Optimus Fund Investors Launch Full-Scale Lawsuit for Investment Refunds

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] Among investors in the Optimus Asset Management fund, whose redemption has been suspended, there is a growing movement to file lawsuits to recover their investments.

According to the financial investment industry and legal circles on the 23rd, the law firm Jeonghan opened a cafe on an internet portal site on the 19th to recruit a lawsuit group for the Optimus fund. Investors whose fund redemptions have been suspended are inquiring about the lawsuit procedures and timelines against the sales companies through this cafe. In addition, the law firm Okims plans to recruit lawsuit groups by holding briefing sessions for investors.

Currently, law firms and investors are focusing on suspicions of fraud as evidence has emerged that the funds flowed not into accounts receivable from construction companies or IT (information and communication) firms contracted by public enterprises or government offices, but into unlisted real estate companies. They are also reportedly considering the possibility of incomplete sales by the sales companies.

In the financial investment industry, Optimus Asset Management is believed to have recruited customers by promising an annual return of 3% by investing in accounts receivable from public institutions with low risk of loss, such as Korea Expressway Corporation and Korea Housing Finance Corporation, but in reality, invested in private bonds of unlisted over-the-counter companies, bonds issued by loan companies, and insolvent real estate companies.

Currently, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has begun an on-site inspection since the 19th, immediately after the news of the suspension of redemption of the Optimus fund was reported. The FSS plans to focus first on examining the fund management process of Optimus Asset Management. If it deems necessary, investigations into the administrative agency, Korea Securities Depository, and the custodian bank, Hana Bank, will be conducted by the Financial Investment Examination Bureau and the Bank Examination Bureau.

An FSS official explained, "The inspection of Optimus Asset Management may be completed within two weeks if it proceeds quickly, but it could take longer if verification is delayed," adding, "We plan to look into the matter further."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.