Hargreaves CEO says to forgo bonus until Woodford fund issue resolved

(Reuters) - Hargreaves Lansdown Chief Executive Officer Chris Hill said on Monday he will forgo a bonus until investors in Neil Woodford's suspended fund, which was backed by the British fund supermarket, have access to their money.

"Until investors are able to access their money held with Woodford Equity Income, I will not be taking a bonus," Hill said in an emailed statement.

Woodford, among Britain's most famous fund managers, has faced fierce criticism after suspending his £3.7 billion equity income fund on June 3, in a rare move for a fund designed for retail investors. The fund has not given a date for reopening.

Hargreaves, a major Woodford backer, picks out a number of funds it considers to be among the best value for its ‘Wealth 50’ list.

On Tuesday, British lawmaker Nicky Morgan asked UK fund supermarket Hargreaves Lansdown for information about its links to the Woodford fund suspended last week.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that Hill would forgo his bonus of as much as 2.1 million pounds until issues at Woodford were resolved.

(Reporting by Ishita Chigilli Palli in Bengaluru; editing by John Stonestreet, Bernard Orr)