Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Mis-selling of structured products

Friday, January 16, 2009

Mis-selling of structured products

Almost all elderly investors with little income, formal education or investment experience were compensated.
By Francis Chan

MORE than half of the reviewed complaints of structured products of Lehman Minibonds, DBS High Notes 5 and Merril Lynch Jubilee Series 3 Linkearner Notes have received some compensation, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore on Friday. In the latest update, MAS says 58 per cent of investors who have lodged complaints of mis-selling to the financial institutions that sold them the products have received a full or partial settlement.
About 25 per cent of those received full settlements, while 33 per cent got partial settlements.

According to the MAS, almost all elderly investors with little income, formal education or investment experience have been fully or partially compensated.

MAS deputy managing director for market conduct, Shane Tregillis said: 'MAS is satisfied that FIs have carefully reviewed the complaints based on principals of fairness without taking strict legal positions. This is reflected in the settlements offers that the FIs are making to the investors.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_326983.html

29 comments:

Anonymous said...: Someone who ever come to this blog please tell me you got some compensation. I have written evidence and i got nothing and still want to limit the claim to 50k. I dont believe the banks will do any compensation with a complain. This news is a joke.; January 16, 2009 7:28 PM
ym said...: hmmm.. i wonder whats the average % compensation (instead of by numbers)

ym; January 16, 2009 7:29 PM
Anonymous said...: Very good news. Thanks to MAS for providing a fair solution.; January 16, 2009 7:39 PM
Anonymous said...: This is too good to be believed. Is MAS liaring?; January 16, 2009 8:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Wah majority of Lehman Brothers investment products must be elderly and illiterate..... that's why 58% got compensated. These are very impressive statistics, wonder if they can be verified?; January 16, 2009 8:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Most ofthe people I met received nothing.
Who are compensated. Is this true???
Big question mark???
Can' believe!!!!!!; January 16, 2009 9:23 PM
Anonymous said...: My retired father and housewife mother (above 60 years, no income) - should be under elderly with little income - but both had received letters from the FI saying no reason to accede to their complaint, and asking them to go Fidrec.
Is it because they bought through IFA from brokerage, instead of directly from bank?
A product is toxic - it doesn't matter who they buy if from!
Wonder if MAS has looked into this area and to address the victims who bought through IFA from brokerage?; January 16, 2009 9:47 PM
Anonymous said...: Buy thru independent adviser, only 1 to 2 % got compensated.
Is this ridiculus???
Must fight on.....; January 16, 2009 10:38 PM
Anonymous said...: so is it without complaint also get compensation or only those who file complaint?; January 16, 2009 10:56 PM
Anonymous said...: 9:47 PM : Friend, think about it, if you are the bank, will you pay those who invest 5k or those who invest 500k? If i am the bank, to make the book look good to the public, i will pay those who invest 5k and say Almost all elderly investors with little income, formal education or investment experience were compensated. Instead of giving %, why dont they show us the number of those who invested above 50k get compensation instead of % getting compensation. How much does your paretns invest?; January 16, 2009 11:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Why isn't MAS investigating mis-selling of Pinnacle Notes?!; January 16, 2009 11:04 PM
Anonymous said...: By compensating 75% of Minibond holders who bought from Banks, it is saying the product is indeed toxic and too complex to be sold to general public.
It is good news that Banks stepped forward to offer fair compensation. But what about the Brokerages? They seemed to have got away, even though amongst their many investment-savvy clients, there are also many innocent victims.; January 16, 2009 11:35 PM
Anonymous said...: I have an appointment with Maybank next week regarding the outcome of my complaint. The officer was reluctant to say more but after much pressure from me hinted that I may be compensated. I am below 60 years old and am a graduate homemaker, so I guess I don't fall into the 'vulnerable' group.; January 16, 2009 11:59 PM
Anonymous said...: "MAS deputy managing director for market conduct, Shane Tregillis said: 'MAS is satisfied that ..."

The issue is not whether MAS is satisfied. The issue is whether the holders are satisfied with MAS...
Big Joke ... More good years...; January 17, 2009 12:24 AM
Anonymous said...: You see,

no/low education is better sometimes.

if you are highly educated, you can forget about getting compensated.; January 17, 2009 12:29 AM
Anonymous said...: Those got compensation sign non-disclosure agreement.; January 17, 2009 12:53 AM
Anonymous said...: A toxic product sold by 2 diferent agents having different accountability. Some regulatory men must be sleeping.; January 17, 2009 1:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Going by the statistics, with several thousands expected to receive some form of compensation, it shows that there is serious problems in how banks have been selling financial products to the public, and in my opinion, putting banks in the same category as Time Share companies.

It is also an indication that our regulatory body and government's decision to give financial institution a free rein is questionable. Society is yet to mature to a stage where the government can leave such matters to the free market.

With such large compensations, it is apparent that there is a systematic failure in the in the consumer market for financial products....

leading individuals in position, both in the government and banks, need to be accountable for this debacle.; January 17, 2009 7:15 AM
Anonymous said...: The criteria (low education, investment inexperience and age) for compensation are irrational and inappropriate from the beginning.

MAS avoids the issue of mis-representation and fraud even now. Why?; January 17, 2009 9:35 AM
Anonymous said...: To add to 9:35AM. The criteria is just to appease the public, make the banks look good.

In reality, it is not the case. My wife is 60 years, PSLE chinese educated, little investment experience, housewife. She bought from an IFA who represented a brokerage. But she received a rejection letter from the brokerage.

A strong signal is sent when Banks compensate 75% of victims, that Minibonds is toxic. A toxic product is a toxic product. Why is it that just because my wife bought it from a brokerage, her case is turned down (without explanation).

Mr Tan, please advise if I should pursue this with the IFA firm or with the brokerage firm?

Thank you.; January 17, 2009 10:07 AM
Anonymous said...: MAS should also review those who did not submit any complaint but fall under the same category of elderly,no formal education and investment experience. Those elderly who did not complain are those who are not aware of such complain channel. It would be great injustice if MAS is to ignore these group.; January 17, 2009 11:16 AM
Anonymous said...: Among the FIs, DBS offers the lowest % of compensation to the investors. Why?
Is it because DBS has the support of the big boss--Tamasek holding and the government? so to take the issue in its hand as it likes.
If MAS is satisfied with the investigations done by FIs themselves with fairness and transparency but not lopsided, then MAS should not be afraid to inquire the investors whether they were fairly treated. Also, MAS should not be afraid to set up independent team to investigate the whole fiasco.; January 17, 2009 11:28 AM
Anonymous said...: MAS is skirting the issue. If MAS thinks that there is mis-selling and fraud it would not even mention for fear of being sued by the banks. It is no regualator. It is toothless. It bullies the weak.. can eat, eat it.; January 17, 2009 11:39 AM
Anonymous said...: Wow, ST today reported DBS even compensated some who never file complaint. So Kind!
Banks do have to keep the above $1million high net-worth customers happy and all you have to do is pick up phone and say you are moving to another bank. No need to file.; January 17, 2009 12:03 PM
Anonymous said...: MAS is still creating Problems again. Some have it but some don't get. Sure, will invite more Noise and unhappy.

Be fair to all of them. They have bought the Same Toxic products that APPORVED that MAS.; January 17, 2009 3:46 PM
Anonymous said...: 58% may sound impressive.
But in terms of total amt loss, it is 5%? 10% or 15%???????
Of course those sink S5,000 to $10,000 would be compensated to make the stat. good.
But........; January 17, 2009 3:50 PM
Concerned said...: Those who bought from brokers are compensated less than those from banks and finance company. The reason is:-

1) those who bought from brokers are assumed to be "sophisticated investors".
2) brokers has a smaller capital base and less liquidity
3) damage to brokers' reputation will be less impacted and their operations will be less affected whereas for banks or finance company investors can totally withdraw their deposits and stop banking there.; January 17, 2009 8:49 PM
Anonymous said...: Concerned cited possible reasons why those who bought from brokers are compensated less (add: not compensated at all).
Brokers MUST NOT ASSUME their clients are more "sophisticated investors". Since brokers have conducted lengthy interview sessions (about 3 hours) with complainants, brokers MUST OPEN their EYES to sieve out those who are NOT sophisticated investors e.g. those who opened account for the first time to buy the toxic products.; January 17, 2009 11:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Wow good news indeed about compensation for the 'vulnerable' group of investors.Do you think think they should be banned from buying any other types of investment products (including shares)?Perhaps those below 60 should also be discouraged from investing unless they are 'sophisticated' because then it is assumed that they know what they are buying-- even though they have been lied too, just like the vulnerable group.
Maybe MAS could look into this.; January 20, 2009 7:46 AM