Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Imro fines unit trust manager pounds 225,000

Magnus Grimond
Thursday 17 July 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Financial regulators have fined a unit trust group and a City stockbroking firm a total of pounds 285,000 following regulatory breaches. The fine of pounds 225,000 levied on Sovereign Unit Trust Managers comes on top of pounds 120,000 compensation it has been forced to pay investors in some of its unit trusts, plus pounds 1.27m it has had to pump into the funds as a result of mispricing and wrongful payment of fees.

The Investment Management Regulatory Organisation took the disciplinary action after Sovereign incorrectly priced eight of its unit trusts as a result of poor internal organisation. More seriously, it charged the fees for managing three of its trusts, carried out by PDFM, to the trusts themselves rather than bearing the costs itself, as the rules require.

Sovereign said there was no suggestion of fraud and investors were "generously" compensated, with an average payment of pounds 35 a head.

Separately, the Securities and Futures Authority has levied a fine and costs of pounds 60,000 on brokers Teather & Greenwood after it failed to prevent potential conflicts of interest arising in relation to four placings of shares. Two of the deals involved Eric Kenelm Ford, a partner, who has been fined pounds 8,000 and agreed to pay costs of pounds 2,000. Both the firm and Mr Ford were reprimanded.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in