-------------------- BEGINNING OF PAGE #1 ------------------- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Before the Securities and Exchange Commission Securities Act of 1933 Release No. 7237 / October 30, 1995 Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 Release No. 36433 / October 30, 1995 On October 30, 1995 the Commission instituted administrative proceedings pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Sections 15(b)(6) and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") against Nicholas P. Howard. In the Order the Division of Enforcement (the "Division") alleges that from as early as December 1990 through at least November 1991, Howard caused and willfully aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced or procured violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rules 10b-5 and 10b-9, thereunder and Section 17(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 in connection with a part or none offering by New Europe Hotels, N.V. ("NEH") in January 1991 and a subsequent offering in November 1991. In the Order the Division alleges that James Capel Inc. ("JCI"), a registered broker-dealer, was the exclusive selling agent in the U.S. for the NEH offerings. Howard, during the relevant period, was associated with JCI, was the head of JCI's European equity sales, and was a managing director of NEH. In connection with the January 1991 NEH offering, the Division alleges that to reach the minimum subscription of 2,000,000 shares, the Capel Group [an affiliated group of international brokerage firms, including JCI] purchased 55,650 shares and took 100,000 additional shares in lieu of JCI's fees. Thirty thousand shares held on the Capel Group's books on the settlement date for a subsequent sale by JCI to a client were also counted towards the minimum subscription. In addition, NEH arranged loan to enable the entity engaged to manage NEH (the "Manager") to purchase shares that were also counted towards the minimum subscription. Finally, over a third of the subscription fees had not been collected by the settlement date and complete payment was not received for over a month after the settlement date. The Division alleges that Howard was the individual responsible for selling NEH shares to U.S. investors and distributing offering materials to potential U.S. investors. Howard knew that the minimum subscription in the January 1991 offering was being made up in part through JCI taking shares in lieu of their fees and by a direct purchase by the Capel Group. He also participated in and and approved NEH's decision to engage in the loan arrangements with the Manager. In addition, Howard was aware that the shares being held for the client were counted towards the minimum subscription and that all settlement fees were not timely received. The Division also alleges that offering documents for both NEH offerings failed to disclose the Capel Group's acquisition of NEH shares in the January offering, the loan arrangements with the Manager or the holding of shares on the Capel Group's books -------------------- BEGINNING OF PAGE #2 ------------------- for the client. Howard, as head of JCI's European equity sales and as a managing director of NEH, had responsibility for ensuring that NEH's offering documents in both offerings were accurate. The Division alleges that Howard knew or recklessly disregarded the fact that the offering documents for both the January and November NEH offerings failed to disclose the material facts of which he was aware. Finally the Division alleges that Howard improperly sold NEH shares from the Capel Group's books to a registered investment company with which JCI had a contract to provide advice and recommendations regarding the purchase and sale of certain securities. The Division alleges that Howard knew or was reckless in not knowing that the sale of NEH stock to the fund was improper. A public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence will be held at a time and place to be fixed before an Administrative Law Judge. [Admin. Proc. File No. 3- ]