Commonwealth Numbered Acts

[Index] [Table] [Search] [Search this Act] [Notes] [Noteup] [Previous] [Next] [Download] [Help]

CORPORATIONS ACT 2001 No. 50, 2001 - SECT 907

Application of fund

(1) Subject to this Part, a securities exchange must hold and apply its fidelity fund for the purpose of compensating persons who have, whether before or after the commencement of this Part, suffered pecuniary loss because of a defalcation, or fraudulent misuse of securities or documents of title to securities or of other property, by:

(a)
a member of the securities exchange who, when the loss was suffered, was a sole trader; or

(b)
a person who, when the loss was suffered, was a partner in a member firm; or

(c)
an employee of such a member or firm;

in respect of money, securities, documents of title to securities or other property that, in the course of or in connection with that member's or firm's business of dealing in securities, was or were entrusted to or received by the member, a partner in the firm, or an employee of the member or firm (whether before or after the commencement of this Part):

(d)
on behalf of another person; or

(e)
because the member, or the firm or a partner in the firm, was a trustee of the money, securities, documents of title or other property.

(2) Where a right to compensation does not arise under subsection (1), a fidelity fund may, subject to this Part, be applied for the purpose of paying to an official receiver or trustee within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 an amount not greater than the amount that the official receiver or trustee certifies is required to make up or reduce the total deficiency arising because the available assets of a bankrupt, being a member of a securities exchange who is a sole trader or being a partner in a member firm recognised by a securities exchange, are insufficient to satisfy the debts arising from dealings in securities that have been proved in the bankruptcy by creditors of the bankrupt. (3) Subsection (2) applies in the case of a member of a securities exchange or a partner in a member firm recognised by a securities exchange who has made a composition with creditors, or has executed a deed of assignment or a deed of arrangement, under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 in the same way as that subsection applies in the case of such a member or partner who has become bankrupt. (4) For the purposes of subsection (2) as applying by virtue of subsection (3):

(a)
the reference in subsection (2) to a trustee is a reference to a controlling trustee within the meaning of Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 ; and

(b)
the reference to debts proved in the bankruptcy is a reference to provable debts in relation to the composition or deed within the meaning of that Part; and

(c)
references to the bankrupt are references to the person who made the composition or executed the deed.

(5) Where a right to compensation does not arise under subsection (1), a fidelity fund may, subject to this Part, be applied for the purpose of paying to a liquidator of a body corporate that is being wound up (being a body corporate that is a member of a securities exchange) an amount not greater than the amount that the liquidator certifies is required to make up or reduce the total deficiency arising because the available assets of the body corporate are insufficient to satisfy the debts arising from dealings in securities that have been proved in the winding up by creditors of the body corporate. (6) Except as otherwise provided in the following provisions of this section, the amount or the sum of the amounts that may be paid under this Part:

(a)
for the purpose of compensating pecuniary loss as referred to in subsection (1); or

(b)
for the purpose of making payments under subsection (2) or (5);

must not exceed, in respect of a member of a securities exchange who is a sole trader or in respect of a member firm recognised by a securities exchange, $500,000.

(7) For the purpose of calculating the amount or sum referred to in subsection (6), an amount that is paid from a fidelity fund is, to the extent to which that amount is repaid to the fund, to be disregarded. (8) If a securities exchange considers, having regard to the ascertained or contingent liabilities of the fidelity fund, that the assets of the fund so permit, the securities exchange may, by notice published in the Gazette , increase the total amount that may be applied from the fund under subsection (6), and from the date of the publication of the notice until the notice is revoked or varied the amount specified in the notice is the total amount that may be applied as provided by this section. (10) A notice under subsection (8) may be revoked or varied by the securities exchange by notice published in the Gazette . (11) If a securities exchange, having regard to the ascertained or contingent liabilities of the fidelity fund, considers that the assets of the fund so permit, the securities exchange may apply out of the fund such sums in excess of the amount limited by or under this section as the securities exchange, in its discretion, thinks fit in or towards the compensation of persons who have suffered pecuniary loss as referred to in subsection (1) or making a payment under subsection (2) or (5). (12) If:

(a)
any money, securities, documents of title to securities or other property has been entrusted to or received by, a former member of securities exchange or an employee of such a former member; and

(b)
because of a defalcation, or the fraudulent misuse of the securities, documents of title or other property, by the former member or employee, the person by or from whom the securities, documents of title or other property was so entrusted or received suffered pecuniary loss; and

(c)
when the money, securities, documents of title or other property was so entrusted or received, the person suffering the pecuniary loss had reasonable grounds for believing and did believe that the former member was a member of the securities exchange concerned;

a reference in this section to a member of a securities exchange includes a reference to that former member.

(13) A reference in this section to an employee of a member or former member of a securities exchange includes, in the case of a member or former member that is a body corporate, a reference to an officer of the body corporate. (14) A reference in this section to a defalcation, or to a fraudulent misuse of securities or documents of title to securities or of other property, is a reference to a defalcation, or to such a fraudulent misuse, wherever occurring.



AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback