The B.C. Securities Commission has set June 16-19, 2014 as the date to hear evidence that Victoria-based League Investment Services broke securities law when it was promoting the sale of shares in a real estate investment trust.
The commission claimed League failed to disclose that its owners and sole directors, Adam Gant and Emanuel Arruda, were also trustees of the IGW REIT and are the owners, officers and the sole directors of IGW REIT's management company. The commission claims they promoted the sale of IGW REIT securities between September 2010 and June 2012 through its website, brochures and Blue Book.
The commission said by recommending that investment without disclosing the relationship League Investment Services breached securities law.
In an earlier interview, Gant characterized the allegations as “strange,” noting all investors participating did so aware they were offering investment, and would be managing those entities through League Assets.
The hearing is considered by the commission to be a regulatory proceeding, as opposed to a criminal proceeding. As a result, penalties that could be imposed range from fines to trading bans.
The League group of companies manages more than $2 billion in assets across Canada and is building the $1-billion Capital City Centre mixed-use development in Colwood — although that development has stalled while the company arranges new financing.