Litigation Capital Management Limited (AIM:LIT) (LCM), a leading international provider of litigation financing solutions, today announces that it has appointed Jonathan Moulds as Non-Executive Chairman effective 29 March 2019.

This follows Jonathan’s appointment to the Board as Non-Executive Director of LCM in December 2018, when the Company listed on AIM. Jonathan takes over the role of Chairman from David King, who will remain on the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Jonathan brings extensive experience in the financial services industry. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Barclays PLC. Prior to his role at Barclays, he was head of Bank of America’s European business until 2013 and became the Chief Executive Officer of Merrill Lynch International following the merger of the two institutions in 2008.

Patrick Moloney, Chief Executive Officer of LCM, said:

“As we expand LCM’s international focus, we’re thrilled to have further strengthened our team with the appointment Jonathan as Chairman. This announcement follows a series of exciting and significant operational developments at LCM including several new board and management team hires, and our expansion into London and Singapore as key growth markets. Together with the rest of the Board, I am looking forward to working with Jonathan and the wider team to realise the clear growth opportunity that LCM offers.

“I would also like to thank David for his support as Chairman over recent years. We will continue to benefit from his expertise on the Board.”

Jonathan Moulds, Chairman of LCM, said:

“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chairman at LCM. It’s a privilege to be involved with one of the litigation finance industry’s most established and exciting players at this pivotal time in its development.

“This is an interesting time for the litigation funding sector globally as it enters a period of rapid expansion and LCM is well-positioned to take advantage of this given its significant international presence, its team’s outstanding track record and the quality and depth of its pipeline of future litigation projects.”

Litigation Capital Management

Patrick Moloney, Chief Executive Officer

Nick Rowles-Davies, Executive Director

Hawthorn Advisors                                             lcm@hawthornadvisors.com

Lorna Cobbett / Zinka MacHale                          Tel: 020 3745 4960

About Jonathan Moulds

Jonathan has held a number of senior leadership roles at major financial institutions, most recently at Barclays plc, where he was the Group Chief Operating Officer until 2016. He was previously the head of Bank of America's International business and became the Chief Executive Officer of Merrill Lynch International following the merger of the two institutions in 2008. Jonathan has a strong financial markets background and was responsible for Bank of America International’s Global Markets business prior to the merger. He has worked in most major financial centres, including the U.S., the U.K. and Asia during his career.

Jonathan has served widely on key industry associations including as chairman of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) from 2004 until 2008 and as a director of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME). He remains a member of AFME's Advisory Board. Jonathan was a member of the Capital Markets Senior Practitioners of the UK Financial Services Authority and the Global Financial Markets Association.

Jonathan is currently a Non-Executive Board member for IG Group Holdings PLC and is a member of the Board Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee.

About LCM

Litigation Capital Management (“LCM”) is a leading international provider of litigation financing solutions. This includes single-case and portfolios across class actions, commercial claims, claims arising out of insolvency and international arbitration. LCM has an unparalleled track record, driven by effective project selection, active project management and robust risk management. Headquartered in Sydney, with offices in London, Singapore, Brisbane and Melbourne, LCM has been listed on AIM since December 2018, trading under the ticker LIT. www.lcmfinance.com

• Established in 2013, Augusta is the largest litigation and dispute funding institution in the UK – with £150m of capital and a team of 70 in London and 85 worldwide. Augusta’s scale enables us to make decisions in market-leading timeframes and fund cases of any size.
• Augusta is organised into a series of specialist practice groups: Arbitration, Class Action, Competition, Consumer, Intellectual Property and Litigation, and sectors including Financial Services and Construction & Energy.
• By the end of 2018, Augusta had funded 197 claims with a market leading win ratio of 80%.

Vannin Capital, the global expert in legal finance, announces today its continued U.S. expansion with two new Managing Directors and an Associate Director in New York and Washington, D.C.

Matthew Atlas joins as a Managing Director and Melissa Feig as Associate Director in New York City. Arthur “Ted” Farrell joins as a Managing Director in Washington, where his litigation expertise will expand Vannin’s local offering, which had previously focused on arbitration.

Scott Mozarsky, Regional Managing Director with overall responsibility for Vannin’s North American business, comments: “The addition of Matthew, Ted and Melissa marks a significant step in Vannin’s growth in North America. Their diverse backgrounds, depth of knowledge and their subject matter expertise add to our already strong foundation of litigation funding capabilities and position us to capitalize on strong market opportunities associated with geographic and product expansion.”

Matthew joins from the Colgate-Palmolive Company, where he was Chief Litigation Counsel for the past five years, managing the company’s litigation matters both globally and in the U.S. Prior to this, he was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, supporting the defense of class actions and other litigations involving significant potential liability for the company’s retail financial services units. Matthew began his legal career at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, & Feld LLP.

Matthew Atlas notes: “Corporations are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits that funding presents, not only as a risk management tool but also as a key part of their strategy to deliver value and growth. I am excited to join Vannin, one of the leaders in litigation finance, at a time when the industry is rapidly expanding in the U.S.”

Prior to joining Vannin, Ted was a Partner at Ruyak Cherian LLP where he represented plaintiffs and defendants in antitrust, intellectual property and other complex commercial disputes in the technology sector. He also advised on merger clearance matters before United States and Foreign Competition Authorities. First joining Ruyak in 2015, Ted has had a successful career as a litigator also practicing at Winston & Strawn LLP and Baker Botts LLP in Washington, D.C.

The addition of Ted to its Washington D.C. team enables Vannin to better service firms and companies in the Mid-Atlantic states including the rapidly growing Research Triangle in North Carolina. Ted Farrell said: “I was drawn to Vannin’s reputation as a market leader in the litigation funding industry and its commitment to strategic growth in the U.S. and internationally. I look forward to helping build out the company’s presence and offering in Washington.”

Melissa joins Vannin’s New York office as an Associate Director, supporting the litigation funder’s team in the U.S. Prior to joining Vannin, Melissa practiced at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP where she focused on complex commercial and distressed asset litigations, consumer class actions, internal and white-collar investigations, regulatory defense and arbitration.

Melissa Feig added: “Vannin is an ambitious and innovative business that is well positioned to capitalize on the continued growth of the litigation funding industry. I am excited to join the team and look forward to contributing to its continued success.”

About Vannin Capital

Established in 2010, Vannin Capital is a global expert in the provision of funding to support individuals, corporate clients and law firms in the successful resolution of high-value litigation and arbitration claims. From single case funding to portfolio finance, we offer creative capital solutions that are tailored to our clients’ needs.

Our global team of legal and financial experts cover the key commercial litigation and arbitration centres from our offices in London, Jersey, Paris, Bonn, New York, Washington, Sydney and Melbourne.

More than just capital, we combine global experience with local knowledge to deliver a high standard of service and expertise to our clients around the world. A major player in the legal finance market, we are a member of the Association of Litigation Funders of England and Wales (ALF), conducting our business to a high standard in line with its code of conduct.

Vannin Capital Holdings Limited Registered in Jersey No. 121561 Registered Office Address: 13-14 Esplanade, St Helier Jersey, JE1 1B vannin.com

Litigation Capital Management (LCM) Limited (AIM:LIT), a leading international provider of litigation financing solutions, announces its reviewed interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2018.

Note: All financial results based on cash accounting methods, as opposed to fair value methods. Any gains or losses are only recognised in LCM’s accounts when a successful judgement or settlement has been determined.

Highlights

• Adjusted profit before tax of A$2.72 million – increase of 268% (H1 2018: adjusted loss $1.62 million)
• Adjusted revenue of A$11.71 million – increase of 11,498% (H1 2018: A$0.10 million)
• Continued strong litigation project performance, with three projects completing in the period, and consistent with existing track record:
  • Portfolio IRR of 78% (on a cumulative basis since FY 2012, including losses)
  • ROIC of 117% (on a cumulative basis since FY 2012, including losses)
• Strong pipeline of potential future litigation projects, diversified by litigation type and geography - 64 pre-qualified projects with estimated investment of A$409 million
  • Diversification in pipeline across geography (Australia, EMEA and Asia Pacific) as well as across single case, portfolio and corporate transactions
  • Future litigation projects include class action, commercial claims, insolvency, international arbitration, and corporate transactions
• Funded first corporate portfolio transaction in October 2018 in the building and construction sector. Corporate transactions represent a growth opportunity for LCM, as the Company is currently considering eight significant corporate portfolio transactions as part of its pipeline of investment opportunities
• LCM is now a truly global litigation finance provider following the launch of offices in London (covering EMEA) and Singapore (covering Singapore and Hong Kong), with both regions representing a significant growth opportunity for LCM going forward
• Completion of listing on AIM in December 2018 and delisting from ASX
• Significant strengthening to management team and board through the appointments of Nick Rowles-Davies as Executive Vice Chairman, Stephen Conrad as Chief Financial Officer and Jonathan Moulds as Non-Executive Director

Patrick Moloney, CEO of LCM, said:

“We are delighted to present our first set of financial results as an AIM-listed company. The strength of our performance is reflective of the consistent approach and focus we have ensuring that we continue to deliver strong returns across our existing portfolio. We have significantly expanded our operations to create a truly global platform for LCM.

“Our listing on the London Stock Exchange was a key milestone for the company and raised necessary capital to help fund future litigation projects and investments. Since LCM has become a London listed company, we have already seen a notable increase in the litigation funding products that we offer across the mix – including single case, portfolio and corporate transactions.

“Our geographical expansion, with new offices in both London and Singapore, has naturally seen the team grow and industry leading experienced individuals have been added to the Board and senior management team. This has created a strong foundation for LCM to continue to pursue exciting growth opportunities and maintain its position as a leader in the growing litigation finance market.”

About LCM

• LCM is a leading international provider of litigation financing solutions
• This includes single-case and portfolio; across class actions, commercial claims, claims arising out of insolvency and international arbitration
• LCM has an unparalleled track record, driven by effective project selection, active project management and robust risk management
• Headquartered in Sydney, with offices in London, Singapore, Brisbane and Melbourne, LCM listed on AIM in December 2018, trading under the ticker LIT

A claim has been launched in the UK’s specialist competition court by Justin Gutmann, formerly of Citizens Advice, on behalf of millions of passengers who have paid twice for part of their journeys on Southeastern and South Western routes.  

• Passengers who have held a Travelcard in the period since October 2015 and bought another ticket for a rail journey that is partially covered by their Travelcard have effectively paid twice for part of their rail journey
• The claim is estimated to be worth around £93 million in damages
• Millions of passengers who have travelled in and around London may be eligible for compensation

London, February 27^th, 2019

A claim on behalf of millions of rail passengers has been filed in the Competition Appeal Tribunal against the operators of the South Western and Southeastern rail franchises.

First MTR South Western Trains, Stagecoach South Western Trains and London & South Eastern Railway are alleged to have not made “boundary” fares readily available for Travelcard holders to purchase, nor making passengers aware of their existence. The rail companies’ failures have left customers with little option but to buy a higher fare than they would have needed because their Travelcard already entitled them to travel for part of their journey.

Boundary fares allow passengers who own a Travelcard to travel beyond the zones covered by their Travelcard without doubling up on payment. Independent research has shown that boundary fares are not readily available through online platforms or over the telephone from South Western or Southeastern and are rarely offered at ticket counters unless expressly requested by passengers. This imposition of an unfair price for fares is an abuse of the companies’ dominant position and in breach of UK and EU competition laws.

The opt-out collective action is being led by Justin Gutmann, an experienced campaigner on both consumer issues and the transport sector.

Gutmann said:

“Passengers in London already pay a lot of money for trains that are often delayed or not even running. Now following extensive research, we have found that some passengers are paying twice for parts of their rail journeys.

We are launching this legal action to ensure that the money that South Western and Southeastern have made from this is returned to those train users.

Millions of rail passengers could be eligible for compensation. Let’s put this right and stop train companies taking passengers for a ride.”

Who is eligible?

Passengers who owned a Travelcard at any time from 1 October 2015 and also purchased a rail fare from a station within the zones of their Travelcard to a destination outside of those zones may be eligible for compensation. Millions of passengers are thought to be affected.

Dorothea Antzoulatos, Director of Charles Lyndon, said “Charles Lyndon has worked extensively with Mr Gutmann to develop this case which seeks to recover compensation for millions of rail passengers who have overpaid as a result of what we believe is the behaviour of the defendants. We are delighted to be working together with Hausfeld & Co to represent Mr Gutmann in what will be the first stand-alone collective action in this country.  A case such as this would not have been practicable before the introduction of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and we hope that as a result of this action millions of rail passengers will be able to recover the compensation that is due to them.”

Anthony Maton, Managing Partner at Hausfeld & Co LLP said: “This claim is about rail passengers being able to recover what is rightfully due to them. This is only the fifth collective action in the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the first brought without the benefit of an underlying regulatory decision. We’re very pleased to be co-counsel for Mr Gutmann on this ground-breaking case.”

Will there be any cost be for class members?

There is no cost for class members. This action is being funded by Woodsford Litigation Funding, a specialist litigation funder. By absorbing both the costs and risks associated with a claim of this size, Woodsford is enabling the claim to be brought and ensuring that as many rail passengers as possible benefit from this legal action.

Woodsford’s Chief Investment Officer, Charlie Morris, stated: “Third party funding facilitates access to justice and is an integral part of bringing collective actions such as this boundary fares claim. Woodsford is looking forward to helping millions of rail passengers achieve the compensation they are entitled to."

What next?

The Tribunal will now determine whether or not Mr Gutmann’s claim is allowed to proceed.  If the claim is permitted to go forward then those affected will not have to pay any legal fees, nor contact lawyers.

Affected passengers who live in the UK will be automatically included in the claim although they can choose to opt-out in due course. Affected passengers who do not live in the UK will also be eligible to join the claim but must proactively opt-in. As the case progresses, we will provide more detail as to what rail users will be required to do to either opt-in, or opt-out.

Anyone who would like to receive further information about the claim, can visit the claim website, BoundaryFares.com, to sign up for updates.

Further information

The claim’s website and social media channels are available from the day of launch, at BoundaryFares.com where affected passengers can sign up to receive further information on the legal proceedings.

Justin Gutmann represents the passengers bringing this legal case against South Western and Southeastern. He is aiming to ensure that the train companies have to pay back the money which they earned from passengers paying twice for part of their journeys. This is estimated to be in the region of £93 million.

Mr Gutmann has a wealth of experience working in the consumer rights sphere and he has strong expertise in the transport sector. He has spent a large part of his professional life dedicated to consumer welfare, public policy and market research.

Mr Gutmann’s final job prior to retirement was as Head of Research and Insight at Citizens Advice.

Mr Gutmann also spent eight years working for London Underground as a Market Planning Manager.

Justin Gutmann is represented by Charles Lyndon and Hausfeld & Co LLP.

Vannin Capital, the global expert in legal finance, has today announced that Rosie Ioannou has been appointed as UK Regional Managing Director.

 Rosie joined Vannin in 2014 as a Managing Director and has since been a driving force behind its growth and development, as well as the evolution of the litigation funding industry in the UK and around the globe. In her new role, she will have overall responsibility for Vannin’s UK business, leading the team of UK Managing Directors. Her appointment underscores Vannin’s ambitious growth objectives for the years ahead, and the role that the UK litigation market will play in realising those ambitions.

Highly regarded for her experience in funding claims in areas such as insolvency, competition and UK group actions, Rosie has been recognised as a Leading Individual in the UK for her work by Chambers & Partners. Prior to joining the Vannin team, she worked for magic circle law firm Allen & Overy.

Commenting on the announcement, Vannin Capital CEO Richard Hextall said: “Rosie has been fundamental to Vannin’s growth since joining the team in 2014, and her breadth of experience and reputation in the market is second to none. She is a natural choice to lead the UK team to the next stage of its growth, as we look to capitalise on the developing market in the UK and internationally.”

Rosie Ioannou said: “This is a really exciting time for Vannin as the London market for litigation funding continues to grow. The business is very well positioned to continue to diversify its portfolio and capitalise on the myriad opportunities that exist. I look forward to tackling this new challenge and helping to lead our talented UK team into the future.”

About Vannin Capital

Established in 2010, Vannin Capital is a global expert in the provision of funding to support individuals, corporate clients and law firms in the successful resolution of high-value litigation and arbitration claims.

From single case funding to portfolio finance, we offer creative capital solutions that are tailored to our clients’ needs. Our global team of legal and financial experts cover the key commercial litigation and arbitration centres from our offices in London, Jersey, Paris, Bonn, New York, Washington, Sydney and Melbourne. More than just capital, we combine global experience with local knowledge to deliver a high standard of service and expertise to our clients around the world.

A major player in the legal finance market, we are a member of the Association of Litigation Funders of England and Wales (ALF), conducting our business to a high standard in line with its code of conduct.

• Latest trends in the litigation funding marketplace
• Challenges facing legal counsel with litigation funding
• Benefits to investors in litigation funding
• Growth prospects in the marketplace: Leveling the legal playing field
• What counsel should look for in identifying the right litigation financing firm for clients
• How litigation funders determine cost to ROI
• Contracts and risk management
• Litigation funding in patent and intellectual property cases

1. Debenhams Ottaway LLP is a leading law firm with offices in Hertfordshire and a London space. The firm acts for high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and established businesses including, in specialist fields, a number of household brand names. The firm’s litigation and dispute resolution team is known for its entrepreneurial and collaborative approach and fastidious approach to delivering value to clients. The firm also boasts the leading contentious intellectual property team in the northern home countries lead by former city lawyer Rosie Patterson.
2. Sparkle Capital Ltd was founded in 2014 as a third-party commercial litigation funding business. We are a privately-owned company belonging to the family of Fred Done, who is best known for founding BetFred and various other business interests, including real estate and insurance. We are administered by Acasta Europe Limited, an ATE insurance provider.”
3. Acasta Europe Ltd provides administrative services to Acasta European Insurance Company Ltd, an insurer founded in 2006 and active in 12 European countries across 9 classes of insurance. We are an active provider of legal expenses insurance in the UK being one of the most trusted and innovative ATE insurance providers in both delegated authority Personal Injury and bespoke commercial, clinical negligence and insolvency cases. We have a core base of loyal partners that we work closely with to provide innovative solutions that enhance their businesses.
4. Sybaris Legal & IP is a trading identity of Sartorex Group Ltd, which is an accredited Lloyds broker. Sybaris Legal & IP has been broking specialist legal and IP risks for over six years, and has a team of highly experienced brokers and IP specialists, who have been assisting micro-businesses to £100+M turnover companies with IP insurance, After the Event insurance and litigation funding

TopConsumerReviews.com recently awarded their highest five-star rating to Prime Case Funding, an industry leader in lawsuit funding companies.

Lawsuit funding companies help people with pending lawsuits to access funds prior to the settlement of the case. In other words, these services extend a no-risk loan based on the assumption that their client will win their case. When the case is decided in the client’s favor, the loan is repaid from the proceeds of the lawsuit, plus a predetermined amount of interest. On the other hand, if the client loses the case, there is no obligation to repay the loan.

The deciding factor in securing this time of lending is, naturally, the likelihood of the client eventually winning the case. For that reason, the process typically involves discussions with the attorneys representing both the plaintiff and the defendant, collection of court documents, and so forth. There are a number of trustworthy lawsuit funding services that can help clients get the cash they need now, while waiting for the lawsuit to be concluded.

“Prime Case Funding is the nation’s best source of lawsuit funding,” according to Brian Dolezal of TopConsumerReviews.com, LLC. “As an accredited, “A+” rated company with the Better Business Bureau, PCF can be trusted to handle applications quickly and accurately. They can fund loans from $500 to $1,000,000 and more, on cases ranging from personal injury to false imprisonment. Customers particularly appreciate PCF’s lightning-fast turnaround time on loans, with some receiving payouts in as little as one business day. Because of their ironclad reputation, reasonable pricing, and excellent customer service, Prime Case Funding is our highest-ranked provider of Lawsuit Funding in 2019.”

To find out more about Prime Case Funding and other Lawsuit Funding companies, including reviews and comparison rankings, please visit the Lawsuit Funding category of TopConsumerReviews.com at https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/lawsuit-funding/.

About Prime Case Funding Prime Case Funding is a national full service legal funding firm serving both attorneys and their clients. They work to understand your situation and strive to tailor a financial solution that will meet your specific needs. Litigation financing can reduce financial stress and hardship that results from being in a lawsuit. Prime Case Funding’s service can empower you to “win the waiting game” and get the settlement you deserve.

About TopConsumerReviews.com TopConsumerReviews.com, LLC is a leading provider of reviews and rankings for thousands of consumer products and services. From Lawsuit Funding to Personal Loans and Debt Relief, TopConsumerReviews.com delivers in-depth product evaluations in order to make purchasing decisions easier.

Vannin Capital Managing Director, Michael German, had this to say: "The proposed Act is another example of special interest groups using their reach in Washington to implement legislation that goes well beyond the issue they purport to address. Vannin has been a vocal proponent of disclosure of (i) the fact that a litigant is funded and (ii) the identity of the funder. Any disclosure in excess of these facts is an overreach that does far more than solve the potential conflicts raised by Senator Grassley and his counterparts. Instead, the proposed Act would unfairly permit defendants facing legitimate lawsuits to gain an improper advantage, and force the parties and the courts into an irrelevant sideshow regarding funding terms."

- Joshua Collins, Chief Investment Officer of Attorney Capital Funding, on why his company is currently experiencing such massive growth.

• Established in 2013, Augusta is the largest litigation and dispute funding institution in the UK – with £150m of capital and a team of 70 in London and 85 worldwide. Augusta’s scale enables us to make decisions in market-leading timeframes and fund cases of any size.
• Augusta is organised into a series of specialist practice groups: Arbitration, Class Action, Competition, Consumer, Intellectual Property and Litigation, and sectors including Financial Services and Construction & Energy.
• By the end of 2018, Augusta had funded 197 claims with a market leading win ratio of 80%.

Vannin Capital, the global expert in legal finance, has today announced the appointment of Steven Taylor as a Managing Director in its Sydney office.

Steven joins Vannin from one of the pioneer companies of the global litigation funding industry, where he worked as a Litigation Manager responsible for managing funded claims to a resolution – work which entailed reviewing funding applications and negotiating funding agreements.

In addition to his expertise in legal finance, Steven holds extensive knowledge of the Australian corporate and commercial litigation landscape from his time spent as an Associate at Piper Alderman and Senior Associate at Squire Patton Boggs, where he was involved in several high-profile insolvency and class action cases, including claims against Lehman Brothers Australia Limited, on behalf of noteholders of the Octaviar Group and acting for applicants and group members in City of Swan & Ors v McGraw Hill Companies Inc in respect of alleged misrepresentations made by ratings agency, Standard & Poor’s.

Steven’s appointment marks the fifth senior addition to Vannin’s Australian team since its establishment in 2015. He joins a strong team of legal finance experts, including Regional Managing Director Patrick Coope – a former insolvency litigator who had established Australia’s first professional litigation funder in 1998 – as well as Tom McDonald, Pip Murphy and Adam Silverman who all joined as Managing Directors.

Commenting on the announcement, Vannin Capital CEO Richard Hextall said: “Steven’s appointment marks yet another step forward for Vannin’s growth in the Australian market. His impressive range of experience in litigation and legal finance means that he is ideally suited to playing an important role in helping to further develop our already first-class offering. We look forward to welcoming him to the team.”

Steven Taylor said: “The growth of the Australian litigation finance market in recent years has been remarkable, and Vannin’s impressive portfolio underscore its ambitions for growth in the region. I am excited to be joining a world-class team and to help the business continue on an upward trajectory.”

About Vannin Capital

Established in 2010, Vannin Capital is a global expert in the provision of funding to support individuals, corporate clients and law firms in the successful resolution of high-value litigation and arbitration claims.

From single case funding to portfolio finance, we offer creative capital solutions that are tailored to our clients’ needs. Our global team of legal and financial experts cover the key commercial litigation and arbitration centres from our offices in London, Jersey, Paris, Bonn, New York, Washington, Sydney and Melbourne.

More than just capital, we combine global experience with local knowledge to deliver a high standard of service and expertise to our clients around the world. A major player in the legal finance market, we are a member of the Association of Litigation Funders of England and Wales (ALF), conducting our business to a high standard in line with its code of conduct.

Vannin Capital Holdings Limited Registered in Jersey No. 121561

Registered Office Address:

13-14 Esplanade, St Helier Jersey, JE1 1BD

vannin.com

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Melbourne/ Jersey, 30 January 2019. Therium Capital Management, a leading global provider of litigation finance, announced today that Louise Hird has been appointed to the firm as an investment manager. Louise joins Therium from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), where she was a director leading investigations focused on consumer and competition law. Founded in 2009, Therium is one of the largest and most established litigation financing firms in the world. The firm has funded claims valued at $36 billion.

Therium Capital Management Australia Pty Ltd is headquartered in Melbourne and is led by Simon Dluzniak, who has worked in the funding industry in Australia and the UK since 2003.

Therium has funded claims in Australia since 2011 and is currently funding high profile shareholder class actions against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd and Spotless Group Holdings Ltd, as well as delivery management software company GetSwift Ltd.  Therium Capital Management Australia will continue to finance class actions and general commercial, insolvency and arbitration claims. The firm will also seek to develop the country’s emerging corporate funding and portfolio funding markets, as well as investigate the funding of arbitration claims in Hong Kong and Singapore, both of which are emerging markets for litigation finance.

Simon Dluzniak, Head of Therium Capital Management Australia, said: “We are very excited about launching our office in Melbourne and delighted that Louise has joined the team.  Her competition experience will be invaluable as we continue to deliver innovative funding solutions for our clients.  Whilst our business has been very successful in Australia for some time and we are funding some major cases, having a team on the ground ensures that we are closer to our clients, and better positioned to capitalise on market opportunities in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region more broadly.”

Louise Hird, Investment Manager at Therium Capital Management Australia, said: “I have known of Therium for many years and have been hugely impressed. The team has tremendous experience in funding highly complex, often cross border cases, both claimant and defendant side, and has been at the forefront of developing the industry globally. I am very excited to join the firm and look forward to building the business further in Australia and the wider region, as well as working with our international teams to leverage Australia’s long standing experience of funding.”

Prior to joining Therium, Simon spent 12 years with another international funder, leading on cases in Australia and the UK. He has significant funding experience, particularly in relation to class action and insolvency litigation, having managed a number of high-profile funded cases in both jurisdictions. Previously, Simon worked with corporate regulators in Australia and the UK, and at Ernst & Young. He graduated from La Trobe University with degrees in Arts (BA) and Law (LLB) in 1997.

At the ACCC, Louise led a wide variety of investigations into misconduct in various industries.  She has advised at a high level on enforcement strategy and case formulation in complex matters, and managed proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia.  Louise has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) from Monash University.

Therium has operations across Europe, including in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia, and in the US. Therium was the first commercial litigation funder to have operations on the ground in Germany and Scandinavia and it was the first European firm to launch a full service business in the US.

Litigation funding allows individuals and companies to take on litigation and arbitration cases that they might not otherwise be able to afford, and/or to hedge the costs and risks involved in such matters. Therium pays for all of the costs, including adverse costs in the event that the case is lost, and only receives payment if the case is won.

Therium Capital Management Australia Pty Ltd is located at: Level 3, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC  3000. Telephone: +61 (0)3 8375 9641.

About Therium

Founded in 2009, Therium is a leading global litigation financing firm with a market-leading track record of generating superior returns for its investors. The firm works across all forms of commercial litigation and arbitration and invests in a broad range of complex commercial disputes, from securities and shareholder actions, international arbitration, competition and antitrust cases, through to intellectual property, insolvency and class actions. In February 2018, Therium announced its latest fund of £200 million, which the company is now actively deploying, and Therium has now raised nearly $800 million since its foundation. To date, the firm globally has funded claims valued at $36 billion. Therium has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in litigation finance, pioneering the combined use of insurance tools alongside funding vehicles, and introducing portfolio funding products into the UK.

The firm’s ability to develop innovative funding arrangements and bespoke financial solutions for litigants and law firms complements its unmatched experience and rigorous approach to funding a wide range of commercial disputes throughout the world.  In Chambers and Partners’ inaugural litigation support directory this year, Therium was ranked as a Tier 1 litigation funder. Therium is a founder member of the Association of Litigation Funders of England and Wales.

www.therium.com

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Desiree Maghoo Questor Consulting +44 (0)7775 522740 dmaghoo@questorconsulting.com