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Madoff victims offered settlement Madoff victims offered settlement
(about 19 hours later)
Spanish bank Santander says it will compensate private clients who suffered losses from the alleged fraud run by US businessman Bernard Madoff.Spanish bank Santander says it will compensate private clients who suffered losses from the alleged fraud run by US businessman Bernard Madoff.
The bank said it will offer clients a 1.38bn euro ($1.8bn;£1.3bn) settlement.The bank said it will offer clients a 1.38bn euro ($1.8bn;£1.3bn) settlement.
Santander is being sued over claims it did not do enough to prevent losses in funds that invested with Mr Madoff.Santander is being sued over claims it did not do enough to prevent losses in funds that invested with Mr Madoff.
He is accused of perpetrating one of the largest-ever Wall Street frauds, through a $50bn (£33.2bn) scheme that wiped out many investors.He is accused of perpetrating one of the largest-ever Wall Street frauds, through a $50bn (£33.2bn) scheme that wiped out many investors.
Santander is the largest bank in the eurozone and owns Abbey and Alliance & Leicester in the UK.Santander is the largest bank in the eurozone and owns Abbey and Alliance & Leicester in the UK.
'Exceptional circumstances''Exceptional circumstances'
Santander has said its customers have exposure of 2.3bn euros to Mr Madoff through its private banking business, Optimal.Santander has said its customers have exposure of 2.3bn euros to Mr Madoff through its private banking business, Optimal.
The bank will issue 1.38bn euros worth of preferred shares to compensate individual customers. The move will cost the bank 500m euros.The bank will issue 1.38bn euros worth of preferred shares to compensate individual customers. The move will cost the bank 500m euros.
It said that it had decided to offer compensation because of the "exceptional circumstances" and to maintain its business relationships with clients affected by the alleged fraud.It said that it had decided to offer compensation because of the "exceptional circumstances" and to maintain its business relationships with clients affected by the alleged fraud.
Spanish law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo said that it had filed a class action suit in Florida with its US partner firm Labaton Sucharow.Spanish law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo said that it had filed a class action suit in Florida with its US partner firm Labaton Sucharow.
The lawsuit claims that Santander was negligent in allowing its Optimal Strategic US equity fund to invest with Mr Madoff.The lawsuit claims that Santander was negligent in allowing its Optimal Strategic US equity fund to invest with Mr Madoff.
Santander said in a statement that it acted at all in accordance with all applicable laws and sound banking practices and procedures. Santander said in a statement that it acted in accordance with all applicable laws and sound banking practices and procedures.
"Grupo Santander has acted at all times with the due diligence in the management of its clients' investments," it said in a statement."Grupo Santander has acted at all times with the due diligence in the management of its clients' investments," it said in a statement.
The Madoff scandal has hurt a number of high-profile banks and financial institutions.The Madoff scandal has hurt a number of high-profile banks and financial institutions.
Austria has taken control of Bank Medici, a small, private bank, because of the losses it sustained.Austria has taken control of Bank Medici, a small, private bank, because of the losses it sustained.
In the UK, the Serious Fraud Office has said it would investigate Mr Madoff's business operations.In the UK, the Serious Fraud Office has said it would investigate Mr Madoff's business operations.
Marc Gross, of the US law firm Pomerantz, which represents some of Mr Madoff's clients, told the BBC that the compensation was "very significant".
"I think it's taking ownership of the problem, taking accountability and standing up and saying we are going to reimburse... those who've been defrauded."