The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) has ceased traded and fined an insurance agent from Medicine Hat, Alta. for his role in an illegal insider trading case.

Under the settlement agreement, James Douglas agreed to cease trading in all securities and exchange contracts for five years, and has paid the ASC $60,000 plus $10,000 in costs.

In the settlement agreement, Douglas acknowledged that he failed to take sufficient steps to ensure that trades made through his brokerage account by Bert Holtby and Richard Kowalchuk were in compliance with Alberta securities laws. At the time, Holtby was a director of Eveready Inc. and Kowalchuk was an investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy in Medicine Hat.

Douglas acknowledged that his account was to be used by Holtby and Kowalchuk as an “investment club” for the benefit of himself, Holtby and Kowalchuk. Douglas also admitted that, using his account, Holtby and Kowalchuk were able to secretly trade in shares of Eveready. Twenty-eight thousand Eveready shares were purchased through the account in March and April 2009, at prices between $2.50 and $3.50 per share. On April 29, 2009, Eveready announced it was being taken over by Clean Harbors Inc. and subsequently shares of Eveready jumped to over $10 per share. Douglas admits that, as a result of the way the investment club was set up, he profited in the amount of $40,000.

Kowalchuk entered into a settlement agreement with the ASC in April 2011, admitting to his role in the illegal insider trading that took place using the Douglas account and that his profit from the trades was approximately $100,000. Kowalchuk further admitted that Holtby would be entitled to the same amount.

A hearing into the allegations against Holtby and others is set to commence on May 16 in Calgary.