The administrators have received a claim from a creditor relating to monies paid into the Company’s client account prior to the administration, including an assertion that the said monies are subject to what is termed a “Quistclose Trust”. The administrators are currently investigating this claim and also taking legal advice on the same. However, pending proper investigation of the claim and its resolution, the administrators have no alternative but to suspend further payments to the investors by way of distribution from the client account/platform until further notice.

NOTE 2

Since our last update in December 2021 regarding the freezing of the e-wallet account, discussions have continued with the creditor claimant’s solicitors. It is likely that the creditor claimant will now issue proceedings to seek to recover the monies held in the e-wallet account, which it claims are subject to a trust in its favour. As the monies in the e-wallet account are not assets of the Company, the Joint Administrators will take a neutral position in any proceedings. Discussions are ongoing as to how to best protect the interests of affected investors, in particular allowing them an opportunity to be joined to any proceedings, if they so wish after taking legal advice.

NOTE 3

Further to our previous announcements regarding the potential Quistclose Trust claim, we are now able to provide further details of the proceedings which are to be brought against FundingSecure Limited (in Administration). As per our previous announcement, the Joint Administrators will take a neutral position in any proceedings. The claimant is JC Starr Holdings Ltd and the claim concerns the payment of £500,000, which was paid into FundingSecure Limited’s client account in April 2019 pursuant to a written agreement between those parties dated 12 April 2019 and headed "Underwriting Agreement". JC Starr Holdings Ltd claims that the monies were subject to a Quistclose Trust in its favour. As part of the proceedings, those Investors who have balances in the e-wallet account are being given the opportunity to be joined to any proceedings, if they so wish after taking legal advice. Those Investors who believe they have an interest in any claim should email ebladon@boodlehatfield.com stating their full name, Username and the current balance within their e-wallet account by 25 July 2022. Boodle Hatfield LLP, the solicitors for JC Starr Holdings Ltd, will then provide such Investors with draft Particulars of Claim as soon as possible and no later than 8 August 2022, whereupon the Investors will be able to obtain legal advice and then decide whether or not they wish to participate in proceedings. Those Investors who do wish to participate in proceedings must confirm their intention to do so by 19 September 2022. Boodle Hatfield have advised that should any Investor contact them after 25 July 2022 then those Investors will still be provided with the draft particulars but will only have until 19 September 2022 to confirm their intention to participate in proceedings.

NOTE 4

The Joint Administrators have received a significant number of requests asking what the e-wallet balance is. This is the amount of your current available funds (plus any pending withdrawals). These sums can be found in the “Current Overview” under “Account Information”. Please note that the previous update was as agreed with Boodle Hatfield LLP, the solicitors for JC Starr Holdings Ltd. In the first instance, you should request a copy of the draft Particulars of Claim, which will give you more information on the claim. You then should obtain legal advice on the claim. If you or your adviser then still have any queries, we will endeavour to deal with them. It is recommended that all Investors (irrespective of their current balance) request the Particulars of Claim and review the same with their legal advisors in order to fully understand the nature and application of the Claim and whether or not this is limited to any particular sum.

NOTE 5

We refer you to previous updates on the claim by JC Starr Holdings Ltd (JC Starr) regarding the payment of £500,000 (the Payment) paid into the e-wallet/client account (the Account) in April 2019. Following the taking of legal advice, consultation with the Creditors’ Committee and the development on the Platform of a mechanism to allow funds to move whilst preserving the frozen account, we have now started paying monies due to investors on those loans made by FundingSecure prior to April 2019. We are now investigating whether payments can be made on those loans made after April 2019; that is after the Payment was paid into the Account. However, based on legal advice to date, payments on these loans will be more problematical as the loans were made after the Payment was paid into the Account. We continue to keep the matter under review and we will update you further, but while JC Starr’s claim is extant and unresolved we need to be cautious regarding any payments and follow legal advice.