Lehman Brothers Australia

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Lehman BrothersSummary – Update:  Local Councils, Church, Charities and Not-For-Profit Groups who purchased complex financial products from Lehman Brothers are set to vote on a settlement proposal to get up to half their money back from liquidators of the failed investment bank.

You may recall we posted a blog article in October 2012 titled “Lehman Brothers class action – a win for NFPs” regarding the representative proceedings or ‘class action’ filed on behalf of 75 Councils, Charities, Church and other Not-For-Profit groups who collectively lost over $200million when they purchased toxic securities sold by a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers called Grange Securities (Grange) prior to 2008.

After a long running legal battle the Federal Court held last October that Grange had breached its fiduciary duty to 3 Councils who filed proceedings as representative plaintiffs on behalf of 72 other Councils, charities, Church and other Not-For-Profit groups. By filing representative proceedings the Court may resolve issues of fact and law involving the applicants and the respondent that are common to claims that other group members have against the same respondent.Continue Reading Update: Local Councils, Church, Charities and Not-For-Profit Groups to vote on settlement proposal relating to failed investment bank, Lehman Brothers

Lehman Brothers sign being taken awaySummary – Federal Court rules Lehman Brothers Australia is financially liable for misleading clients including Church and Not-For-Profit Groups to purchase complex financial products.

In Wingecarribee Shire Council v Lehman Brothers Australia Ltd (in Liq) [2012] FCA 1028, the Federal Court of Australia has held that Lehman Bros Australia Ltd (In Liq), which was formerly called Grange Securities Ltd (Grange), is liable to compensate the 3 plaintiff Councils for losses incurred as a result of investing in highly complex investment products called collateralised debt obligations (products).

In this matter the 3 Councils led representative proceedings or a ‘class action’ on behalf of 72 other Councils, charities, Church and Not-For-Profit groups who collectively lost over $200million when the products purchased from Grange prior to 2008 either plummeted in value or were completely wiped out during the global financial crisis (GFC).  While only the claims of the 3 Councils were tested by the Court in these proceedings, as these are representative proceedings the Court can resolve issues of fact and law involving the representative applicants and the respondent that are common to claims that other group members have against the same respondent. Continue Reading Lehman Brothers class action – a win for NFPs