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Gold/Mining/Energy : YBM Magnex Intl Sees Revenue Growth 30-35%/Yr In MagnetOp -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Adrian du Plessis who wrote (167)6/9/1998 7:59:00 AM
From: Mr Metals  Respond to of 314
 
Damage control...LOL

Philip faces uphill battle in
attempt to censure Internet
chat groups

Libel warning silences TSE critic

By SIMON AVERY
The Financial Post
Philip Services Corp. has launched an attack against an
Internet chat group, vowing to shut down critical
commentary and uncover the identities of the anonymous
scribes behind it.
"The company will take all necessary steps to protect the
safety and reputation of its employees and the integrity of its
business," Philip said in a statement fired off to the Yahoo
Finance chat group, where the Hamilton-based company is
discussed under the symbol "PHV."
Charging that a small group of people are conducting "a
campaign of hatred" against it, Philip said it had asked Yahoo
to remove "the most offensive messages" and prevent the
authors from posting any further thoughts.
The chat group has been mainly
investor-oriented since December,
and passed on information ranging
from wild rumors to accurate reports
of upcoming meetings with key
executives.
Analysts at numerous brokerage
firms visit the site regularly for any
trace of useful information.
Defamation experts warned Philip is
entering a terrain full of legal
obstacles in trying to control the site.
Response within the Internet chat
group has been one of disbelief and
anger since the company posted its
statement Friday night.
"This bulletin board is amongst the
least of what should worry you.
Your time is much better spent in
finding buyers of the metals
businesses and figuring out ways to
avoid leaving money on the table,"
said one contributor, alias
"alligator1928."
"Sceptic666" was more scathing:
"It's fair game you idiots. Welcome
to the new world where company's
[sic] that ... have something to hide are deadmeat."
A third contributor, "n913ta," challenged Philip to turn the
message board into a continuing shareholders meeting
through which investors could get answers to their many
questions about its recent troubles.
The company has announced a series of copper-related
losses of more than US$200 million going back to 1995. It
has restated earnings as far back as 1995, wiping out profit
for the period. Last week it announced it would try to sell its
metals division, responsible for 60% of its revenue, to pay
down mounting debt.
Philip shares (PHV/NYSE, TSE) have tumbled from an
all-time high of US$19 15/16 in New York last September to
US$4 1/4 yesterday, down 3/16. They closed down 25› in
Toronto at $6.15.
A Philip spokeswoman confirmed Friday night the company
had put out the statement. It claims messages posted on the
Yahoo finance site have libelled the company and
employees, including ethnic slurs and demeaning statements
about some female staff.
Philip also said people using several aliases have also posted
messages claiming to be stalking senior management, and
former employees are posting confidential, insider
information.
Lawyers said the same libel laws that apply to traditional
media apply to comments on the Internet, but added Philip
faces numerous legal hurdles if it intends to proceed with an
action. These include issues of jurisdiction, responsibility,
confidentiality and freedom of expression.
Julian Porter, a partner at the Toronto law firm Gowling
Strathy & Henderson, said he knew of no instance in which
a company had managed to censor a public chat group.
"They've got one huge uphill battle ahead of them," he said.
"One of the problems when you attack the Internet is who
are you attacking -- who's posting the stuff on the billboard?"

He doubts whether Santa Clara, Calif.-based Yahoo would
divulge the identities of any participants without a U.S. court
order.
Furthermore, because of strong First Amendment laws, no
U.S. judge would back Philip's request to prevent people
from taking part in the chat group, in effect censoring them
for comments they haven't yet made.
Officials from Yahoo were not available for comment.

MM



To: Adrian du Plessis who wrote (167)6/10/1998 7:15:00 AM
From: Mr Metals  Respond to of 314
 
YBM Magnex International Inc -

Globe says report gets mixed reviews

YBM Magnex International Inc YBMShares issued 442229011998-05-13 close $14.35Wednesday Jun 10 1998The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, June 10 edition that some investors in YBM Magnex International say the company will rebound now that an internal report, released Monday, has found no illegal activity by its employees. The Globe's Paul Waldie writes that others, however, remain leery and some investors have retained U.S. lawyers who specialize in class-action lawsuits. One unnamed lawyer retained by shareholders says the internal report does not answer much of anything, rather it raises more questions than it answers. The report by a committee of YBM's board of directors found no evidence of any criminal activity by employees. The Globe quotes one unnamed mutual fund manager holding YBM stock who says he's more upbeat on the stock now, and quotes another, Deans ight Capital Management's Wayne Deans, who says he's not satisfied with the reports findings. The OSC is expected to set dates on Friday for a hearing on whether YBM's shares should resume trading. (c) Copyright 1998 Canjex Publishing Ltd. canada-stockwatch.com

MM



To: Adrian du Plessis who wrote (167)6/10/1998 11:20:00 AM
From: Mr Metals  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 314
 
Nice guy.....LOL

Post says Provident's Andrus allegedly stole $809,000

Ontario Securities Commission ONSECShares issued 01899-12-30 close $0Wednesday Jun 10 1998The Financial Post reports in a front page story in its Wednesday edition that the former president of securities dealer Provident Investment Counsel "sytematically plundered" the trading accounts of an elderly widow with Alzheimer's disease, a confused 96-year-old man and his wife and used their money for himself, according to testimony at an Ontario Securities Commission hearing. Reporter Sandra Rubin says that Mr Andrus is a past president of Dominion Securities Investment Management, former senior vice-president of Merrill Lynch Canada and past chairman of World Vision Canada. OSC staff say he stole $809,150 from the three victims in a 15-month period ending last September. Mr Andrus is currently undergoing a 30-day psychiatric evaluation after holding his family hostage at gunpoint on May 22. (c) Copyright 1998 Canjex Publishing Ltd. canada-stockwatch.com

MM