INSIDER TRADING (January 24, 2000)

On Nov. 26, 1999, four days before his company announced another quarterly loss, Herbert Abramson indirectly sold 2.3 million shares of St Andrew Goldfields (SAS-T) at 38 each to hold 1,561 shares indirectly. He indirectly bought an equivalent number of shares at 36 the day after those results were released. Abramson, who must report his trading activities by virtue of being a director and holding more than 10% of the company’s common shares, was also recently granted 150,000 options indirectly. These can be exchanged for shares at 50 each. He now holds 3.66 million shares and 460,000 options directly or indirectly.

Also in November, Brian Ferguson, director of St Andrew, sold 32,500 shares at 25-45 to hold none.

Other trading transactions reported by the Ontario Securities Commission in its OSC Bulletin include the following:

– Cumberland Resources (CBD-t) — John Greig, director, bought 10,000 shares indirectly at $1.87-1.91 to hold 834,095 shares; and Kerry Curtis, officer, bought 2,000 shares indirectly at $1.85-1.90 to hold 20,000 shares indirectly.

– Guyana Goldfields (GGFI-C) — John Sheridan, owner of more than 10% and a director, bought 7,000 shares directly or indirectly at 54-59 and sold 107,400 shares directly or indirectly at 51-62 to hold 572,391 shares in all.

– Pure Gold Minerals (PUG-T) — Donald Sheldon, director, bought 75,000 shares privately at 19 and another 2,000 shares directly at 16, exercised 242,763 options at 14, sold 242,763 shares at 14-18 and was granted 292,263 options with a strike price of 14. He was left holding 525,311 shares and 1.09 million options.

– Silver Standard Resources (SSO-V) — Kenneth McNaughton, officer, exercised 18,500 warrants at $2, bought 5,500 shares at $1.70-1.75 and sold 11,000 shares at $2-2.10 to hold 53,000 shares and an unspecified number of warrants.