN SILVERSTEIN, HERBERT GROBERMAN, ALLAN WALKER,
PETER ROBINSON, VYACHESLAV BRIKMAN, NIKOLA BAJOVSKI,
BRUCE COHEN and ANDREW SHIFF

ORDER
(Subsections 127(7) and 127(8))



    WHEREAS on July 10, 2008, the Ontario Securities Commission (the “Commission”) issued a temporary order, pursuant to subsections 127(1) and (5) of the Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as amended (the “Act”), that all trading by Global Energy Group, Ltd. (“Global Energy”) and the New Gold Limited Partnerships (the “New Gold Partnerships”) (together, the “Corporate Respondents”) and their officers, directors, employees and/or agents in securities of the New Gold Partnerships shall cease (the “First Temporary Order”);

    AND WHEREAS on July 10, 2008, the Commission ordered that the First Temporary Order shall expire on the 15th day after its making unless extended by order of the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS on July 15, 2008, the Commission issued a Notice of Hearing to consider, among other things, the extension of the First Temporary Order, such hearing to be held on July 23, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS the Notice of Hearing sets out that the hearing is to consider, inter alia, whether, in the opinion of the Commission, it is in the public interest, pursuant to subsections 127(7) and (8) of the Act, to extend the First Temporary Order until such time as considered necessary by the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS a hearing was held on July 23, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at which Staff and counsel for Global Energy appeared but no counsel appeared for the New Gold Partnerships;

    AND WHEREAS on July 23, 2008, the First Temporary Order was continued until August 6, 2008 and the hearing in this matter was adjourned until August 5, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. on consent of Staff and counsel for Global Energy;

    AND WHEREAS a hearing was held on August 5, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at which Staff and counsel for Global Energy appeared but no counsel appeared for the New Gold Partnerships;

    AND WHEREAS on August 5, 2008, the First Temporary Order was continued until December 4, 2008 and the hearing in this matter was adjourned until December 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. on consent of Staff and counsel for Global Energy;

    AND WHEREAS on December 3, 2008, on the basis of the record for the written hearing and on consent of Staff and counsel for Global Energy, a Panel of the Commission ordered that the First Temporary Order be extended until June 11, 2009 and that the hearing in this matter be adjourned to June 10, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on June 10, 2009, Staff advised the Commission that Victor Tsatskin, a.k.a. Vadim Tsatskin (“Tsatskin”), an agent of Global Energy, would not be attending the hearing and was not opposed to Staff’s request for the extension of the First Temporary Order and no counsel had communicated with Staff on behalf of the New Gold Partnerships;

    AND WHEREAS on June 10, 2009, on hearing the submissions of Staff, a Panel of the Commission ordered that the First Temporary Order be extended until October 9, 2009 and that the hearing in this matter be adjourned to October 8, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on October 8, 2009, on hearing the submissions of Staff, a Panel of the Commission ordered that the First Temporary Order be extended until March 11, 2010 and that the hearing in this matter be adjourned to March 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on March 10, 2010, on hearing the submissions of Staff, a Panel of the Commission ordered that the First Temporary Order be extended until July 12, 2010 and that the hearing in this matter be adjourned to July 9, 2010, at 11:30 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on April 7, 2010, the Commission issued a temporary cease trade order pursuant to subsections 127(1) and 127(5) of the Act ordering the following (the “Second Temporary Order”):

i) Christina Harper (“Harper”), Howard Rash (“Rash”), Michael Schaumer (“Schaumer”), Elliot Feder (“Feder”), Tsatskin, Oded Pasternak (“Pasternak”), Alan Silverstein (“Silverstein”), Herbert Groberman (“Groberman”), Allan Walker (“Walker”), Peter Robinson (“Robinson”), Vyacheslav Brikman (“Brikman”), Nikola Bajovski (“Bajovski”), Bruce Cohen (“Cohen”) and Andrew Shiff (“Shiff”) (collectively, the “Individual Respondents”), shall cease trading in all securities; and

ii) that any exemptions contained in Ontario securities law do not apply to the Individual Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS, on April 7, 2010, the Commission ordered that the Second Temporary Order shall expire on the 15th day after its making unless extended by order of the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS on April 14, 2010, the Commission issued a Notice of Hearing to consider, among other things, the extension of the Second Temporary Order, to be held on April 20, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS the Notice of Hearing sets out that the Hearing is to consider, amongst other things, whether, in the opinion of the Commission, it is in the public interest, pursuant to subsections 127(7) and (8) of the Act, to extend the Second Temporary Order until the conclusion of the hearing, or until such further time as considered necessary by the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, a hearing was held before the Commission and none of the Individual Respondents appeared before the Commission to oppose Staff’s request for the extension of the Second Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, the Commission was satisfied that Staff had served or made reasonable attempts to serve each of the Individual Respondents with copies of the Second Temporary Order, the Notice of Hearing, and the Evidence Brief of Staff as evidenced by the Affidavit of Kathleen McMillan, sworn on April 20, 2010, and filed with the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that: in the absence of a continuing cease-trade order, the length of time required to conclude a hearing could be prejudicial to the public interest; and, it was in the public interest to extend the Second Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on April 20, 2010, pursuant to subsections 127(7) and (8) of the Act, the Second Temporary Order was extended to June 15, 2010 and the hearing in this matter was adjourned to June 14, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on June 14, 2010, a hearing was held before the Commission and the Commission ordered that the Second Temporary Order be extended until September 1, 2010 and the hearing be adjourned to September 1, 2010, at 1:00 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on June 14, 2010, on hearing the submissions of Staff, a Panel of the Commission ordered that the First Temporary Order be extended until September 1, 2010 and that the hearing in this matter be adjourned to September 1, 2010, at 1:00 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on September 1, 2010, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that in the absence of a continuing cease-trade order, the length of time required to conclude a hearing could be prejudicial to the public interest;

    AND WHEREAS on September 1, 2010, pursuant to subsections 127(7) and 127(8) of the Act, the First Temporary Order and Second Temporary Order were extended to November 9, 2010 and the hearing in this matter was adjourned to November 8, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on September 1, 2010, it was further ordered pursuant to subsections 127(1) and (2) of the Act that, notwithstanding the Second Temporary Order, Feder is permitted to trade securities in an account in his own name or in an account of his registered retirement savings plans (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) in which he has the sole legal and beneficial ownership, provided that:

(i) the securities traded are listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ (or their successor exchanges) which is a reporting issuer; and

(ii) he carries out any permitted trading through a dealer registered with the Commission (which dealer must be given a copy of this order) and through accounts opened in his name only (the “Amended Second Temporary Order”).

    AND WHEREAS on November 5, 2010, the Commission approved a settlement agreement between Staff and Robinson;

    AND WHEREAS on November 8, 2010, Staff, Schaumer, Shiff, Silverstein, counsel for Rash, and counsel for Pasternak, Walker and Brikman, attended the hearing; and whereas Harper and Groberman had each advised Staff that they would not be attending the hearing; and whereas no person attended on behalf of the Corporate Respondents; and whereas Tsatskin, Bajovski and Cohen did not appear;

    AND WHEREAS on November 8, 2010, counsel for Feder removed himself from the record due to a conflict of interest, and new counsel for Feder advised the Commission that he would need to satisfy himself that he was able to represent Feder, and would advise Staff accordingly as soon as possible;

    AND WHEREAS on November 8, 2010, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that it was in the public interest that the First Temporary Order and the Amended Second Temporary Order be extended to December 8, 2010 and the hearing in this matter be adjourned to December 7, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, Staff, Schaumer, Silverstein, counsel for Pasternak, Walker and Brikman, and an agent for new counsel for Feder attended the hearing; and whereas no person appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents; and whereas Harper, Rash, Tsatskin, Groberman, Bajovski, Cohen and Shiff did not appear;

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, the Commission was satisfied that all of the Respondents had been properly served with notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, Staff requested the extension of the First Temporary Order against the Corporate Respondents and the Amended Second Temporary Order against the Individual Respondents, and Schaumer, Silverstein, and counsel for Pasternak, Walker and Brikman consented to the extension of the Amended Second Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, an agent for new counsel for Feder informed the Commission that he did not have instructions as to whether Feder consented to an extension of the Amended Second Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, Staff informed the Commission that depending on settlement efforts, Staff might seek to bring an application to hold the next hearing in this matter in writing;

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, the Commission directed that the First Temporary Order against the Corporate Respondents, and the Amended Second Temporary Order against the Individual Respondents, be consolidated into a single temporary order (the “Temporary Order”);

    AND WHEREAS on December 7, 2010, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that it was in the public interest that pursuant to subsections 127(7) and 127(8) of the Act, the Temporary Order be extended to March 3, 2011, without prejudice to Feder to bring a motion if he opposes the extension and that the hearing in this matter be adjourned to February 16, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on February 16, 2011, Staff, Schaumer, Shiff, counsel for Feder attended the hearing; and whereas no person appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents; and whereas counsel for Pasternak, Walker and Brikman; Harper, Rash, Tsatskin, Groberman, Bajovski and Cohen did not appear;

    AND WHEREAS on February 16, 2011, Staff requested the extension of the Temporary Order against the Individual Respondents and Corporate Respondents; and Schaumer and Shiff consented to the extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on February 16, 2011, counsel for Feder consented to the extension of the Temporary Order of December 7, 2010, save and except for the exceptions outlined in this order;

    AND WHEREAS on February 16, 2011, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that it was in the public interest to adjourn the hearing to May 3, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. and further extended the Temporary Order until May 4, 2011;

    AND WHEREAS on February 16, 2011, it was further ordered pursuant to subsections 127(7) and (8) of the Act, that the Temporary Order be extended to May 4, 2011, save and except that:

(a) Feder is permitted to trade securities in an account in his own name or in an account of his registered retirement savings plan (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) in which Feder has the sole legal and beneficial ownership, provided that:

(i) the securities traded are listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, or NASDAQ (or their successor exchanges) which is a reporting issuer; and

(ii) that Feder carries out any permitted trading through a dealer registered with the Commission (which dealer must be given a copy of this order) and through accounts opened in Feder’s name only; and

(b) Feder is permitted to contact the existing shareholders of (i) Genesis Rare Diamonds (Ontario) Ltd. (ii) Kimberlite Diamond Corporation and (iii) their subsidiaries, none of which is a reporting issuer, or their counsel and to discuss/explore the potential for the sale of Feder’s shares in those corporations to any or all of their existing shareholders and/or the purchase of Feder’s shares in those corporations by the respective corporations for cancellation, provided that Feder’s shares are not actually sold and/or purchased without Feder first obtaining a further exemption/order from the Commission that permits such sale(s) and/or purchase(s);

    AND WHEREAS on May 3, 2011, Staff, Schaumer, Shiff, and Silverstein attended the hearing; no one appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents; and counsel for Pasternak, Walker and Brikman; counsel for Rash; Tsatskin, Harper, Groberman, Bajovski and Cohen did not appear;

    AND WHEREAS on May 3, 2011, Staff requested an extension of the Temporary Order against the Individual Respondents and Corporate Respondents; and Schaumer, Shiff and Silverstein did not object to an extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on May 3, 2011, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that it was in the public interest to extend the Temporary Order against all named Respondents, except Rash, to the conclusion of the hearing on the merits; to extend the Temporary Order against Rash until July 12, 2011, and to adjourn the hearing to July 11, 2011 at 10:00 a.m., at which time Rash will have the opportunity to make submissions regarding any further extension of the Temporary Order against him;

    AND WHEREAS on July 11, 2011, Staff, Harper and Shiff attended the hearing and no one appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents, Pasternak, Walker, Brikman, Feder; Tsatskin, Schaumer, Silverstein, Groberman, Bajovski or Cohen;

    AND WHEREAS on July 11, 2011, Staff informed the Commission that Rash had recently retained new counsel in a related matter, and that Rash’s new counsel had advised Staff that he would not be attending the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS on July 11, 2011, Staff requested a further extension of the Temporary Order against Rash;

    AND WHEREAS on July 11, 2011, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that it was in the public interest to extend the Temporary Order against Rash to September 27, 2011, and to adjourn the hearing to September 26, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., at which time Rash would have the opportunity to make submissions regarding any further extension of the Temporary Order against him;

    AND WHEREAS on September 1, 2011, the Commission approved settlement agreements between Staff and each of Pasternak, Walker and Brikman;

    AND WHEREAS on September 26, 2011, Staff, Harper, Schaumer, Silverstein and Shiff attended the hearing and no one appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents, Feder, Rash, Tsatskin, Groberman, Bajovski or Cohen;

    AND WHEREAS on September 26, 2011, Staff requested a further extension of the Temporary Order against Rash;

    AND WHEREAS on September 26, 2011, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended against Rash until November 29, 2011, and that the hearing be adjourned to November 28, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on November 28, 2011, Staff and Shiff attended the hearing and no one appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents or any of the other Individual Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS the Commission was satisfied that the Corporate Respondents and the Individual Respondents had been properly served with notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS on November 28, 2011, Staff requested a further extension of the Temporary Order against Rash;

    AND WHEREAS on November 28, 2011, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended against Rash until December 16, 2011, and that the hearing be adjourned to December 15, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on November 29, 2011, the Commission approved settlement agreements between Staff and each of Silverstein and Schaumer;

    AND WHEREAS on December 15, 2011, Staff attended the hearing and no one appeared on behalf of the Corporate Respondents or the Individual Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS the Commission was satisfied that the Corporate Respondents and the Individual Respondents had been properly served with notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS on December 15, 2011 Staff requested a further extension of the Temporary Order against Rash;

    AND WHEREAS on December 15, 2011, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission was of the opinion that it was in the public interest to extend the Temporary Order against Rash to October 22, 2012, and to adjourn the hearing to October 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., without prejudice to either Staff or Rash to apply for a variation of the Temporary Order under section 144 of the Act;

    AND WHEREAS on January 20, 2011, the Commission approved a settlement agreement between Staff and Feder;

    AND WHEREAS on October 19, 2012, Staff attended the hearing and no one appeared on behalf of Rash;

    AND WHEREAS the Commission was satisfied that Staff served or made reasonable attempts to serve the Corporate Respondents and the Individual Respondents with notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS on October 19, 2012, Staff requested a further extension of the Temporary Order against Rash;

    AND WHEREAS on October 19, 2012, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended against Rash until February 28, 2013, without prejudice to either Staff or Rash to apply for a variation of the Temporary Order under section 144 of the Act, and that the hearing be adjourned to February 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on February 27, 2013, Staff attended the hearing and no one appeared on behalf of Rash;

    AND WHEREAS Staff filed the Affidavit of Peaches A. Barnaby sworn February 27, 2013 (the “February 27th Affidavit”) outlining service on Rash of the Commission’s Order dated October 19, 2012;

    AND WHEREAS the Commission was satisfied that Staff served or made reasonable attempts to serve the Corporate Respondents and the Individual Respondents with notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS Staff informed the Commission that Rash pleaded guilty to breaching Ontario securities law in connection with his activities as a salesperson at Global Energy in proceedings before the Ontario Court of Justice and that a hearing is currently scheduled for March 20, 2013, at which the parties to that proceeding may make submissions on sentence;

    AND WHEREAS Staff requested a further extension of the Temporary Order to a date following the sentencing hearing;

    AND WHEREAS the February 27th Affidavit sets out Rash’s consent, through his counsel, to the extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS the Commission considered the evidence and submissions before it and the Commission is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to make this order;

    IT IS ORDERED that the Temporary Order is extended against Rash until April 29, 2013, without prejudice to either Staff or Rash to apply for a variation of the Temporary Order under section 144 of the Act, and that the hearing is adjourned to April 26, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.

    DATED at Toronto this 27th day of February, 2013.

 

" Edward P. Kerwin "
Edward P. Kerwin