==========================================START OF PAGE 1====== UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Before the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Release No. 38177 / January 16, 1997 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING File No. 3-9225 ______________________________ : In the Matter of : ORDER INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS, : MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING ROBERT ALBERT MERRIFIELD : REMEDIAL SANCTIONS ______________________________: I. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and they hereby are, instituted against Robert Albert Merrifield ("Merrifield"), pursuant to Sections 15(b)(6) and 19(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Section 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. II. In anticipation of the institution of these administrative proceedings, Merrifield has submitted an Offer of Settlement of Robert Albert Merrifield ("Offer") which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose of these proceedings, and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission or in which the Commission is a party, Merrifield, without admitting or denying the findings, except as to the entry of the injunction set forth in paragraph III.C., which is admitted, admits the jurisdiction of the Commission over him and over the subject matter of this administrative proceeding and consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Proceedings, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions ("Order") and to the entry of the findings and imposition of the remedial sanctions set forth below. III. On the basis of this Order and Merrifield's Offer, the ==========================================START OF PAGE 2====== Commission finds-[1]- that: A. From at least 1981 through 1996, Merrifield has been employed as a registered representative associated with the following broker-dealers registered with the Commission: Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc., Power Securities Corporation, Monmouth Investments, Inc., MLB Investments, Ltd., I.A. Rabinowitz & Co., Palm Beach Financial, Inc., Network 1 Financial Securities Inc., PFS Investments Inc., and Primerica Financial Services. B. From July 13, 1990 through February 10, 1995, Merrifield was registered with the Commission as an investment adviser. C. Merrifield has been permanently enjoined by the United States District Court for the Western District of New York in an action captioned Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jamie Charles Spangler and Robert Albert Merrifield, 95 Civ. 814-A (W.D.N.Y.), from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. IV. Based upon the foregoing, IT IS ORDERED that administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted. Based on the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest to impose the sanctions specified in Merrifield's Offer, and accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Merrifield be, and hereby is, barred from association with any broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser, or investment company. By the Commission. Jonathan G. Katz Secretary ---------FOOTNOTES---------- -[1]- The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondent Merrifield's Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.