The Ontario Securities Commission yesterday issued a cease-trade order against Fulcrum Financial Group Inc. and two other companies following the closing of the London, Ont.-based insurance agency.

Fulcrum is not publicly traded, but has been conducting private placements of its shares with investors in southern Ontario. The company shut down its office last week, leaving investors without an explanation.

The OSC’s temporary order ceases trading in Fulcrum as well as Secured Life Ventures Inc. and Zephyr Alternative Power Inc., and prohibited trading by Fulcrum president Troy Van Dyk or executive vp William Rogers.

According to the OSC, Van Dyk and Rogers were trading common shares in the operating business of Fulcrum, as well as convertible debentures of Zephyr Alternative Power, an Ontario manufacturer of wind turbines.

The subscription agreement for the debentures “purports to provide an annual return of up to 10.25%,” the OSC said.

The commission also said the two men were also misleading investors about trading in so-called Secured Life Notes, which were a combination of promissory notes and shares of Secured Life Ventures.

The OSC said the subscription agreement for Secured Life Ventures “purports to provide an annual return on total amounts invested of 10% for 10 years.”

The OSC said Van Dyk and Rogers made “misleading representations” to investors about the securities, including representations about their future listings and future value.