London Capital & Finance Plc

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating individuals associated with London Capital & Finance Plc.

The conduct relates to investments offered between 2013 and 2018. These investments were sold through Sales Aid Finance (England) Ltd (SAFE), which changed its name to London Capital & Finance Ltd in July 2015.

In September 2020, the SFO and FCA asked investors in London Capital & Finance Plc to complete a questionnaire by 31 October 2020 to be considered as a witness. The questionnaire closed on 31 March 2021 with 3,825 responses submitted. The SFO and FCA would like to thank those victims who have taken the time to complete this lengthy questionnaire. We will contact you if we require more information from you or would like you to make a witness statement. 

If you believe, you have been a victim in this case and need support for the impact it has had on you and your family please click here for our information on support services.

Please note as the SFO continues this lengthy investigation we are unable to provide any further comment at this time.

Arrests

On 4 March 2019, four individuals were arrested in the Kent and Sussex areas.  All four individuals have been released pending further investigation. On 19 June 2019, a fifth individual was arrested in Sussex and was also released pending further investigation. Following a review of the evidence, this individual is no longer a suspect in the SFO’s investigation.

On 5 March and 15 December 2020, two further individuals in the Kent area were interviewed for money laundering in connection with the LCF investigation. On 22 March 2021, one further individual in the Kent area was interviewed in connection with Fraud and Money Laundering offences relating to the LCF investigation.

Updates for investors

19 February 2024: The civil proceedings brought by the Joint Administrators of London Capital & Finance Plc against the company’s executives and others commenced at the High Court. The case was heard by Mr Justice Miles and was listed for 20 weeks.

2 February 2022: The SFO has been made aware that emails and London Capital & Finance (LCF) headed letters have been sent to London Capital & Finance Bondholders purporting to be from a director of the company. These communications refer to ‘lodging claims’ and that failing to act will result in a loss. 

The phone number quoted in the emails and letters can be found on a website which the Financial Conduct Authority warns is unauthorised and any emails from [email protected] are not authorised by the administrators of London Capital & Finance. LCF believes that scammers may also be cold-calling bondholders. 

Please be extremely wary of any contact that isn’t directly from London Capital & Finance’s administrator, Smith & Williamson. If you are unsure, please visit their website at https://smithandwilliamson.com/london-capital/ for further information.

7 October 2021: The SFO continues to investigate the dealings of London Capital and Finance Plc and associated companies. Thank you to those victim investors who we have asked to make formal witness statements. This is an ongoing process as part of the wider investigation, and we will contact you if we would like you to participate.

If you are an investor victim in this case and have changed your contact details,  please update the case team by emailing [email protected]. Please do not use this email address to send us evidence. For more information please see our FAQs section.

For information on support services please click here. If you would like the SFO Victim and Witness Care Team to refer you to your local Police and Crime Commissioner funded victim service please email us at [email protected].

31 March 2021: On 31 March the SFO closed the questionnaire, with 3,825 responses submitted. The SFO and FCA would like to thank those victims who have taken the time to complete this lengthy questionnaire. We will contact you if we require more information from you or would like you to make a witness statement.

26 February 2021: In September 2020, the SFO and FCA asked investors in London Capital & Finance Plc to complete a questionnaire by 31 October 2020 to be considered as a witness. The questionnaire will close on 31 March 2021 and no submissions will be possible after this.

17 September 2020: Update to London Capital and Finance Plc investors

2 June 2020: The investigation has been extended to cover investments made from 2013-2018. These investments were sold by Sales Aid Finance (England) Ltd, which subsequently became London Capital and Finance Ltd.

17 April 2020: Frequently asked questions for London Capital and Finance Plc investors

20 December 2019: Update to London Capital and Finance Plc investors

15 August 2019: Update for London Capital and Finance Plc investors