In re BANKER & CO. and
The SEC charged Banker & Co. and its unlicensed engagement partner Jitendra S. Banker with willfully violating Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 102(a) by issuing three audit reports for public companies after October 2003 without PCAOB registration, earning $6,800 in fees, and sought sanctions including suspension from practicing before the Commission.
The SEC initiated administrative proceedings against Banker & Co. and Jitendra S. Banker for issuing audit reports for OTC Dreamwerks, Morgan Clark Management, and Mill Creek Research between January and August 2004 without registering with the PCAOB, as required by Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act after October 22, 2003. Banker, a chartered accountant in England but not licensed as a CPA in any U.S. state, participated in all three audits and received approximately $6,800 in fees. The SEC alleged willful violations and seeks sanctions under Section 4C of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e), including potential censure or suspension from practicing before the Commission.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instituted administrative proceedings against Banker & Co., a California accounting firm, and its engagement partner Jitendra S. Banker for willfully violating Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing audit reports for three public companies after October 22, 2003, without registering with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Banker, a chartered accountant licensed in England since 1969 but not certified as a CPA in any U.S. state, participated in preparing and issuing audit reports dated January 31, 2004 (for OTC Dreamwerks), May 21, 2004 (for Morgan Clark Management), and August 10, 2004 (for Mill Creek Research), all of which were included in their respective Form 10-KSB filings with the SEC. Despite being aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, Banker & Co. never registered, and the firm received approximately $6,800 in aggregate fees for these unregistered audits. The SEC alleged that these actions constituted willful violations of federal securities laws and sought sanctions under Section 4C of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice. Potential penalties include censure, suspension, or permanent denial of the right to practice before the Commission. A hearing was scheduled, with an initial decision due within 300 days of service, and the proceedings aimed to deter unregistered firms from issuing audit reports for public companies. The three issuers—OTC Dreamwerks, Morgan, and Mill Creek—were all registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and met the definition of issuers under Sarbanes-Oxley, making the PCAOB registration requirement legally applicable.
Extracted insights
- $900K $900,000 $100K–$1M
- $7K $6,800 <$10K
- $200 $200 <$10K
- person administrative proceedings
- person audit report
- company banker & co.
- person jitendra s. banker
- person mill creek
- person otc dreamwerks
- person respondent misconduct
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- SEC Institutes Administrative Proceedings
- Division of Enforcement Alleges Respondent Misconduct
- Banker & Co. Prepared Audit Report
- Banker & Co. Issued Audit Report
- Jitendra S. Banker Participated In Preparation of Audit Reports
- OTC Dreamwerks Registered With SEC
- OTC Dreamwerks Reported No Revenue or Assets
- Morgan Registered With SEC
- Mill Creek Reported Revenues of $200
- Banker & Co. Did Not Register With PCAOB
- Banker & Co. Audited OTC Dreamwerks 2003 Financial Statements
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12788
In the Matter of
BANKER & CO. and
JITENDRA S. BANKER,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
AND NOTICE OF HEARING
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that public
administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
against Banker & Co. (“Banker & Co.”) and Jitendra S. Banker (“Banker”) (collectively
“Respondents”).
II.
After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Banker & Co. is a California corporation and public accounting firm
headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Banker & Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated
January 31, 2004, in connection with its audit of OTC Dreamwerks, Inc. (“OTC Dreamwerks”), an
audit report dated May 21, 2004, in connection with its audit of Morgan Clark Management, Inc.
(“Morgan”), and an audit report dated August 10, 2004, in connection with its audit of Mill Creek
Research, Inc. (“Mill Creek”)
2. Jitendra S. Banker, 67, of Costa Mesa, California, has been licensed as a chartered
accountant in England since 1969, but he is not licensed as a CPA in any American state. As
engagement partner on the OTC Dreamwerks, Morgan, and Mill Creek engagements, Banker
participated in the preparation and issuance of the January 31, 2004 OTC Dreamwerks audit report,
the May 21, 2004 Morgan Clark audit report, and the August 10, 2004 Mill Creek audit report.
B. OTHER RELEVANT ENTITIES
1. OTC Dreamwerks is a Utah corporation based in Orange, California. OTC
Dreamwerk’s common stock does not currently trade and was registered with the Commission
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. OTC Dreamwerks reported no revenue or assets
for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. OTC Dreamwerks has at all relevant times been an
issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“the Act”).
2. Morgan is a Utah corporation based in Orange, California. Morgan’s common
stock does not currently trade and was registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act. Morgan reported no revenue and no assets for fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
Morgan has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Act.
3. Mill Creek is a Utah corporation based in Seymour, Texas. Mill Creek’s common
stock does not currently trade and was registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act. Mill Creek reported revenues of $200 and total assets of $900,000 for fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. Mill Creek has at all relevant times been issuers as defined by the
Act.
C. FAILURE TO REGISTER WITH THE PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING
OVERSIGHT BOARD
1. Section 102(a) of the Act prohibits any person that is not a registered public
accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”)
from preparing or issuing, or participating in the preparation or issuance of, any audit report with
respect to any public reporting company after October 22, 2003.
2. Though Respondents were aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, at no
point did Respondent Banker & Co. register with the PCAOB as a public accounting firm.
3. Banker & Co. audited OTC Dreamwerk’s 2003 financial statements included in
OTC Dreamwerk’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission
on February 26, 2004.
4. Banker & Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated January 31, 2004, which
was included in OTC Dreamwerk’s Form 10-KSB.
5. Banker participated in auditing the 2003 financial statements included in OTC
Dreamwerk’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on
February 26, 2004.
6. Banker participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated January
31, 2004, which was included in OTC Dreamwerk’s Form 10-KSB.
2
7. Banker & Co. audited Morgan’s 2003 financial statements included in Morgan’s
annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on
May 28, 2004.
8. Banker & Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated May 21, 2004, which was
included in Morgan’s Form 10-KSB.
9. Banker participated in auditing the 2003 financial statements included in Morgan’s
annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on
May 28, 2004.
10. Banker participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated May 21,
2004, which was included in Morgan’s Form 10-KSB.
11. Banker & Co. audited Mill Creek’s 2003 financial statements included in Mill
Creek’s annual report for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the
Commission on September 3, 2004.
12. Banker and Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated August 10, 2004, which
was included in Mill Creek’s Form 10-KSB.
13. Banker participated in auditing the 2003 financial statements included in Mill
Creek’s annual report for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the
Commission on September 3, 2004.
14. Banker participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated August
10, 2004, which was included in Mill Creek’s Form 10-KSB.
15. Banker & Co. received an aggregate of approximately $6,800 for conducting the
audits of the financial statements of OTC Dreamwerks, Morgan, and Mill Creek and for issuing
audit reports on those respective statements.
D. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 4C(a) of the Exchange Act provides, in relevant part, that the Commission
“may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the privilege of
appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found by the
Commission ... (1) not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others ... or (3) to have
willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities
laws or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.”
2. Rule 102(e)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice provides that the
Commission “may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found by the Commission ... (i)
not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others ... or (iii) to have willfully violated ...
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.”
3
3. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”
4. Because Banker & Co. had not registered with the PCAOB, it lacked “the requisite
qualifications” to issue audit reports dated January 31, 2004, May 21, 2004, and August 10, 2004.
5. By participating in the preparation and issuance of audit reports after October 22,
2003 by an audit firm that was not registered with the PCAOB, Banker lacked “the requisite
qualifications to represent others.”
6. In violation of Section 102(a) of the Act, Banker & Co. prepared and issued audit
reports on the financial statements of reporting companies after October 22, 2003 without first
registering with the Board. Banker & Co. thus also willfully violated the federal securities laws.
III.
In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it
necessary and appropriate that public administrative proceedings be instituted to determine:
A. Whether the allegations set forth in Section II are true and, in connection therewith,
to afford Respondents an opportunity to establish any defenses to such allegations;
B. Whether, pursuant to Sections 4C(a)(1) and 4C(a)(3) of the Exchange Act, and
Rules 102(e)(1)(i) and 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Banker & Co. should
be censured by the Commission or temporarily or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or
practicing before the Commission; and
C. Whether, pursuant to Section 4C(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(i) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Banker should be censured by the Commission or temporarily
or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.
IV.
IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the questions
set forth in Section III hereof shall be convened at a time and place to be fixed, and before an
Administrative Law Judge to be designated by further order as provided by Rule 110 of the
Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.110.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file an Answer to the allegations
contained in this Order within twenty (20) days after service of this Order, as provided by Rule 220
of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.220.
If Respondents fail to file the directed answer, or fail to appear at a hearing after being duly
notified, the Respondents may be deemed in default and the proceedings may be determined against
4
them upon consideration of this Order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true as
provided by Rules 155(a), 220(f), 221(f) and 310 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R.
§§ 201.155(a), 201.220(f), 201.221(f) and 201.310.
This Order shall be served forthwith upon Respondents personally or by certified mail.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial
decision no later than 300 days from the date of service of this Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
In the absence of an appropriate waiver, no officer or employee of the Commission engaged
in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions in this or any factually related
proceeding will be permitted to participate or advise in the decision of this matter, except as witness
or counsel in proceedings held pursuant to notice. Since this proceeding is not “rule making” within
the meaning of Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure Act, it is not deemed subject to the
provisions of Section 553 delaying the effective date of any final Commission action.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
5
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12788
In the Matter of
BANKER & CO. and
JITENDRA S. BANKER,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
AND NOTICE OF HEARING
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that public
administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
against Banker & Co. (“Banker & Co.”) and Jitendra S. Banker (“Banker”) (collectively
“Respondents”).
II.
After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Banker & Co. is a California corporation and public accounting firm
headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Banker & Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated
January 31, 2004, in connection with its audit of OTC Dreamwerks, Inc. (“OTC Dreamwerks”), an
audit report dated May 21, 2004, in connection with its audit of Morgan Clark Management, Inc.
(“Morgan”), and an audit report dated August 10, 2004, in connection with its audit of Mill Creek
Research, Inc. (“Mill Creek”)
2. Jitendra S. Banker, 67, of Costa Mesa, California, has been licensed as a chartered
accountant in England since 1969, but he is not licensed as a CPA in any American state. As
engagement partner on the OTC Dreamwerks, Morgan, and Mill Creek engagements, Banker
participated in the preparation and issuance of the January 31, 2004 OTC Dreamwerks audit report,
the May 21, 2004 Morgan Clark audit report, and the August 10, 2004 Mill Creek audit report.
B. OTHER RELEVANT ENTITIES
1. OTC Dreamwerks is a Utah corporation based in Orange, California. OTC
Dreamwerk’s common stock does not currently trade and was registered with the Commission
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. OTC Dreamwerks reported no revenue or assets
for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. OTC Dreamwerks has at all relevant times been an
issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“the Act”).
2. Morgan is a Utah corporation based in Orange, California. Morgan’s common
stock does not currently trade and was registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act. Morgan reported no revenue and no assets for fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
Morgan has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Act.
3. Mill Creek is a Utah corporation based in Seymour, Texas. Mill Creek’s common
stock does not currently trade and was registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act. Mill Creek reported revenues of $200 and total assets of $900,000 for fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. Mill Creek has at all relevant times been issuers as defined by the
Act.
C. FAILURE TO REGISTER WITH THE PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING
OVERSIGHT BOARD
1. Section 102(a) of the Act prohibits any person that is not a registered public
accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”)
from preparing or issuing, or participating in the preparation or issuance of, any audit report with
respect to any public reporting company after October 22, 2003.
2. Though Respondents were aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, at no
point did Respondent Banker & Co. register with the PCAOB as a public accounting firm.
3. Banker & Co. audited OTC Dreamwerk’s 2003 financial statements included in
OTC Dreamwerk’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission
on February 26, 2004.
4. Banker & Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated January 31, 2004, which
was included in OTC Dreamwerk’s Form 10-KSB.
5. Banker participated in auditing the 2003 financial statements included in OTC
Dreamwerk’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on
February 26, 2004.
6. Banker participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated January
31, 2004, which was included in OTC Dreamwerk’s Form 10-KSB.
2
7. Banker & Co. audited Morgan’s 2003 financial statements included in Morgan’s
annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on
May 28, 2004.
8. Banker & Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated May 21, 2004, which was
included in Morgan’s Form 10-KSB.
9. Banker participated in auditing the 2003 financial statements included in Morgan’s
annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on
May 28, 2004.
10. Banker participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated May 21,
2004, which was included in Morgan’s Form 10-KSB.
11. Banker & Co. audited Mill Creek’s 2003 financial statements included in Mill
Creek’s annual report for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the
Commission on September 3, 2004.
12. Banker and Co. prepared and issued an audit report dated August 10, 2004, which
was included in Mill Creek’s Form 10-KSB.
13. Banker participated in auditing the 2003 financial statements included in Mill
Creek’s annual report for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the
Commission on September 3, 2004.
14. Banker participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated August
10, 2004, which was included in Mill Creek’s Form 10-KSB.
15. Banker & Co. received an aggregate of approximately $6,800 for conducting the
audits of the financial statements of OTC Dreamwerks, Morgan, and Mill Creek and for issuing
audit reports on those respective statements.
D. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 4C(a) of the Exchange Act provides, in relevant part, that the Commission
“may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the privilege of
appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found by the
Commission … (1) not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others … or (3) to have
willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities
laws or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.”
2. Rule 102(e)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice provides that the
Commission “may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found by the Commission ... (i)
not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others … or (iii) to have willfully violated …
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.”
3
3. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”
4. Because Banker & Co. had not registered with the PCAOB, it lacked “the requisite
qualifications” to issue audit reports dated January 31, 2004, May 21, 2004, and August 10, 2004.
5. By participating in the preparation and issuance of audit reports after October 22,
2003 by an audit firm that was not registered with the PCAOB, Banker lacked “the requisite
qualifications to represent others.”
6. In violation of Section 102(a) of the Act, Banker & Co. prepared and issued audit
reports on the financial statements of reporting companies after October 22, 2003 without first
registering with the Board. Banker & Co. thus also willfully violated the federal securities laws.
III.
In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it
necessary and appropriate that public administrative proceedings be instituted to determine:
A. Whether the allegations set forth in Section II are true and, in connection therewith,
to afford Respondents an opportunity to establish any defenses to such allegations;
B. Whether, pursuant to Sections 4C(a)(1) and 4C(a)(3) of the Exchange Act, and
Rules 102(e)(1)(i) and 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Banker & Co. should
be censured by the Commission or temporarily or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or
practicing before the Commission; and
C. Whether, pursuant to Section 4C(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(i) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Banker should be censured by the Commission or temporarily
or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.
IV.
IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the questions
set forth in Section III hereof shall be convened at a time and place to be fixed, and before an
Administrative Law Judge to be designated by further order as provided by Rule 110 of the
Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.110.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file an Answer to the allegations
contained in this Order within twenty (20) days after service of this Order, as provided by Rule 220
of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.220.
If Respondents fail to file the directed answer, or fail to appear at a hearing after being duly
notified, the Respondents may be deemed in default and the proceedings may be determined against
4
them upon consideration of this Order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true as
provided by Rules 155(a), 220(f), 221(f) and 310 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R.
§§ 201.155(a), 201.220(f), 201.221(f) and 201.310.
This Order shall be served forthwith upon Respondents personally or by certified mail.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial
decision no later than 300 days from the date of service of this Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
In the absence of an appropriate waiver, no officer or employee of the Commission engaged
in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions in this or any factually related
proceeding will be permitted to participate or advise in the decision of this matter, except as witness
or counsel in proceedings held pursuant to notice. Since this proceeding is not “rule making” within
the meaning of Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure Act, it is not deemed subject to the
provisions of Section 553 delaying the effective date of any final Commission action.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
5