28.02.2011 Hoiatusteade Groen Belang tegevuse kohta (Holland)

The AFM warns against Groen Belang

The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) warns consumers not to accept any offers made by Groen Belang. The AFM believes that Groen Belang has offered and/ or offers financial products in violation of the Act on Financial Supervision (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

Groen Belang is not cooperating with the investigations of the AFM into its business activities. For this reason, the AFM has issued an order for incremental penalty payments (last onder dwangsom) (please see the press release dated 7 February 2011).

Groen Belang uses the following information:
Website: www.groenbelang.nl
Email: info at groenbelang dot nl
Response cards enclosed in magazines
Brochures

The AFM advises consumers, who wish to do business with an institution or person, to check the relevant register on the AFM's website in advance to verify whether the relevant institution or person is registered. The AFM also urgently advises consumers to check the warning lists and press releases at www.afm.nl in
advance.

The AFM further refers to the warning of 16 November 2010 to investors in wood.

The AFM has published three warning lists: (I) Warnings AFM, this list shows organisations and individuals who do not have the necessary licences required by law. It also lists organisations that do not provide a prospectus with their securities, which is also a legal requirement, (2) Warninglist boiler rooms, this list shows organisations that have approached persons without being asked, to offer them investment proposals and do not have an AFM licence or an European Passport, (3) Foreign warninglist, this list shows organisations against which foreign supervisory authorities have issued warnings.

If you have any questions or complaints, you can contact the AFM's Financial Markets Information Line at: 0900 5400 540 (in the Netherlands) or +31 20 797 3751.

The AFM promotes fairness and transparency within financial markets. We are the independent supervisory authority for the savings, lending, investment and insurance markets. The AFM promotes the conscientious provision of financial services to consumers and supervises the honest and efficient operation of the capital markets. Our aim is to improve consumers' and the business sector's confidence in the financial markets, both in the Netherlands and abroad. In performing this task the AFM contributes to the prosperity and economic reputation of the Netherlands.