Corporations Regulations 2001

For paragraph 912B(2)(a) of the Act, arrangements mentioned in subsection 912B(1) of the Act are, unless the financial services licensee is an exempt licensee, subject to the requirement that the licensee hold professional indemnity insurance cover that is adequate, having regard to:

the licensee’s membership of the scheme mentioned in paragraph 912A(2)(c) of the Act, taking account of the maximum liability that has, realistically, some potential to arise in connection with:

any particular claim against the licensee; and

all claims in respect of which the licensee could be found to have liability; and

relevant considerations in relation to the financial services business carried on by the licensee, including:

the volume of business; and

the number and kind of clients; and

the kind, or kinds, of business; and

the number of representatives of the licensee.

For paragraph 912B(3)(c) of the Act, a matter that ASIC must have regard to, before approving particular arrangements under paragraph 912B(2)(b) of the Act, is whether those arrangements provide coverage that is adequate, having regard to matters of the kind mentioned in subregulation (1).

In this regulation, exempt licensee means:

a company or institution of any of the following kinds:

a general insurance company regulated by APRA under the Insurance Act 1973;

a life insurance company regulated by APRA under the Life Insurance Act 1995;

an authorised deposit‑taking institution regulated by APRA under the Banking Act 1959; or

a licensee (related licensee):

that is related, within the meaning of section 50 of the Act, to a company or institution mentioned in paragraph (a); and

in respect of which the company or institution has provided a guarantee that:

ensures payment of the obligations of the related licensee to its retail clients to an extent that is adequate within the meaning of subregulation (1); and

is approved in writing by ASIC.

A decision to refuse to approve a guarantee is a reviewable decision under section 1317B of the Act.

A security bond lodged with ASIC by a licensee in consequence of the operation of regulation 7.6.02AA (as affected by any instrument made by ASIC under paragraph 926A(2)(c) of the Act) may be discharged or returned by ASIC (in whole or in part), without application from the licensee or surety who provided the security, in any of the following circumstances:

the licensee certifies, in the form approved by ASIC, that it holds professional indemnity insurance, or has an alternative compensation arrangement in place that provides compensation protection for clients of the licensee, that is adequate to cover claims to which the security bond could apply;

the licensee certifies, in the form approved by ASIC, that it holds professional indemnity insurance, or has an alternative compensation arrangement in place that, together with other financial resources available to it, provides compensation protection for clients of the licensee, that is adequate to cover claims to which the security bond could apply;

the licensee is a company or institution of any of the following kinds:

a general insurance company regulated by APRA under the Insurance Act 1973;

a life insurance company regulated by APRA under the Life Insurance Act 1995;

an authorised deposit‑taking institution regulated by APRA under the Banking Act 1959;

the licensee certifies, in the form approved by ASIC, that it holds a guarantee given by a company or institution mentioned in paragraph (c) that, together with other financial resources available to it, provides compensation protection for clients of the licensee that is adequate to cover claims to which the security bond could apply.

A decision to refuse to approve a guarantee is a reviewable decision under section 1317B of the Act.

Subregulations (1), (2) and (3) take effect as follows:

for a financial services licensee whose licence commences before 1 January 2008—on 1 July 2008;

for a financial services licensee whose licence commences on or after 1 January 2008—on the date of commencement of the licence.