==========================================START OF PAGE 1====== SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 15338 / April 17, 1997 S.E.C. v. Global Financial Traders, Ltd., et al., Docket No. 97 Civ 1753 (DC), (USDC SDNY). On April 11, 1997, the Honorable Denny Chin, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York, ordered the entry of a preliminary injunction against further violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Rules 101 and 102 of Regulation M by Global Financial Traders, Ltd. ("Global"), BGSG Holding Corp. ("BGSG"), Michael R. Reilly ("Reilly") and John J. Kenna ("Kenna"). Those defendants consented to the preliminary injunction without admitting or denying the allegations of the Complaint, and the asset freeze issued against them on March 13, 1997, continues in effect. Defendants Vincent J. Iovine ("Iovine") and David S. Coleman ("Coleman") consented to continuation of the Temporary Restraining Order issued against them on March 13, 1997. The Commission's Complaint, filed on March 13, 1997, alleged that Reilly and Kenna were engaged in a scheme in which they had (1) obtained a large undisclosed position in the stock of American Image Motor Company, a security traded on the OTC Bulletin Board; (2) used a concerted telemarketing campaign by personnel at Global, which is controlled by Reilly and Kenna, and recommendations in a newsletter published by Global to promote the stock, making material misrepresentations concerning the market for American Image stock and failing to disclose Reilly and Kenna's interest in the security; (3) sold large amounts of American Image stock from accounts which they controlled; and (4) maintained the market price for American Image stock through purchases of the stock and by directing a trader at a registered broker-dealer to raise or lower quotations on American Image stock. The Complaint further alleged that Iovine and Coleman, both traders at registered broker-dealers, had bid for and purchased American Image stock in order to maintain the market for the security within a desired trading range. It was alleged that Global, BGSG, Reilly, and Kenna had realized over $5.8 million in net profits from trades in American Image stock. ==========================================START OF PAGE 2====== NEWS DIGEST SUMMARY PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ISSUED AGAINST GLOBAL FINANCIAL TRADERS, LTD., BGSG HOLDING CORP., MICHAEL R. REILLY, AND JOHN J. KENNA. The Commission announced that on April 11, a preliminary injunction and continuation of an asset freeze had been ordered against Global Financial Traders, Ltd. (Global), BGSG Holding Corp. (BGSG), Michael R. Reilly (Reilly), and John J. Kenna (Kenna). The defendants were enjoined from further violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Rules 101 and 102 of Regulation M thereunder. Two other defendants, Vincent J. Iovine (Iovine) and David S. Coleman (Coleman), consented to continuation of a TRO issued on March 13. The Commission's Complaint alleged that Reilly and Kenna were engaged in sales of large blocks of stock using a telemarketing campaign by personnel at Global, which Reilly and Kenna control, and recommendations in a newsletter published by Global, making misrepresentations concerning the market for the stock, and failing to disclose Reilly and Kenna's interest in the security and their stock sales. It was alleged that Reilly, Kenna, Iovine, and Coleman had maintained the market price within a desired trading range by bidding for and purchasing the stock, and that Global, BGSG, Reilly, and Kenna had realized over $5.8 million in net profits from their stock sales. [S.E.C. v. Global Financial Traders, Ltd., et al., 97 Civ 1753 (DC) (USDC SDNY)] Staff Attorney: Barbara P. Downey (801) 524-5796 ==========================================START OF PAGE 3======