The UK Financial Conduct Authority fined former Blue Horizon Asset Management CEO Paul Taylor GBP 489,000 and former managing director Esmeralda Toni GBP 121,200 and banned both from financial services. The regulator found that they acted dishonestly over an extended period and breached the requirement to act with integrity. Taylor made misleading statements and falsified information during attempted acquisitions of a UK bank and Reading Football Club, including false claims that he owned a bond portfolio worth about EUR 200 million. Toni knowingly assisted with misleading statements and false documents relating to the bank transaction, which they knew or understood were likely to be considered by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Both received 30% settlement discounts, without which Taylor and Toni would have been fined GBP 698,600 and GBP 173,100, respectively.
Financial Conduct Authority2026-07-21
UK Financial Conduct Authority fines and bans two former Blue Horizon executives for dishonest conduct
The UK Financial Conduct Authority fined former Blue Horizon Asset Management executives Paul Taylor and Esmeralda Toni GBP 489,000 and GBP 121,200, respectively, and banned both from financial services. The regulator found they acted dishonestly, including through misleading statements and false documents claiming ownership of a EUR 200 million bond portfolio.