Toronto (Ontario), October 2 , 2023 – A hearing has been scheduled before a hearing panel of the Investment Dealer Division of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) to consider whether the panel should accept a settlement agreement entered into between Enforcement Staff and Gravitas Securities Inc. and Blayne Creed.

The hearing is not open to the public, but will become open in the event that the hearing panel accepts the settlement agreement. If the agreement is accepted, the panel’s decision and the settlement agreement will be made available at www.iiroc.ca.

Hearing Date: October 3, 2023 at 10:00 am Eastern Time

Location: Toronto, Ontario (via videoconference)

Members of the public who would like to obtain further particulars should fill out this questionnaire.

The Notice of Application announcing the settlement hearing is available at:

Gravitas Securities Inc. and Blayne Creed - Notice of Application

The alleged violations occurred while Blayne Creed was a Registered Representative, Ultimate Designated Person, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Gravitas Securities Inc. Gravitas Securities Inc. has been a Dealer Member since 2008. In June 2023, its membership with CIRO was suspended per Re Gravitas 2023 CIRO 02.

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All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms and individual registrants is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website for investment dealer disciplinary proceedings and the MFDA website for mutual fund dealer disciplinary proceedings.

Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by CIRO-regulated firms (Investment Dealer Division) is available free of charge through the AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1-877-442-4322.

CIRO investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in sanctions including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms.

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada’s debt and equity marketplaces. CIRO is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians’ trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit www.ciro.ca.

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