The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has provisionally fined hedge fund manager Crispin Odey £1.8 million and banned him from the UK financial services industry for a 'lack of integrity'. This decision follows an investigation into Odey's conduct amid allegations of historical sexual misconduct at his now-defunct firm, Odey Asset Management (OAM), which involved claims from 13 women over a 25-year period. Odey, who founded OAM in 1991, plans to challenge the FCA's ruling at an Upper Tribunal hearing. The FCA's action is based on Odey's alleged attempts to obstruct OAM's disciplinary processes concerning sexual harassment claims against him, which he has denied. The regulator stated that Odey's behavior demonstrated a 'reckless disregard' for the governance of OAM, leading to breaches of regulatory requirements. The FCA's investigation, which began in September 2021, followed OAM's own internal probe initiated in September 2020. The FCA emphasized that Odey's actions not only impacted OAM but also posed risks to consumers and the broader financial industry due to his interference with the disciplinary process.