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Upset British American policyholders call meeting to discuss ‘options’

Photo by Mark TatemGrowing concerns: The former British American Building on Front Street. Policyholders are calling a meeting to raise concerns over the handling of the liquidation of the insurance company.

British American policyholders are calling a meeting for next week to discuss their concerns over the handling of the winding up of the insurance company.Last evening the Official Receiver, in his capacity as Provisional Liquidator of British American Insurance Company Limited, said they have now realised all assets available to Bermuda resident creditors of BAICL, and are in a position to make a final distribution to creditors under the Scheme of Arrangement.“The final payment will be a distribution of 2.5% of Scheme Creditors’ claims, as previously estimated,” a statement said.“The first distribution of 35% of Scheme Creditors’ claims was paid in December 2011. After payment of this second and final distribution, Scheme Creditors will have received a total of 37.5% of their claims.“In accordance with the terms of the Scheme of Arrangement, final distribution cheques will be mailed to each Scheme Creditor’s last known address on September 12, 2013.“The Official Receiver is conscious of the fact that in certain instances there is a cost associated with cashing a cheque in Bermuda. Scheme Creditors will therefore be given the opportunity to return their final distribution cheque and have their distribution paid by online transfer.“Details of what action is required by Scheme Creditors to take up this option will be included in the envelope containing the final distribution cheques.”The statement added that policyholders or creditors can obtain further information with regard to British American by e-mailing infoba@kpmg.bm or by calling the British American hotline on 294-2651.Meanwhile, policyholders are being urged to e-mail bapolicy@gmail.com for details on a planned meeting next week.“It’s time for British American policy holders to get together to discuss our concerns and the way forward — since we can’t seem to get answers from those who have them,” a policyholder said.Policyholders are asked to e-mail before the end of next Tuesday.“We want to know what our options are, what happened, and should there be further investigation,” another policyholder said. “Even if it means us paying collectively to take action.”A policyholder said they were tired of getting the “same British American script” from the liquidators and from the Official Receiver.Some policyholders are also not happy that after their final payout they will have gotten back about 37 cents on the dollar.“We did not pay 37 cents on the dollar for our policies,” the policyholder said.There are approximately 3,800 BAICO policyholders and 6,000 policies.BAICO, which owned 40 percent of the Front Street building through its interests in a holding company, was wound up after its 2009 collapse. The other 60 percent belongs to the BAICO Bermuda pension scheme.The Official Receiver’s press release earlier this summer stated that given the prevailing market conditions, completing a sale of the building has taken a considerable period of time and for a price considerably lower than the original valuation of $3.8 million, when the liquidation of British American commenced.