Unlicensed lender banned
A Sydney-sider who made investment recommendations to clients without holding an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) has been banned from providing financial services for eight years.
An investigation carried out by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) found that Dimitri Amargianitakis of Baulkham Hills, a director of Vista Capital Pty Ltd, ran a financial services business without holding an AFSL, and also signed financial statements in circumstances where he knew that they were not accurate.
ASIC revealed that Vista Capital provided mezzanine finance and mortgage lending services, and raised funds for these activities by borrowing mainly from clients connected with the accounting practice Akis & Associates, of which Amargianitakis was a director.
In addition to his eight-year ban, Amargiantiakis, has entered into an enforceable undertaking with ASIC, agreeing not to manage a company for 18 months, and to undertake and pass the Australian Institute of Company Directors' course, or its equivalent, before being reappointed as a director of a company.
AUTHOR
Nicholas O'Donoghue
Recommended for you
The RBA has made its latest interest rate decision at the the final monetary policy meeting of 2025.
State Street is actively seeking to launch ETFs in the Australian government, corporate and high yield bond space next year in order to capitalise on the phase-out of AT1 hybrids.
Greater consistency across the ASIC adviser exam has helped boost the number of first-time candidates this year with many opting to sit before undertaking a Professional Year.
Financial advice practice Eureka Whittaker Macnaught is in the process of acquiring three firms to boost its annual revenue to $25 million.
