November 4, 2019, | AtoZ Markets – New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority (FMA) announced this Monday that it has successfully defended a direction to de-register FXBTG Financial Limited.
The foreign exchange firm was deregistered with the High Court ruling in the regulator’s favor.
FMA welcomes court ruling upholding to de-register FXBTG Financial Limited
In June, the FMA directed the Companies Office, as the registrar of the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR), to de-register FXBTG Financial Limited.
According to the statement provided by the watchdog, FXBTG was registered in New Zealand, but it wasn’t actually providing any financial services to New Zealand customers. Instead, the company was trying to leverage New Zealand’s reputation, the FMA said.
FXBTG had appealed to the FMA’s direction. However, Justice Francis Cooke dismissed the appeal. In his judgment, Cooke said that sections of the Financial Service Providers Act had been inserted to deal with entities that register on the FSPR to “artificially claim a reputational benefit by association with the financial services regime operated under New Zealand law”.
Cooke noted that all of the forex firm’s clients were based overseas: “FXBTG technically engages in financial services within the meaning of the Act, but only in an entirely notional way.
“It has a single employee operating a computer in an apartment in Auckland, and on that basis, it has represented it is regulated under New Zealand securities law. That creates a misleading impression.”
FMA wins for the fourth time
This marks the fourth time the FMA has successfully defended an appeal against a direction to de-register, according to Nick Kynoch, FMA General Counsel. The other cases include Excelsior Markets Limited, Innovative Securities Limited and Vivier & Company Limited.
“This case demonstrates the lengths some firms are willing to go to stay registered on the FSPR and take advantage of New Zealand’s reputation,” added Kynoch. “Registration on the FSPR does not necessarily mean that an entity is regulated by the FMA. However, where we see entities exploiting registration we won’t hesitate to use our powers.”
“The FMA has to preserve the integrity of New Zealand’s financial markets so it’s important that we defend these cases. We’re pleased that this ruling further reinforces the approach that the FMA has taken,” he continued.
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