ASIC has banned Mr Scott Logan, of Torquay, Victoria, from providing financial services for seven years after an ASIC investigation found he breached numerous financial services laws as a director and sole employee of Shore Capital Pty Ltd (Shore Capital).

ASIC's investigation found that between April 2011 and June 2013, Shore Capital, trading as Coast Capital, traded in contracts for difference (CFDs) on behalf of retail clients when it was not authorised to do so. Shore Capital initially traded on behalf of retail clients without holding an Australian financial services (AFS) licence. It later traded on behalf of retail clients when it held an AFS licence for the provision of services to wholesale customers only.

Mr Logan also made numerous false or misleading representations to Shore Capital clients as to:

• Shore Capital's authorisation to provide financial services, and
• the fees charged by Shore Capital.

At least three clients lost a combined total of over $38,000 through the unauthorised trading.

ASIC Deputy Chairman Peter Kell said, 'The investing public needs to be able to trust those who provide financial services. ASIC will act to ensure those who behave without regard to their obligations to their clients will be removed from the financial services industry.'

Shore Capital's AFS licence was cancelled on 16 October 2014 as it no longer operates a financial services business.

Mr Logan and Shore Capital have a right of appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decisions.

Background

Mr Logan was formerly an authorised representative of Romad Financial Services Pty Ltd (Romad) from 25 June 2011 to 21 October 2011. Romad's AFS licence was cancelled by ASIC on 21 October 2011.