www.closeprivate.com

Published on: 08 July 2004

This notice is issued by the Financial Supervision Commission (“the Commission”) in accordance with the powers conferred upon it under Section 22 of the Financial Supervision Act 1988.

The Commission has recently become aware of a website using the above URL and falsely purporting to represent Close Private Bank, Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited, Close Investment Management (Isle of Man) Limited and Close Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited.

The genuine Close Private Bank is the registered Business Name on the Isle of Man of Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited.

The genuine Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited is licensed and regulated by the Commission to undertake banking business.

The genuine Close Investment Management (Isle of Man) Limited is licensed and regulated by the Commission to undertake Investment Business (Category 3(a) and (b)).

The genuine Close Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited is licensed and regulated by the Commission to undertake banking and Corporate Service Provider Business (Category 1).

The website using the above URL appears to have been copied, in parts, from the website of the genuine Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited. The Commission are satisfied that the website using the above URL does not represent and is in no way associated or endorsed by the genuine Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited, Close Investment Management (Isle of Man) Limited or Close Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited.

The website using the above URL gives telephone numbers, email addresses and physical addresses, which are in no way connected with the genuine Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited, Close Investment Management (Isle of Man) Limited or Close Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited.

The genuine Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited, Close Investment Management (Isle of Man) Limited and Close Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited.

The telephone number for the switchboard of the genuine Close Bank (Isle of Man) Limited is +44 (0) 1624 643270, for the genuine Close Investment Management (Isle of Man) Limited is +44 (0) 1624 643290 and for the genuine Close Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited is +44 (0) 1624 643280.

Under the circumstances the Commission would strongly urge persons considering dealing with any entities purporting to operate from the website at www.closeprivate.com to exercise the greatest possible caution before proceeding, bearing in mind the contents of this public notice.

Any persons who have paid funds away to any entities purporting to operate from the website at www.closeprivate.com should consider reporting details to their local Police Fraud Unit at the earliest possible opportunity.

Any persons who are involved in any dealings with entities purporting to operate from the website at www.closeprivate.com and have concerns should contact the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689313 or by e-mail to fsc@gov.im.

Details (including contact addresses) of all genuine license holders of the Commission.