FCA returns £2.5m to land banking victims
The FCA has obtained High Court approval for a scheme which will return £2.5 million to victims of numerous unauthorised collective investment schemes.
"We have worked very hard to identify people eligible to receive compensation from these schemes and are pleased to have been able to recover and return some of their money."
Between 2005 and 2010, approximately 800 people invested £32.8m in unauthorised collective investment schemes established and operated by Countrywide Land Holdings, James Kenneth Maynard (trading as Regional Land and Countrywide Land Holdings) and Stephen Ronald Watkins (trading as Consolidated Land UK). These schemes involved the unlawful selling of plots of land.
The FCA has recovered £2.5 million from the liquidation of a related Panamanian company, Paradigm Consultancy SA, and this amount will now be distributed to the 573 qualifying investors identified by the FCA.
Mark Steward, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: "Investment promising high returns means there is a high risk investors will lose their money. Sadly, this is what happened here. We have worked very hard to identify people eligible to receive compensation from these schemes and are pleased to have been able to recover and return some of their money.
"We would like to thank the Metropolitan Police and Trading Standards for their assistance with this matter."
Breaking news
Direct to your inbox:
More
stories
you'll love:
This week's biggest stories:
This week's biggest stories:
First-time Buyer
Improved affordability sparks 20% rise in first-time buyers: Nationwide
Blogs
Mark Eaton: Is 2026 the year brokers die out?
Inflation
Further rate cuts dampened as inflation rebounds to 3.4%
Mortgage Rates
Two Big Six lenders increase mortgage rates as swaps rise
Vida
Vida launches high LTV 'Pathway' mortgage range
FCA
Tribunal upholds £2m FCA fine for 'corrupt and dishonest adviser'
