BRI Ferrier Denies Role in Shutting USG Global’s Bank Accounts
- The liquidator earlier said the broker’s shareholders are causing trouble with its investigation.

BRI Ferrier, the liquidator of its Australian-based Union Standard International Group Pty Ltd (USGFX), issued a statement recently debunking the claims of the Vantau-based sister entity, USG Global (Union Standard International Group Ltd), over its role in shutting down the broker’s Puerto Rican bank accounts.
“On 8 February 2021, USG Global made a statement that the Liquidators of USGFX have somehow instructed the First Bank in Puerto Rico to freeze their bank accounts. That is simply untrue,” the liquidator noted.
It elaborated that the liquidator of the Australian entity has no power to freeze the bank accounts of another entity, without a court order.
A Troubled Brokerage
Then ASIC ASIC The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the idea was to unite regulators in Australia by replacing the National Companies and Securities Commission and the Corporate Affairs offices. ASIC does not regulate business or register business structures, only business names. One of the unique features of the Australian regulator is that over 90% of its operating budget comes from fees and fines levies. These fees for service, including company registration fees and licensing fees for banks, brokers, and other financial institutions. What is ASIC Responsible For?The regulator is charged with protecting the public from financial fraud and to make sure the investor is knowledgeable and understands their involvement. To this end, the Commission provides a license to each Financial Services provider. ASIC tests and assesses the qualification and experience of Financial Advisors. An Australian financial services (AFS) licensee, an authorized representative, employee or director of an AFS licensee, or an employee or director of a related body corporate of an AFS licensee, is authorized to provide personal advice to retail clients concerning relevant financial products to retail clients ASIC monitors the behavior of Financial Advisors and can access fines and remove or suspend their license. The regulator also licenses all investment and trading companies doing business in Australia. One service of the most outstanding benefits is the Australian Market Regulation Feed. To monitor trading activity, brokers and market operators have to facilitate access to ASIC’s Integrated Market Surveillance System. This means brokers and other relevant bodies in the registry must allow daily access to: All orders, trades, and quotes that are processed and circulated by the trading engine All messages related to trading sessions, product price and status They are closely monitoring all online and day trading The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the idea was to unite regulators in Australia by replacing the National Companies and Securities Commission and the Corporate Affairs offices. ASIC does not regulate business or register business structures, only business names. One of the unique features of the Australian regulator is that over 90% of its operating budget comes from fees and fines levies. These fees for service, including company registration fees and licensing fees for banks, brokers, and other financial institutions. What is ASIC Responsible For?The regulator is charged with protecting the public from financial fraud and to make sure the investor is knowledgeable and understands their involvement. To this end, the Commission provides a license to each Financial Services provider. ASIC tests and assesses the qualification and experience of Financial Advisors. An Australian financial services (AFS) licensee, an authorized representative, employee or director of an AFS licensee, or an employee or director of a related body corporate of an AFS licensee, is authorized to provide personal advice to retail clients concerning relevant financial products to retail clients ASIC monitors the behavior of Financial Advisors and can access fines and remove or suspend their license. The regulator also licenses all investment and trading companies doing business in Australia. One service of the most outstanding benefits is the Australian Market Regulation Feed. To monitor trading activity, brokers and market operators have to facilitate access to ASIC’s Integrated Market Surveillance System. This means brokers and other relevant bodies in the registry must allow daily access to: All orders, trades, and quotes that are processed and circulated by the trading engine All messages related to trading sessions, product price and status They are closely monitoring all online and day trading Read this Term-regulated USGFX entered into voluntary administration last July with the appointment of BRI Ferrier as its administrator. The trouble of the brokerage later deepened with its entering into liquidation in a couple of months and the cancellation of its ASIC license.
The Group company moved its headquarter to London after the collapse of its Australian business and is now offering services with its Vantau-based entity.
As Finance Magnates reported earlier, USG Global blamed the Aussie liquidators previously for holding money of its clients who migrated from the Australian entity to the Vantu-based platform.
In its latest statement, the liquidator pointed out the possibility of the bank's intentions in shutting business with a troubled entity like USG Global.
“The Liquidators understand that the First Bank of Puerto Rico formed their own view not to deal with USG Global based on their own due diligence. That due diligence presumably included a review of the information provided to them by USG Global and also the publicly available information on the broader USG Group, such as the investigation and prosecution of USGFX by the ASIC,” BRI Ferrier added.
“The Liquidators have discovered a number of concerning irregularities in the USGFX documentation and therefore can understand the position taken by the First Bank in Puerto Rico.”
BRI Ferrier, the liquidator of its Australian-based Union Standard International Group Pty Ltd (USGFX), issued a statement recently debunking the claims of the Vantau-based sister entity, USG Global (Union Standard International Group Ltd), over its role in shutting down the broker’s Puerto Rican bank accounts.
“On 8 February 2021, USG Global made a statement that the Liquidators of USGFX have somehow instructed the First Bank in Puerto Rico to freeze their bank accounts. That is simply untrue,” the liquidator noted.
It elaborated that the liquidator of the Australian entity has no power to freeze the bank accounts of another entity, without a court order.
A Troubled Brokerage
Then ASIC ASIC The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the idea was to unite regulators in Australia by replacing the National Companies and Securities Commission and the Corporate Affairs offices. ASIC does not regulate business or register business structures, only business names. One of the unique features of the Australian regulator is that over 90% of its operating budget comes from fees and fines levies. These fees for service, including company registration fees and licensing fees for banks, brokers, and other financial institutions. What is ASIC Responsible For?The regulator is charged with protecting the public from financial fraud and to make sure the investor is knowledgeable and understands their involvement. To this end, the Commission provides a license to each Financial Services provider. ASIC tests and assesses the qualification and experience of Financial Advisors. An Australian financial services (AFS) licensee, an authorized representative, employee or director of an AFS licensee, or an employee or director of a related body corporate of an AFS licensee, is authorized to provide personal advice to retail clients concerning relevant financial products to retail clients ASIC monitors the behavior of Financial Advisors and can access fines and remove or suspend their license. The regulator also licenses all investment and trading companies doing business in Australia. One service of the most outstanding benefits is the Australian Market Regulation Feed. To monitor trading activity, brokers and market operators have to facilitate access to ASIC’s Integrated Market Surveillance System. This means brokers and other relevant bodies in the registry must allow daily access to: All orders, trades, and quotes that are processed and circulated by the trading engine All messages related to trading sessions, product price and status They are closely monitoring all online and day trading The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the idea was to unite regulators in Australia by replacing the National Companies and Securities Commission and the Corporate Affairs offices. ASIC does not regulate business or register business structures, only business names. One of the unique features of the Australian regulator is that over 90% of its operating budget comes from fees and fines levies. These fees for service, including company registration fees and licensing fees for banks, brokers, and other financial institutions. What is ASIC Responsible For?The regulator is charged with protecting the public from financial fraud and to make sure the investor is knowledgeable and understands their involvement. To this end, the Commission provides a license to each Financial Services provider. ASIC tests and assesses the qualification and experience of Financial Advisors. An Australian financial services (AFS) licensee, an authorized representative, employee or director of an AFS licensee, or an employee or director of a related body corporate of an AFS licensee, is authorized to provide personal advice to retail clients concerning relevant financial products to retail clients ASIC monitors the behavior of Financial Advisors and can access fines and remove or suspend their license. The regulator also licenses all investment and trading companies doing business in Australia. One service of the most outstanding benefits is the Australian Market Regulation Feed. To monitor trading activity, brokers and market operators have to facilitate access to ASIC’s Integrated Market Surveillance System. This means brokers and other relevant bodies in the registry must allow daily access to: All orders, trades, and quotes that are processed and circulated by the trading engine All messages related to trading sessions, product price and status They are closely monitoring all online and day trading Read this Term-regulated USGFX entered into voluntary administration last July with the appointment of BRI Ferrier as its administrator. The trouble of the brokerage later deepened with its entering into liquidation in a couple of months and the cancellation of its ASIC license.
The Group company moved its headquarter to London after the collapse of its Australian business and is now offering services with its Vantau-based entity.
As Finance Magnates reported earlier, USG Global blamed the Aussie liquidators previously for holding money of its clients who migrated from the Australian entity to the Vantu-based platform.
In its latest statement, the liquidator pointed out the possibility of the bank's intentions in shutting business with a troubled entity like USG Global.
“The Liquidators understand that the First Bank of Puerto Rico formed their own view not to deal with USG Global based on their own due diligence. That due diligence presumably included a review of the information provided to them by USG Global and also the publicly available information on the broader USG Group, such as the investigation and prosecution of USGFX by the ASIC,” BRI Ferrier added.
“The Liquidators have discovered a number of concerning irregularities in the USGFX documentation and therefore can understand the position taken by the First Bank in Puerto Rico.”