ASIC pursues unregistered MIS operators in the west
The Federal Court of Australia last week granted interim injunctions against Frasers — The Project Managers Pty Ltd (Frasers) and five companies associated with Frasers to prevent them from promoting and operating nine land subdivision schemes in Western Australia, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has announced.
ASIC alleged that between June 2006 and July 2007 Frasers offered clients investment opportunities in schemes that purchased and subdivided rural land into residential lots, in what it claims are unregistered managed investment schemes.
The investors paid an expression of interest fee and in some cases a deposit, ASIC said.
ASIC told the Federal Court that despite committing to stop, Frasers had continued operating the schemes and dealing with their assets.
ASIC believes that since June 2006 about 100 investors have invested approximately $5.5 million in the nine schemes.
“ASIC is seeking the appointment of an independent accountant to consult with investors and wind down the schemes in an orderly manner so that the interests of investors and creditors are treated transparently and fairly,” ASIC executive director of enforcement Jan Redfern said.
Managed investment schemes are required to be registered under the Corporations Act.
Recommended for you
Wealth Data has examined which advice business model has seen the most growth since the start of the year including those that offer holistic advice.
Research conducted by Elixir Consulting and Lonsec has quantified the efficiency gains of using managed accounts in financial advice practices in hours per week saved.
WIth only one-quarter of advice practices actively seeking feedback from clients, the Financial Advice Association Australia has emphasised why this is a critical tool for client retention.
As the government announces a public inquiry into the collapse of Dixon Advisory, risk adviser Richard Silberman has detailed the three areas that typically lead to an AFSL's collapse.