Forum Group in administration as Westpac case deepens

Mackay Goodwin said it had already closed operations of one business unit within the Forum Group, Iugis Food Waste, saying the business unit’s ongoing operation was “not viable”.

“The administrator is currently reviewing the viability of ongoing operations for two other business units of the Forum Group, those being Forum Group Managed IT Services and Autonomous Energy – a solar panel business,” the firm said.

“A decision is pending on whether the administrator can continue the operation of the aforementioned remaining two business units, which employ approximately 170 employees.”

Mackay Goodwin said there had been significant interest in the acquisition of both businesses, with over 100 inquiries received. The first meeting of creditors of the Forum Group would take place on 20 July, the firm said.

Westpac recently commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against Forum Group subsidiary Forum Finance, and obtained asset freezing orders earlier in July against two of its directors, Basile Papadimitriou and Vincenzo Tesoriero.

The bank recently disclosed to the market that it had detected an alleged fraud worth approximately $200 million involving a portfolio of equipment leases with the bank’s customers arranged by Forum Finance, which were referred to Westpac’s institutional bank.

It has been alleged that Forum Finance may have used false invoices and forged signatures to obtain Westpac loans without the consent of several of the major bank’s corporate clients.

On Friday, the Federal Court ordered the winding up of Forum Finance as part of Westpac’s proceedings against the company, with Jason Preston and Jason Ireland of McGrathNicol to be appointed as liquidators, and extended asset freezing orders against the company’s two directors until further notice.

The case is expected back in court in early August.

[Related: NAB investigated over potential financial crime breaches]