Arch cru clients can take FSA deal and still claim on IFAs
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Arch cru investors who agree to an FSA £54m compensation package will still be able to make a claim against their IFA.
The deal, agreed between the regulator and Capita, BNY Mellon & Depository Ltd and HSBC Bank this week, is designed to give investors around 70 per cent of net asset value of the fund range’s assets when it was suspended in March 13, 2009, when added to previous distribution payments and remaining assets.
Investors taking the compensation must agree it is in full and final settlement of any claims against the three firms. However, the FSA has confirmed that investors can still make a claim against their IFA.
The FSA says it is still considering the role of other parties in the Arch cru debacle.
A statement from the FSCS says: “The FSCS is considering the implications of this development for claims that it has received arising from investments made by claimants in these funds. These claims for compensation have been made against various Independent Financial Advisors that are no longer trading. We will provide further information about our position to claimants as soon as we are able to.”
Informed Choice managing director Martin Bamford says: “There are unresolved issues over who was at fault for the suspension and those IFAs who sold the products heavily.”
Churchill Investments director Chris Gilchrist says: “Given the amount of anxious people there have been, I am sure that most will take 70 per cent of the investment and draw a line under this. The FSA still has questions to answer and accountability of others must still be looked at.”
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Readers' comments (2)
nick | 22 Jun 2011 8:53 am
when does "full and final" become "full and final except IFAs"!
Oh yes in FSA world..
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Anonymous | 22 Jun 2011 9:33 am
Let's wait for the detail before we have spurious speculation in respect of what may happen next.
In principle, yes, investors do have a potential case in action against their IFAs, subject to the following legal principles being established:
Causation - how did the financial loss occur?
Liability - who is responsible for the loss?
Quantum - the actual amount of loss?
It remains to be seen whether the other professional parties were in breach of their duty of care, but it appears to be grossly unfair to expect IFAs to pick up the tab.
Finally, if 70% of the value at suspension equates to the true value of the funds at that time - where is the loss?
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