ASIC Class Order [CO 00/0199]

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2006B00962 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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ASIC Class Order [CO 00/199]

Trustee companies’ common funds

This instrument has effect under paragraph 601QA(1)(b) and subsection 741(1) of the Corporations Act 2001.

This compilation was prepared on 4 October 2005 taking into account amendments up to [CO 02/298].

Prepared by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Corporations Act 2001 — Paragraph 601QA(1)(b) and Subsections 1084(2) and 741(1) — Revocation, Modification and Exemption

Pursuant to paragraph  601QA(1)(b) and subsection  1084(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Act”) the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) revokes ASIC Class Order [98/77] dated 10 July 1998 with effect from the time immediately before the CLERP Commencement Date.

And pursuant to paragraph 601QA(1)(b) of the Act ASIC hereby declares, with effect from the CLERP Commencement Date, that Chapter 5C applies in the case specified in Schedule A to each person specified in Schedule B (the Trustee) and to each person who operates or is a member of a scheme of the type described in Schedule A as if the following provisions were omitted, modified or varied as specified in this declaration.

1. Replace section 601FL with the following:

 601FL  Retirement of responsible entity

 The responsible entity of a registered scheme must withdraw from the operation of the scheme, except as provided in this section, upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

(a) where the responsible entity ceases to carry on business;

(b) on the responsible entity being placed in liquidation, other than for the purposes of amalgamation, reconstruction or a purpose of a similar kind;

(c) where a receiver or receiver and manager is appointed in relation to the property in which the responsible entity has a  beneficial interest and is not removed or withdrawn within 30 days of the appointment;

(d) if the responsible entity is not, or is no longer,  authorised by an Act or state Act to hold trust moneys in a common  fund;

(e) if the scheme is deregistered;

(f) on the suspension or revocation of the responsible entity's authorisation to operate the scheme.

 Upon withdrawal, in accordance with the constitution of the scheme and any orders under subsection  601NF(2), the responsible entity must realise and convert into cash all investments held in the scheme, as soon as reasonably practicable having due regard to the need to realise the reasonable value of the investments so far as the circumstances permit, and distribute the proceeds of such realisation in a manner authorised by the constitution of the scheme after payment of all appropriate costs and provision for liabilities.”

2. Omit section  601FM and subsections  601FQ(1),  601FQ(2),  601FQ(3) and  601FQ(4).

3. In subsection  601FQ(5) omit “,if” and paragraphs (a) and (b).

4. In subsection 601GC(1) delete all the words after “new” and substitute the following:

“constitution by the responsible entity if the responsible entity reasonably believes that the changes are in the best interests of members and not inconsistent with its duties to any member as a member of the scheme and provides ASIC with a certificate to that effect when lodging a copy of the modification or the new constitution under subsection (2).”; and

5. Modify section  601LB by substituting the following as replacement section  207:

 Section 207  Purpose

 The rules in this Chapter, as they apply to a registered scheme, are designed to protect the interests of the scheme's members as a whole, by requiring with respect to the giving of financial benefits to the responsible entity or its related parties that come out of scheme property or that could endanger those interests that such benefits be given only with member approval or where the responsible entity is of the opinion that the giving of the financial benefit is in the best interests of members and provides ASIC with a certificate to that effect before the financial benefit is given.”

6. Modify section  601LC by deleting the full stop at the end of replacement paragraph  208(1)(e) and substituting the following:

 “; or

(f) the responsible entity must reasonably believe that the giving of the financial benefit is in the best interests of members and not inconsistent with its duties to any member as a member of the scheme and must provide ASIC with a certificate to that effect before the financial benefit is given”.

7. Omit sections  601NB and  601NC and paragraphs  601NE(1)(b) and  601NE(1)(d).

And pursuant to subsection  741(1) of the Act ASIC hereby exempts the Trustee from subsection  723(1) of the Act in the case specified in Schedule C with effect from the CLERP Commencement Date.

SCHEDULE A

The operation of a managed investment scheme that is a common fund, other than a common fund the value of the assets of which comprise, or have been offered or held out as comprising, 20% or more in estates in land. For this purpose disregard interests as mortgagee, and interests arising from enforcement of rights as a mortgagee.

SCHEDULE B

The trustee of a common fund mentioned in Schedule A.

SCHEDULE C

An application for interests in a common fund mentioned in Schedule A that is not made pursuant to:

(i) a disclosure document issued in relation to the interests;

(ii) a direction to the Trustee to apply the money to the interests if the money is already held by the Trustee for the person giving the direction; or

(iii) a person's specific consent if money is already held by the Trustee for the person and the person's specific consent is required prior to the Trustee applying the money to the interest,

where the Trustee has no authority to invest or deal with those moneys, except as part of the common fund.

Interpretation

In this instrument “CLERP Commencement Date” means the time at which Schedule 1 of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999 commences.

Note: the CLERP Commencement Date is expected to be 13 March 2000.

Notes to ASIC Class Order [CO 00/199]

Note 1

ASIC Class Order [CO 00/199] (in force under paragraph 601QA(1)(b) and subsection 741(1) of the Corporations Act 2001) as shown in this compilation comprises that Class Order amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Instrument number

Date of making or FRLI registration

Date of commencement

Application, saving or transitional provisions

[CO 00/199]

17/2/2000

13/3/2000

-

[CO 00/1087]

20/5/2000

20/5/2000

-

[CO 02/298]

8/3/2002

11/3/2002

-

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

Para 1

am. [CO 02/298]

Para 4

rs. [CO 00/1087]

Para 6

am. [CO 00/1087]

Class order

am. [CO 02/298]

 

 

Overview

The ASIC Class Order [CO 00/199], introduced under the Corporations Act 2001, was enacted to address specific regulatory requirements concerning trustee companies' common funds, particularly focusing on the management and investment of these funds. This legislative instrument was prepared by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and came into effect on 13 March 2000, the date of the CLERP Commencement as stipulated in the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999. The primary objective of this class order is to ensure the protection of scheme members' interests by modifying certain provisions related to the operations of trustee companies and the management of common funds, thereby providing a regulatory framework that aligns with the overarching goals of the Corporations Act. The modifications include the conditions under which responsible entities can withdraw from scheme operations, the distribution of proceeds from realised investments, and the requirement for ASIC certificates in the approval of financial benefits to responsible entities and related parties.

Scope and Application

ASIC Class Order [CO 00/199] applies to the trustees of common funds, specifically those managed investment schemes that do not have assets comprising or offered as comprising 20% or more in estates in land. This instrument operates under the authority granted by the Corporations Act 2001, specifically referencing paragraph 601QA(1)(b) and subsection 741(1). The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this order is effectively national, as it applies across Australia under the federal legislative framework. It revokes ASIC Class Order [98/77] dated 10 July 1998 and modifies the application of Chapter 5C to the trustees of the specified common funds, with effect from the CLERP Commencement Date. Notably, this class order exempts the trustee from certain provisions of the Corporations Act when dealing with applications for interests in the common fund, provided these applications meet specific conditions such as being made pursuant to a disclosure document or with the specific consent of the person involved. The instrument includes various modifications and omissions to sections of the Corporations Act, ensuring that the rules governing these common funds are aligned with the legislative intent to protect the interests of scheme members.

Key Provisions

The ASIC Class Order [CO 00/199] outlines specific provisions for the management of common funds by trustee companies, particularly focusing on managed investment schemes that are not predominantly land-based. The operative sections of this order include the replacement of section 601FL with a new provision that mandates the responsible entity of a registered scheme to withdraw under certain circumstances such as the cessation of business, liquidation, or deregistration of the scheme (section 601FL). It also omits sections 601FM, 601FQ(1) through 601FQ(4), and modifies subsection 601FQ(5), subsection 601GC(1), section 601LB, section 601LC, and omits sections 601NB and 601NC along with paragraphs 601NE(1)(b) and 601NE(1)(d). The order also exempts trustees from certain provisions under subsection 723(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, provided the application for interests in the common fund adheres to specific conditions. The obligations imposed by this Class Order on trustees include the requirement to withdraw from operating the scheme under the circumstances outlined in section 601FL and to realise and convert investments into cash upon withdrawal, distributing the proceeds in accordance with the scheme's constitution. Trustees must also ensure that any changes to the scheme's constitution are in the best interests of members and provide ASIC with a certificate to that effect. Additionally, financial benefits given to the responsible entity or related parties must either be approved by members or be deemed to be in the best interests of members, with a certificate provided to ASIC before such benefits are given. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Class Order may result in various consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the Class Order itself, breaches of the Corporations Act 2001, under which this Class Order operates, can lead to civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties can include fines up to $210,000 for individuals and significantly higher amounts for bodies corporate, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. Criminal penalties can result in imprisonment, with the maximum penalties varying based on the specific offence committed. The exact penalties would need to be referred to in the relevant sections of the Corporations Act 2001.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.