Temporary Order: In the Matter of Oversea Chinese Fund Limited Partnership et al.

Order

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

- AND -

IN THE MATTER OF OVERSEA CHINESE FUND LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, WEIZHEN TANG AND ASSOCIATES INC.,
WEIZHEN TANG CORP. AND WEIZHEN TANG

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    WHEREAS on March 17, 2009, pursuant to subsections 127(1) and (5) of the Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as amended (the “Act”), the Ontario Securities Commission (the “Commission”) made the following temporary orders (the “Temporary Order”) against Oversea Chinese Fund Limited Partnership (“Oversea”), Weizhen Tang and Associates Inc. (“Associates”), Weizhen Tang Corp. (“Corp.”) and Weizhen Tang (collectively, the “Respondents”):

 

 

  1. that all trading in securities of Oversea, Associates and Corp. shall cease;
  2. that all trading by the Respondents shall cease; and
  3. that the exemptions contained in Ontario securities law do not apply to the Respondents.

    AND WHEREAS on March 17, 2009, pursuant to subsection 127(6) of the Act, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order shall expire on the 15th day after its making unless extended by order of the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS on March 18, 2009, the Commission issued a Notice of Hearing to consider, among other things, the extension of the Temporary Order, to be held on April 1, 2009 at 2:00 p.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 Temporary Order until such further time as considered necessary by the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS prior to the April 1, 2009 hearing date, Staff of the Commission (“Staff”) served the Respondents with copies of the Temporary Order, Notice of Hearing, and Staff’s supporting materials;

    AND WHEREAS on April 1, 2009, counsel for the Respondents advised the Commission that the Respondents did not oppose the extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on April 1, 2009, 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 until September 10, 2009;

    AND WHEREAS on April 1, 2009, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended, pursuant to subsection 127(8) of the Act, to September 10, 2009 and the hearing be adjourned to September 9, 2009;

    AND WHEREAS on September 8, 2009, the Commission ordered, on consent, that the Temporary Order be extended until September 26, 2009 and the hearing be adjourned until September 25, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on September 24, 2009, the Commission ordered, on consent, that the Temporary Order be extended until October 23, 2009 and the hearing be adjourned until October 22, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on October 22, 2009, the Commission ordered, on consent, that the Temporary Order be extended until November 16, 2009 and the hearing be adjourned until November 13, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on November 13, 2009, the Respondents brought a motion before the Commission to have the Temporary Order varied to allow Weizhen Tang to trade (the “Tang Motion”) and Staff opposed this motion;

    AND WHEREAS on November 13, 2009, Staff sought an extension of the Temporary Order until after the conclusion of the charges before the Ontario Court of Justice against Oversea, Associates and Weizhen Tang;

    AND WHEREAS on November 13, 2009, the Commission considered the materials filed by the parties, the evidence given by Weizhen Tang, and the submissions of counsel for Staff and counsel for the Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS on November 13, 2009, the Commission was of the opinion that, pursuant to subsection 127(8) of the Act, satisfactory information had not been provided to the Commission by any of the Respondents; it was in the public interest to order that the Tang Motion be denied; the Temporary Order be extended until June 30, 2010; and the hearing be adjourned to June 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on June 29, 2010, Staff sought an extension of the Temporary Order until after the conclusion of the charges before the Ontario Court of Justice against Oversea, Associates and Weizhen Tang;

    AND WHEREAS on June 29, 2010, the Respondents and Staff filed materials, including the Affidavit of Jeff Thomson, sworn on June 23, 2010;

    AND WHEREAS on June 29, 2010, the Commission considered the materials filed by the parties, the submissions of counsel for Staff and counsel for the Respondents, and the submissions of Weizhen Tang;

    AND WHEREAS on June 29, 2010, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended until March 31, 2011, and the hearing be adjourned to March 30, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on March 30, 2011, no one appeared on behalf of the Respondents despite being given notice of the appearance;

    AND WHEREAS on March 30, 2011, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order was extended until May 17, 2011, and the hearing was adjourned to May 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on May 16, 2011, Staff made submissions and sought an extension of the Temporary Order and the Respondent Weizhen Tang appeared on behalf of all Respondents and made submissions opposing the extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on May 16, 2011, the Commission concluded pursuant to subsection 127(8) of the Act that satisfactory information had not been provided to the Commission by any of the Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS on May 16, 2011, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended until November 1, 2011 and the hearing be adjourned to October 31, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, Staff appeared before the Commission seeking an extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, Weizhen Tang appeared on behalf of all Respondents opposing the extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, Staff and the Respondents filed materials and made submissions before the Commission;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, the Commission considered the materials filed by the parties, the submissions of counsel for Staff and the submissions of Weizhen Tang;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, the Commission concluded pursuant to subsection 127(8) of the Act that satisfactory information was not provided by any of the Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, the Commission advised Weizhen Tang that the Respondents could bring a motion under section 144 of the Act to vary the Temporary Order prior to the next hearing date;

    AND WHEREAS on October 31, 2011, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended to September 24, 2012 and that the hearing be adjourned to September 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on September 21, 2012, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended to January 21, 2013 and that the hearing be adjourned to January 18, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on January 18, 2013, Staff appeared before the Commission to request an extension of the Temporary Order and no one appeared on behalf of the Respondents despite being given notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS Weizhen Tang indicated by email dated January 17, 2013 that he opposed the extension of the Temporary Order and attached materials to his email;

    AND WHEREAS Weizhen Tang was not able to appear before the Commission due to an appearance in another matter;

    AND WHEREAS on January 18, 2013, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended until February 4, 2013 and the hearing of this matter be adjourned to February 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on February 1, 2013, Staff appeared before the Commission to request an extension of the Temporary Order and no one appeared on behalf of the Respondents despite being given notice of the hearing;

    AND WHEREAS Staff informed the Commission that, following the appearance before the Commission on January 18, 2013, Weizhen Tang advised Staff by email that his criminal sentencing hearing before the Superior Court of Justice was also scheduled to continue on February 1, 2013;

    AND WHEREAS Staff further informed the Commission that counsel for Staff was informed on February 1, 2013 at approximately 1:30 p.m. that Weizhen Tang was to be sentenced by the Superior Court of Justice at 3:00 p.m.;

    AND WHEREAS Weizhen Tang had indicated through materials provided to Staff and the Commission that he opposed the extension of the Temporary Order;

    AND WHEREAS on February 1, 2013, the Commission ordered that the Temporary Order be extended until February 6, 2013 and the hearing of this matter be adjourned to February 5, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.;

    AND WHEREAS on February 5, 2013, Staff appeared before the Commission to request an extension of the Temporary Order and no one appeared on behalf of the Respondents;

    AND WHEREAS Staff informed the Commission that, immediately following the appearance before the Commission on the afternoon of February 1, 2013, counsel for Staff attended at the Superior Court of Justice and personally advised the amicus curiae in the criminal proceedings involving Weizhen Tang that the hearing of this matter was adjourned to February 5, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. and that this information was then conveyed to Weizhen Tang by the amicus curiae;

    AND WHEREAS Staff informed the Commission that, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on February 1, 2013, Weizhen Tang was sentenced by the Superior Court of Justice to six years in the penitentiary and that shortly thereafter Weizhen Tang was taken into custody;

    AND WHEREAS 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 until August 1, 2013 and the hearing of this matter is adjourned to July 31, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. without prejudice to the Respondents to bring an application to vary the Temporary Order pursuant to section 144 of the Act.

    DATED at Toronto this 5th day of February, 2013.

 

" Mary G. Condon "
Mary G. Condon