background-image

October 13 2012

UK’s Financial Services Authority Issues Ban and Heavy Fine Against Former Bank Executive

Back to news overview
Save as PDF
Print
icon

/images/uploads/blog/shares-bahamas-618×273.jpg
Company directors enjoy protection from personal liability in relation to the company’s debts. However, they are required to perform their duties as directors according to the law and relevant regulations, and failure to comply can result in serious consequences.

Company directors enjoy protection from personal liability in relation to the company’s debts.  However, they are required to perform their duties as directors according to the law and relevant regulations, and failure to comply can result in serious consequences.

 

In the UK, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) recently banned a director of HBOS from holding any senior position in a UK bank, building society, investment or insurance firm – and fined him £500,000 (BSD8079405) for breach of financial regulations.

If you need expert advice on your director’s duties in a financial environment, consult the corporate lawyers at Parris Whittaker who have years of experience advising company directors on their responsibilities.

In this high profile case, the HBOS director’s breaches included failures to exercise due skill, care and diligence by pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy without suitable controls in place to manage the associated risks.  Crucially, the FSA also decided he was personally involved in the breaches complained of, and that was sufficient to be held liable: as the holder of a significant influence function, he was responsible

Bahamian financial institutions are regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas, and The Companies Act; and Directors have a legal duty to:

  •  act honestly and in good faith in the best interests of the company;
  • exercise reasonable care, diligence and skill;
  • act bona fide in the best interests of the company;
  • must not exercise their discretion for an improper or collateral purpose; and
  • must exercise independent judgement and properly fetter their discretion

As Bahamian law is derived from English law, the case highlights the importance for companies and their directors to ensure they are proactively responsible for their own adherence to regulatory standards.   The FSA commented that significant influence function holders are responsible for the management of their firms, and firms are responsible for their own adherence to regulatory standards.

Clearly, the role of directors is under more intense and closer examination by regulators worldwide, particularly in the light of recent banking scandals.  For immediate expert advice on your director’s responsibilities or if you have any concerns, contact the experienced corporate lawyers at ParrisWhittaker for expert advice.

CLOSE X

c1f84afce64b29069b27ffb36226af5a