Healthcare Locums, the nursing recruitment agency that came close to collapse last year after a black hole was discovered in its accounts, is being sued by US investors.
Hedge funds Permian, Arundel, Privet Capital and Flinn Investments have teamed up to file suits against the company, its founder and former chief executive Kate Bleasdale (pictured), former finance director Diane Jarvis and ex-chairman Alan Walker. The suits were filed in New York and allege the company and its former directors made misrepresentations during 2010 about its profitability and accounting practices. Permian and Arundel were among investors who tried to block the company's controversial rescue refinancing which diluted their stakes in the business.
HCL said it had not yet been served with the summons but issued a statement to warn shareholders of the action. Bleasdale is also suing HCL, claiming unfair dismissal.
