French asset manager H2O AM LLP (H2O) is to pay €250m to investors unable to access their funds since 2020, following an investigation by the UK’s FCA.
Between April 2015 and November 2019, H2O failed to carry out proper due diligence on investments relating to the Tennor Group of companies owned by Lars Windhorst, or other companies he introduced.
The investments were high risk and hard to sell, the regulator said in a statement on 7 August.
The asset manager, which has offices in the City of London, has also agreed to cease regulated business in the UK.
The FCA also found that H2O did not have adequate policies or procedures or exercise due skill and care in managing potential conflicts of interest.
It identified over 50 instances where hospitality had been received by H2O employees but was not properly declared, including the use of a superyacht and private jet.
H2O also provided false and misleading statements and documentation to the regulator, such as fabricated records and minutes of meetings.
The FCA said it would have imposed a substantial fine on H2O for its serious breaches. However, the FCA has agreed the firm will make €250m available to all those whose investments remain trapped. A significant part of this sum has been made available by way of voluntary contribution from the H2O Group.
H2O has waived its rights to fees and investments totalling €320m and will apply to cancel its UK authorisation by the end of the year.
Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said: “H2O’s job was to manage its funds properly and protect investors. It failed to do this and, to make matters worse, it repeatedly provided misleading information to the FCA.
“Through this settlement the FCA has secured money for affected investors and agreement that H2O will stop operating regulated business in the UK.”
