AMP says it
intends to "vigorously defend" two separate class action proceedings
brought against the wealth management giant after its market value plummeted on
the back of the scandals revealed at the banking royal commission.
Law firm
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan on Thursday filed class action
proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW on behalf of affected shareholders,
alleging AMP breached its continuous disclosure obligations and made misleading
statements causing shareholders significant loss.
Class action
firm Phi Finney McDonald also filed proceedings in the Federal Court of
Australia on Thursday on behalf of shareholders seeking damages for alleged
disclosure contraventions.
"AMP
intends to vigorously defend the proceedings," the company said on
Thursday.
The wealth
management giant has admitted it charged customers fees for financial advice
that was never delivered and repeatedly lied to the corporate watchdog, ASIC,
about its behaviour.
The
revelations sent shares spiralling to a six-year low and shed more than $2
billion off AMP's market value since it began giving testimony at the royal
commission.
Quinn Emanuel
partner Damian Scattini said the deceit of AMP and its board is
"reprehensible".
"They
must be held financially accountable," Mr Scattini said ahead of the
company's annual general meeting on Thursday.
"These
revelations show irrefutably the contempt and disregard that AMP has for both
its shareholders and customers."
Phi Finney
McDonald director Tim Finney said AMP had failed its clients.
"It has
badly let down its many loyal shareholders, who had the right to expect more
from one of Australia's largest and most reputable financial services
companies," Mr Finney said.
AMP will hold
its annual general meeting in Melbourne, fronting investors after the departure
of its chairman, chief executive and two board members in the wake of the
damaging revelations.
A third board
member, AMP's longest-serving director Patty Akopiantz, will end her more than
seven-year stint by the end of the year.
Chairman
Catherine Brenner resigned last week, following chief executive Craig Meller,
while two of the three directors up for re-election at the AGM stepped down on
Tuesday ahead of a likely vote against their reinstatement led by the
Australian Shareholders Association.
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