ASIC Class Order [CO 02/178]

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2007B00675 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Corporations Act 2001 - Paragraphs 601QA(1)(a), 741(1)(a), 911A(2)(1),

992B(1)(a) and 1020F(l)(a) - Revocation and Exemption

 

1. Under paragraphs 601QA(1)(a) and 741(1)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001 (the "Act") the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ("ASIC") hereby revokes Class Order [00/206].

 

2. Under paragraphs 601QA(1)(a), 992B(1)(a) and 1020F(l)(a) of the Act, ASIC hereby exempts each person who operates, or offers for issue, or issues interests in, a Stallion Scheme ("Offeror") from Chapter 5C and Part 7.9 (other than sections 1017E, 1017F, 1020D and 1021O) and sections 992A and 992AA of the Act in the cases specified in Schedule A on the conditions specified in Schedule B.

 

3. Under paragraph 911A(2)(1) of the Act, ASIC hereby exempts a person (other than a promoter mentioned in Schedule B who does not hold at least 10% fully paid of all Interests in the Stallion Scheme) from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence for the provision of financial services by the person in relation to interests in a Stallion Scheme operated on a basis which:

 

(a) in the case of a person who is an Offeror - meets the requirements and conditions in Schedules A and B; and

 

(b) otherwise - appears to meet those requirements and conditions except where the person is aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, that those requirements and conditions have not been met.

 

4. Under paragraph 1020F(l)(a) of the Act, ASIC hereby exempts each person (other than the Offeror) from Part 7.9 of the Act in relation to a recommendation that a client acquires, and an offer to arrange the issue of, an interest in a Stallion Scheme offered on a basis which appears to meet the requirements and conditions in Schedules A and B except where the person is aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, that those requirements and conditions have not been met.

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Offers to issue, recommendations to acquire and the issue of interests in, and the operation of, a Stallion Scheme under which each interest has been issued as a result of:

 

(a) an issue to which section 1477 of the Corporations Law (as continued in force by section 1408 of the Act) applies; or

 

(b) an offer made before the Effective Date which assuming the interest in the Stallion Scheme was a security to which Part 6D.2 of the Act applied at the time the offer was made, would not have require disclosure to investors because of a provision of section 708 of the Act; or


(c) acceptance by a person of an offer made personally to them; or

 

(d) an offer made on or after the Effective Date which does not need a Product Disclosure Statement,

 

and where the Offeror together with any associate of the Offeror (as defined in
Division 2 of Part 1.2 of the Act) has not issued or sold in excess of 40 interests in any Horse Breeding Scheme at the same time or during the previous 12 months.

 

SCHEDULE B

 

  1. In the case of a Stallion Scheme in which Interests were first issued before the Commencement Date:

(a)  before the date which is two years after the Commencement Date each promoter of the Stallion Scheme must at all times meet at least one of the following three requirements:

(i) the promoter holds a dealers licence granted by ASIC under Part 7.3 of the old Corporations Act (as defined in section 1410 of the Act) and complies with Divisions 1 and 3 of Part 7.3, Parts 7.5, 7.6 and 7.7 and section 842 of that old Corporations Act in relation to dealings in Interests in the Stallion Scheme as if, at the time of each issue of an Interest in the Stallion Scheme, and each offer in relation to an Interest in the Stallion Scheme, the Stallion Scheme was registered and the promoter ensures that any representative of the promoter complies with the provisions of Division 1 and 3 of Part 7.3, Parts 7.5, 7.6 and section 842 of that old Corporations Act applicable to representatives in relation to dealings in Interests in the Stallion Scheme as if, at the time of issue or offer the Stallion Scheme was required to be registered; or

(ii) the promoter holds an Australian financial services licence; or

(iii) the promoter holds at least 10% fully paid of all Interests in the Stallion Scheme; and

(b) after the end of the 2 year period starting on the Commencement Date each promoter of the Stallion Scheme must at all times either :

(i) hold an Australian financial services licence; or

(ii) hold at least 10% fully paid of all Interests in the Stallion Scheme.

2.      In the case of a Stallion Scheme in which Interests wee first issued on or after the Commencement Date each promoter of the Stallion Scheme must at all times either:

 

 

 

 

(a) hold an Australian financial services licence; or

 

(b) hold at least 10% fully paid of all Interests in the Stallion Scheme.

 

Interpretation

 

For the purpose of this instrument:

 

"Effective Date" means:

 

(a) for a Stallion Scheme in which no interests of the same class were issued before the Commencement Date - the Commencement Date; and

 

(b) for any other Stallion Schemes - the date on which the new product disclosure provisions (as defined in section 1438 of the Act) first apply to an offer or issue of interests in the scheme.

 

"Horse Breeding Scheme" means any managed investment scheme where the principal purpose is to breed horses.

 

"Interest" in relation to a Stallion Scheme means any interest in that Stallion Scheme acquired under a Stallion Scheme Agreement.

 

"offer made personally" means an offer which includes a copy of the proposed Stallion Scheme Agreement and which otherwise complies with subsection 1012E(5) of the Act.

 

"Stallion" in relation to a Stallion Scheme Agreement means the Stallion identified in the Stallion Scheme Agreement.

 

"Stallion Return" means the annual Stallion Return Form, Season Service Date Declaration and any other documents required to be lodged with the Keeper of the Australian Stud Book, a body jointly owned by the Australian Jockey Club and Victorian Racing Club.

 

"Stallion Scheme" means any managed investment scheme to:

 

(a) acquire a Stallion; and

 

(b) provide stud services of the Stallion for the benefit of each of the participants of the scheme.

 

"Stallion Scheme Agreement" means an agreement which includes provisions to the following continuing effect:

 

(a) requiring that the Stallion Scheme relates to one Stallion and no other horse or investment;

 

(b) requiring that the Stallion stand at stud only in this jurisdiction for the first three full stud seasons from the date the Stallion Scheme acquires the Stallion;

 

 

 

 

 

(c) provides that participants will, as tenants in common, own the whole of the legal and equitable title to the Stallion free of encumbrances;

(d) prohibits the financing of the purchase of the Stallion other than from the proceeds of the issue of Interests;

(e) provides that prospective participants in the Stallion Scheme receive a full refund of application moneys on written request made to and received by the promoter within 3 clear days after payment of application moneys;

 

and that contains:

 

(f) details of reporting requirements to participants of the financial performance of the Stallion Scheme and Stallion Returns for each reporting period;

(g) a statement of risks associated with the Stallion Scheme and the speculative nature of investment in horse breeding schemes;

(h) details of fees and expenses payable to the manager, the basis of their calculation and disclosure in the financial statements;

(i) details of insurance of, and the veterinary examinations schedule of, the Stallion;

(j) details of the obligations of the stud; and

(k) a statement that this Class Order is being relied on by the Offeror.

Note: In relation to the financial products to which this instrument relates, "this jurisdiction" means Australia: Act, ss 5 and 9 (definition of "this jurisdiction") and regulation 1.0.22 of the Corporations Regulations 2001.

 

Commencement

 

This instrument takes effect on the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 (the "Commencement Date").

 

Dated the 14th day of February 2002

 

 

 

Signed by Brendan Byrne

as a delegate of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Overview

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has enacted the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Corporations Act 2001, which aims to address the regulatory gaps in financial product offerings, particularly concerning managed investment schemes such as Stallion Schemes. The Act provides the framework for ASIC to revoke and amend existing regulations to better align with the evolving financial landscape. This legislative instrument revokes Class Order [00/206] and introduces exemptions for certain operators and promoters of Stallion Schemes, provided they adhere to the specified conditions and requirements outlined in Schedules A and B. The overarching policy objective is to facilitate the efficient and compliant operation of Stallion Schemes while ensuring investor protection through appropriate regulatory oversight. The instrument is effective from the commencement date of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act 2001.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument, effective from the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act 2001, addresses the application and revocation of certain regulations under the Corporations Act 2001 concerning Stallion Schemes. It revokes Class Order [00/206], which previously governed these schemes, and replaces it with new exemptions and conditions set out in Schedules A and B. The exemptions apply to persons operating or offering interests in a Stallion Scheme, which is defined as a managed investment scheme to acquire a stallion and provide its stud services for the benefit of participants. The exemptions cover various sections of the Act, including Chapter 5C, Part 7.9, sections 992A and 992AA, provided the scheme meets specific criteria outlined in the schedules. These criteria include the issuance of interests under certain conditions and limitations on the number of interests that can be issued within a given timeframe. Promoters of these schemes are also subject to specific requirements, such as holding a certain percentage of interests or possessing an appropriate financial services licence, depending on the timing of the issuance of interests. The exemptions and conditions aim to streamline regulatory requirements while ensuring that adequate protections are in place for investors in these specialised investment schemes.

Key Provisions

The legislative instrument revokes Class Order [00/206] under paragraphs 601QA(1)(a) and 741(1)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001 (the "Act") and provides exemptions from certain provisions of the Act for Stallion Schemes. A Stallion Scheme is defined as a managed investment scheme designed to acquire a stallion and provide its stud services for the benefit of the scheme participants. The exemptions apply to offers to issue, recommendations to acquire, and the issue of interests in Stallion Schemes under specific conditions, such as the number of interests issued and the basis of the offer. The exemptions also require promoters to meet certain conditions, such as holding a dealers licence, an Australian financial services licence, or holding at least 10% fully paid of all interests in the Stallion Scheme. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties and entities it governs. Offerors of interests in a Stallion Scheme must meet the conditions set out in Schedule B and ensure that any associate of the Offeror also complies with those conditions. Promoters of the Stallion Scheme must meet the requirements set out in Schedule B, which include holding a dealers licence, an Australian financial services licence, or holding at least 10% fully paid of all interests in the Stallion Scheme. Additionally, the Offeror and any associate must not have issued or sold in excess of 40 interests in any Horse Breeding Scheme at the same time or during the previous 12 months. The legislative instrument also provides for offences, penalties, and civil or criminal consequences for breach of the Act. The maximum penalties for contravention of the Act are not specified in the legislative instrument. However, breaches of the Act may result in civil or criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. Additionally, promoters who fail to meet the requirements set out in Schedule B may be subject to enforcement action by ASIC, which may include fines, disqualification from holding a financial services licence, or other sanctions.

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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.