Securities & Exchange Commission v. Antoine Silver Mines, Ltd.
Securities & Exchange Commission v. Antoine Silver Mines, Ltd.
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
The Securities and Exchange Commission seeks a preliminary injunction prohibiting the defendants from selling unregistered securities of Antoine Silver Mines, Ltd. Since there is a reasonable likelihood that such sales may occur, thus violating sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, I grant the request. The injunction shall remain in effect only until there is a full hearing on the merits.
The evidence produced at a hearing on October 4, 1968 indicated that Antoine Silver Mines, Ltd. (N.P.L.), Republic Holdings, Ltd., Alladin Holdings, Ltd., and Royden Morris and Company, Ltd., are each organized under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, with their principal places of business in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Morris firm and Royden J. Morris are registered as a broker and a stock salesman, respectively, with the
At the hearing, only Antoine contested the injunction. Royden J. Morris and the Morris company had previously filed an affidavit opposing the request. As to the other defendants, the proceedings have been ex parte. The court has jurisdiction under section 22(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. § 77v(a) and section 27 of the 1934 Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78aa.
I. Unlawful Transactions
A Canadian corporation, Antoine is engaged in silver mining with over two million shares of stock outstanding. None of Antoine’s shares have been registered under section 5 of the 1933 Securities Act.
In May 1967 and October 1967, respectively, Republic and Alladin began selling Antoine stock to United States residents through the Morris firm. The companies accumulated large blocks of Antoine stock from three primary sources: Joseph Kopas’ personal shareholdings, the Canadian over-the-counter market, and a stock issue by Antoine. While the latter issue was ostensibly purchased by the Morris firm and sold to Canadian residents, these moves constituted an elaborate deception to obscure the actual buyers, Republic and Alladin.
Sales to American residents ceased in January 1968, shortly after the SEC began investigating these transactions in December 1967. Specifically, soon after Robert Kopas learned of the Commission’s activities, Republic and Alladin discontinued their United States sales. These corporations remain active, however, in promoting Antoine stock in Canada.
II. Antoine’s Objections
Antoine introduced no evidence at the hearing except a SEC release. It also recalled one SEC witness for further testimony.
The mining company protests the preliminary injunction for two principal reasons. First, it claims that section 4(4) of the 1933 Act
Second, Antoine’s registration under section 12(g) of the Securities Act of 1934 allegedly obviates the need for registration under section 5 of the 1933 Act. These two registrations, however, serve different functions. To illustrate, the latter section requires that a prospectus containing pertinent data be supplied to all prospective purchasers while the former statute does not contain a similar provision. Furthermore, section 6(a) of the 1933 Act specifically provides for registration statements by foreign issuers. See also Securities Act Release No. 4240, page 1.
In addition, Antoine claims the injunction will hinder its ability to obtain financing. But the injunction will only restrain future sales of unregistered stock. If financing becomes difficult, it will be because investors lose faith in the company. See SEC v. Culpepper, 270 F.2d 241 (2nd Cir. 1959); Associated Securities Corp. v. SEC, 283 F.2d 773 (10th Cir. 1960).
III. Preliminary Injunction
In accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 77t
On the other hand, the injunction will not preclude the sale of all unregistered securities by the defendants since such a provision would be . overly broad. See, e. g., NLRB v. Express Publishing Co., 312 U.S. 426, 433, 61 S.Ct. 693, 85 L.Ed. 930 (1941). The evidence produced at the hearing only demonstrated illegal sales of Antoine stock; it did not show a general pattern of sales of other unregistered securities. Compare Bowles v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 143 F.2d 38, 42 (7th Cir. 1944).
IV. Unregistered Brokers
The Morris firm has been engaged as a broker in securities, though not registered with the SEC pursuant to section 15(b) of the 1934 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78o (b). It has used the mails and other instrumentalities of interstate commerce to effect transactions in non-exempt securities otherwise than on a national securities exchange. Moreover, Royden J. Morris caused this company to perform said practices.
An additional injunction restraining these two defendants from con
In this situation, there is no reasonable likelihood of future violations of either of these defendants, and an injunction is not required. See SEC v. Franklin Atlas Corp., 154 F.Supp. 395 (S.D. N.Y. 1957).
V. Conclusion
Accordingly, I have today entered the following order. Pending a final determination on the merits, the defendants Antoine Silver Mines, Ltd. (N.P.L.), Joseph Kopas, William Bandeen, Royden Morris & Co., Ltd., Royden J. Morris, Republic Holdings, Ltd., Robert Kopas, Joseph Merrin, and Alladin Holdings, Ltd., their officers, agents, servants and employees, attorneys and each of them are restrained and enjoined from directly and indirectly, making use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to sell shares of Antoine Silver Mines, Ltd.; or carrying such securities or causing them to be carried through the mails or in interstate commerce by any means or instruments of transportation for the purpose of sale or for delivery after sale unless and until a registration statement is in effect with the Securities and Exchange Commission as to such securities; or making use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce, or of the mails to offer to sell such securities through the use or medium of a prospectus or otherwise unless and until a registration statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as to such securities, or while a registration statement as to such securities is the subject of a refusal order or stop order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or (prior to the effective date of the registration statement) any public proceeding or examination under Section 8 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 77h); provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any securities or transactions which are exempt from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
. With respect to Republic and Alladin, Joseph Kopas’ status as a controlling person is indicated by his son’s beneficial ownership of all shares of these companies, his statement that his son would act on his behalf in Republic, and his contribution to Republic of substantially all of its assets. Moreover, the two companies’ actions demonstrated common control with Antoine; for example, Republic loaned money to Antoine and paid a fee due to the latter’s financial public relations consultant.
A selling shareholder who is part of a control group stands in the same position as one who is in sole control, subject to the same prohibition against selling without registration. See SBC v. Micro-Moisture Controls, 167 F.Supp. 716 (S.D.N.Y. 1958).
. The prices of sales from Canadian residents to the two companies illustrated the sham nature of this transaction. The prices were approximately one-third less than the prevailing price for identical stock sold by the companies to American citizens.
. That section excludes “brokers’ transactions executed upon customers’ orders on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market but not the solicitation of such orders.”
. That section authorizes injunctions “whenever * * * any person is engaged or about to engage in any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of the provisions of this subchapter, * * * upon a proper showing * *
. Although Antoine ceased selling stock before the start of the SEC investigation, its actions cannot be viewed in isolation. Controlled by Joseph Kopas, Antoine was a convenient source of stock in the past and could easily become such a source again.
. See note 4 supra.
. In addition, the court retains jurisdiction so that an injunction shall immediately issue if either defendant resumes acting as an unregistered broker. Compare United States v. Parke, Davis & Co., 365 U.S. 125, 81 S.Ct. 433, 5 L. Ed.2d 457 (1961).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. ANTOINE SILVER MINES, LTD. (N.P.L.)
- Status
- Published