Louis Group Structured Fund PLC and other companies - Updated

This release is intended to provide a brief overview of the extant situation regarding Louis Group Structured Fund PLC and related companies.

First Published 5 October 2012
First update 25 October 2012
Second update 11 December 2012
Third update 14 December 2012
Fourth Update 21 January 2013
Fifth Update 23 January 2013

Updated 23 January 2013 as follows

A transcript of the brief reasons given by His Honour the Deemster Doyle for the making of the winding up Orders on the 21 January 2013, as referred to below, has been published on the Isle of Man Courts website. Detailed reasons are anticipated to follow in due course and a link will be posted here as soon as they are available to us. Copies of the Orders have now been received and are available on the following links:

Updated 21 January 2013 as follows

Louis Group (IOM) Limited

Louis Group Structured Fund PLC

Louis Group Structured Capital Limited

Louis Group International (Europe) Limited

LG SP Investments Ltd

Louis Group SLN Limited

At a hearing held today His Honour The Deemster Doyle, sitting in the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man, Ordered that all of the above named companies be wound up. He also Ordered that Mike Simpson and Gordon Wilson be appointed Liquidators and deemed Official Receivers of all of the companies.

Copies of the Orders of the Deemster and the text of his judgment will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Louis Group (IOM) Limited

On 12 December 2012 His Honour the Deemster Doyle sitting in the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man heard an application from Louis Group (IOM) Limited seeking that provisional liquidators be appointed to that company pending the hearing of the Commission’s winding up application scheduled for 21 January 2013.

His Honour the Deemster Doyle granted the application and by Order appointed Gordon Wilson and Michael Simpson, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, joint Provisional Liquidators and joint deemed Official Receivers of Louis Group (IOM) Limited.

A copy of the aforementioned Order may be read here.

Updated 11 December 2012 as follows

 

Subsequent to the appointments reported by the Commission on 5 October 2012 (see original report below), full public hearings of the Commission’s applications to the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man seeking the winding up, in the public interest, of Louis Group Structured Capital Limited, Louis Group International (Europe) Limited and LG SP Investments Ltd were listed for 10 AM on 3rd December 2012.

As a result of further information which came to the attention of the Commission, applications were also submitted to the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man seeking the winding up, in the public interest, of Louis Group Structured Fund PLC, Louis Group (IOM) Limited and Louis Group SLN Limited. Full public hearings of these applications were also listed for 10 AM on 3rd December 2012.

Following applications by other parties in relation to the above hearings His Honour the Deemster Doyle, sitting in the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man, has adjourned the full public hearings of all of the applications until 10 AM on Monday 21 January 2013.

Updated 25 October 2012 as follows

LOUIS GROUP STRUCTURED FUND PLC – Report of Joint Company Inspectors

On 1 May 2012 by order of the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man Mr Michael Simpson and Mr Gordon Wilson, both of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, were appointed as joint inspectors to investigate and report on the affairs of Louis Group Structured Fund Plc. The Court also ordered that the appointment of the inspectors should not be made public.

The joint inspectors’ final report was submitted to the High Court on 21 September 2012. The findings in the report were relevant to the action taken by the Commission on 5 October 2012 – see previously issued statement of 5 October 2012.

An application was subsequently made to the High Court with regard to the publication of the Inspectors report. That application was considered by His Honour Deemster Doyle on 16 October 2012. A transcript of the judgment of Deemster Doyle in the matter has now been published on the Isle of Man Courts website.

Immediately following this judgment a further application was made to the High Court seeking that publication of the Inspectors Report be stayed pending a proposed appeal. The second judgment of His Honour Deemster Doyle dated 16 October 2012 , regarding that application, has also now been published on the Isle of Man Courts website.

On 23 October 2012, the High Court having been notified that the proposed appeal was not to proceed, His Honour Deemster Doyle lifted the restriction on publication imposed on 16 October 2012. The Commission is therefore now able to publish the report of the joint inspectors on the affairs of Louis Group Structured Fund PLC which may now be read on this link: /lib/docs/iomfsa/PressReleases/lgsfplcinspectorsfinalreport.pdf

First issued 5 October 2012 as follows

The Financial Supervision Commission (“the Commission”) has made announcements concerning intervention in the affairs of the Louis Group Structured Fund PLC and other companies under the Commission’s powers or with the consent of the High Court. Further details are contained in announcements issued with this statement, which cover:

  • Louis Group Structured Fund PLC – appointment of persons to assume control of the affairs of the scheme, under section 13 of the Collective Investment Schemes Act 2008. Further details can be found here;
  • Louis Group (IOM) Limited - appointment of a manager under the Financial Services Act 2008. Further details can be found here;
  • Louis Group Structured Capital Limited, Louis Group International (Europe) Limited and LG SP Investments Ltd – appointment of joint liquidators provisionally on an ex parte basis pending a full hearing. Further details can be found here.

The Commission appreciates that investors will be anxious to establish the implications of today’s announcements. This statement is linked to a “Frequently Asked Questions” (“FAQ”) sheet which can be found here.

The FAQ sheet includes information for investors in:

  • Louis Group Structured Fund PLC
  • Secured Loan Notes (“SLNs”)
  • Property Investment & Cessation of Securities Agreements (“PICS”)
  • Property investment companies
Financial Supervision Commission
5 October 2012

In the event of queries please contact the Commission by e-mail at the following address: enquiries@fsc.gov.im

Alternatively, please write to the Commission at: Enquiries, Financial Supervision Commission, P.O. Box 58, Finch Hill House, Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 IDT 5th October 2012.