Corporations Act 2001
Note: This Chapter applies to a CCIV in a modified form: see Division 4 of Part 8B.7 .
CCH note - modifying legislative instruments: The application of Pt 7.6 is affected by the following legislative instruments that commenced or were amended on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Custody Standards for Providers of Custodial and Depository Services) Instrument 2024/17 (other than Divs 4 and 8); the ASIC Corporations (Investor Directed Portfolio Services) Instrument 2023/669 (as amended by ASIC Corporations (Amendment) Instrument 2024/554) (other than Divs 4 and 8); the ASIC Corporations (Record-Keeping Requirements for Australian Financial Services Licensees when Giving Personal Advice) Instrument 2024/508 (other than Divs 4 and 8); and the ASIC Corporations and Credit (Breach Reporting - Reportable Situations) Instrument 2024/620 (other than Divs 4 and 8).
The application of Pt 7.6 is also affected by Class Order 14/1262: Relief for 31 Day Notice Term Deposits (other than Divs 4 and 8).
For other legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022 that affect the application of Pt 7.6, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.
CCH Note - modifying legislative instruments: The application of Division 3 is affected by the following legislative instruments that commenced on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument 2022/705; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Responsible Entities, IDPS Operators and Corporate Directors of Retail CCIVs) Instrument 2023/647; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Custodial or Depository Service Providers) Instrument 2023/648; the ASIC Corporations (Investor Directed Portfolio Services) Instrument 2023/669; and the ASIC Corporations (Record-Keeping Requirements for Australian Financial Services Licensees when Giving Personal Advice) Instrument 2024/508 (other than Divs 4 and 8).
For legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022 that affect the application of Division 3, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.
CCH Note - modifying legislative instruments: The application of Subdivision C is affected by the following legislative instruments that commenced on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument 2022/705; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Responsible Entities, IDPS Operators and Corporate Directors of Retail CCIVs) Instrument 2023/647; and the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Custodial or Depository Service Providers) Instrument 2023/648.
For legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022 that affect the application of Subdivision C, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.
CCH note: This provision is modified by legislative instruments. See the CCH note at the end of the provision for details.
Obligation to investigate
912EB(1)
A financial services licensee must conduct an investigation into a reportable situation in accordance with this section if: (a) the licensee, or a representative of the licensee, provides or has provided personal advice to a person as a retail client (the affected client ) in relation to a relevant financial product; and (b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the reportable situation has arisen in relation to the licensee as mentioned in:
(i) paragraph 912D(1)(a) (significant breach of a core obligation); or
(c) there are reasonable grounds to suspect that:
(ii) subsection 912D(2) (gross negligence or serious fraud); and
(i) the affected client has suffered or will suffer loss or damage as a result of the reportable situation; and
(ii) the affected client has a legally enforceable right to recover the loss or damage from the licensee.
Period within which investigation must be commenced
912EB(2)
The investigation must be commenced within 30 days after the financial services licensee first knows of, or is reckless with respect to, the circumstances mentioned in paragraphs (1)(a) , (b) and (c) .
Matters to be considered in the investigation
912EB(3)
In conducting the investigation, the financial services licensee must: (a) identify the conduct that gave rise to the reportable situation; and (b) quantify the loss or damage that there are reasonable grounds to believe:
(i) the affected client has suffered or will suffer as a result of the reportable situation; and
(c) do anything else prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.
(ii) the affected client has a legally enforceable right to recover from the licensee; and
Completing the investigation
912EB(4)
The investigation must be completed as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is commenced.
Notifying affected client
912EB(5)
The financial services licensee must take reasonable steps to give the affected client a notice of the outcome of the investigation: (a) in writing within 10 days after the completion of the investigation; and (b) if ASIC has approved the form in which the notice must be given:
(i) in the approved form; and
(ii) that includes the information, statements, explanations or other matters required by the form; and
(iii) that is accompanied by any other material required by the form.
912EB(6)
A financial services licensee has qualified privilege in relation to a notice given under subsection (5) .
912EB(7)
A financial services licensee who has qualified privilege under subsection (6) in respect of conduct is also not liable for any action based on breach of confidence in relation to that conduct.
Compensating the affected client for loss or damage
912EB(8)
If, after the investigation is completed, there are reasonable grounds to believe that: (a) the affected client has suffered or will suffer loss or damage as a result of the reportable situation; and (b) the affected client has a legally enforceable right to recover the loss or damage from the financial services licensee;
the licensee must take reasonable steps to pay the affected client an amount equal to the loss or damage within 30 days after the investigation is completed.
Civil penalty provision
912EB(9)
A person contravenes this subsection if the person contravenes subsection (1) , (5) or (8) .
Note: This subsection is a civil penalty provision (see section 1317E ).
Nothing affects right of affected client to pursue legally enforceable rights
912EB(10)
Nothing in this section affects any legally enforceable right of the affected client to recover loss or damage that the affected client suffers, or will suffer, as a result of a reportable situation.
912EB(11)
However, a court may take into account the amount paid by the financial services licensee under this section when quantifying the amount of compensation (if any) to be paid by the licensee in relation to that loss or damage.
Meaning of knowledge and recklessness
912EB(12)
For the purposes of this section:
knowledge
has the meaning given by section
5.3
of the
Criminal Code
.
recklessness
has the meaning given by section
5.4
of the
Criminal Code
.
CCH Note - modifying legislative instruments: Section 912EB is modified by the following legislative instruments that commenced or were amended on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument 2022/705; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Responsible Entities, IDPS Operators and Corporate Directors of Retail CCIVs) Instrument 2023/647; and the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Custodial or Depository Service Providers) Instrument 2023/648.
For modifying legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.
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