ASIC granted injunction against proposed Pilbara property investment

ASIC has obtained an urgent injunction in the Federal Court of Australia against Macro Realty Developments Pty Ltd (Macro), Property Tuition Pty Ltd (21st Century Property) and Education Holdings Pty Ltd (21st Century Education) from promoting and marketing a proposed Pilbara property investment.

A seminar was to be held for prospective investors on 10 September 2015.

ASIC alleges that the proposed Pilbara property investment was marketed and promoted by 21st Century Property and 21st Century Education using the tagline "Do you know how to buy Australian property, no money down?".

The proposed investment was to involve investors being appointed as directors and shareholders of a company and creating a trust. Investors were then to cause that company to acquire certain properties from Macro in Newman Estate, Western Australia. The investors were to be paid a director's fee but agreed that Macro would be the sole decision-maker for the company. 

ASIC alleges that by agreeing to become a director of a company where Macro will remain the sole decision-maker for all business associated with the company, 21st Century and Macro are counselling and procuring investors to contravene their director's duties under the Corporations Act

ASIC also alleges that the investment documents in relation to the proposed Pilbara property investment are misleading and deceptive, and that the investment proposal is a financial product.

The matter is set down for final hearing on 26 October 2015.

ASIC has also issued proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against 21st Century Property and 21st Century Education in relation to their promotion and sale of interests to investors in five land banking schemes.