For those investors who have invested in the Sterling Income Trust (SIT) overseen by Theta Asset Management ltd (Theta)

A letter dated 9 May 2019 from Theta to all investors in the SIT set out the rights of investors in the SIT and how to make complaints to Theta. In that letter Theta stated that its compliance manager would aim to resolve complaints within 45 days, but if you were not satisfied with its response you could lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).

Further information about how to make a complaint about a financial firm can be found in ASIC Information Sheet 174 Disputes with financial firms.

It is important to be aware that AFCA will generally only be able to consider your complaint if it is made within six years after you first became aware, or ‘should reasonably have become aware’, that you suffered the loss you want to complain about; or if you have already complained directly to your financial firm through its internal dispute resolution (IDR) process, within two years of getting a response from your financial firm through that process.

AFCA may provide a remedy if you have incurred loss that was caused by a financial firm’s conduct. It may order that you be compensated for your loss to the extent AFCA holds the financial firm responsible for that loss. Further information on how AFCA deals with complaints and the relevant time limits can be found at https://www.afca.org.au/.

For investors who have entered into a Sterling New Life lease

Macquarie Bank

After an approach by ASIC, despite having no legal obligation to do so, the secured creditor of the Sterling Group, Macquarie Bank, has made available Macquarie’s Client Care Team to speak to Sterling New Life lease tenants / investors about their particular individual circumstances, to try to offer assistance where it can. Those tenants/ investors are able to access that assistance via the office of the liquidators of the Sterling group of companies, Ferrier Hodgson, on sterling@fh.com.au or 08 9214 1473.

Macquarie Bank had no involvement in promoting Sterling New Life leases, but is making its Client Care Team staff available to try to offer assistance where it can to tenants in a vulnerable position. Landlords in a vulnerable situation are advised to consider contacting their own bank or finance-provider.

For investors who have entered into a sterling new life lease and affected landlords

The Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety (Consumer Protection Division)

Advice on tenancy rights is available via (08) 6552 9232 and jan.fairfield@dmirs.wa.gov.au.

Tenancy WA

Advice on tenancy matters is available via (08) 9221 0088 or locate a tenancy advocate at http://www.tenancywa.org.au/find-a-tenant-advocate

For all investors in investments offered by the Sterling Group of companies

Financial Counsellors’ Association of Western Australia.

Free independent financial counselling and legal advice on (08) 9325 1617.

Consumer Credit Legal Services

Provides legal advice and representation to consumers in WA in the areas of credit, banking and finance on (08) 9221 7066 and https://cclswa.org.au/about-us/about-cclswa/. There are time periods within which legal proceedings must be commenced. You should therefore seek legal advice to ensure that you will not be prevented from taking any legal action you might wish to take in the future due to these time limitations.

Anglicare WA

Offers a wide range of services, with almost 50 service locations across WA Financial and general counselling services on 1300 11 44 46.

11 November 2021 – ASIC Submission to Inquiry into Sterling Income Trust

ASIC Chair writes to Sterling tenant-investors

On 20 October 2021, the Senate passed a motion referring matters relating to the Sterling Income Trust to the Senate Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2021. ASIC has made a submission to the Senate inquiry. See ASIC’s submission (PDF) and supplementary submission (PDF).

ASIC appeared before the Senate Committee on 16 and 18 November 2021.

Ahead of the hearings of the Senate inquiry, ASIC Chair, Joseph Longo, wrote to former tenant-investors of the Sterling Group. ASIC also refers Sterling tenant-investors to the Chair’s letter (PDF) . In the letter Mr Longo acknowledges the devastating social, emotional and financial impact that the collapse of the Sterling Group has had on the victims, many of whom are elderly, and responds to a number of their concerns.

14 May 2021 – ASIC banning outcome

ASIC has banned Mr Robert Patrick Marie for four years from providing any financial services. Mr Marie has also been banned from controlling an entity that carries on a financial services business and from performing any function involved in the carrying on of a financial services business in any capacity.

Mr Marie was the former managing director and responsible manager of Theta Asset Management Ltd (In Liquidation), the Responsible Entity of the Sterling Income Trust (SIT). The SIT, a registered managed investment scheme, was placed into external administration in 2019.

ASIC’s investigation into the conduct of a number of entities and officers within the Sterling Group of companies continues.

Read the full ASIC Media Release 21-102MR Former managing director of responsible entity of Sterling Income Trust banned for four years.

19 November 2020 – Federal Court penalty decision

On 19 November 2020, The Federal Court in Western Australia found Theta Asset Management Ltd (In Liquidation) and its Managing Director Mr Robert Marie contravened the Corporations Act on multiple occasions in authorising the issue of five defective Product Disclosure Statements for the Sterling Income Trust.

The Court has ordered Theta to pay a penalty of $2,000,000 with respect to the declarations of contravention and ordered Mr Marie to pay a penalty of $100,000. Mr Marie will also be disqualified for four years from managing corporations. ASIC will not seek recovery of the penalty against Theta, as doing so would decrease the funds available for distribution by the Liquidator of Theta to its creditors.

Read the full ASIC Media Release 20-292MR Sterling Income Trust Responsible Entity and its Managing Director penalised.

ASIC’s previous media release announcing ASIC’s Federal Court action against Sterling Income Trust responsible entity and its managing director is available here: 19-347MR. This media release details the key dates with the Federal Court in its ‘Editor’s notes’.

26 August 2020 – AFCA update

ASIC refers Sterling investors to an AFCA update on its website.

ASIC draws investors’ attention to Case No 667682 referred to in the AFCA update regarding a recent AFCA determination in respect of a Sterling investor, where AFCA determined compensation of $118,957.60 was payable to the complainant (from the total aggregated investment contributions paid by the complainant of $156,761.31, after allowing for deductions for rent benefits/savings).

Taking into account this latest advice from AFCA, ASIC remains of the view that it is in the interests of investors in the Sterling Group of Companies to lodge and maintain their complaints with AFCA. Further, investors who have a claim against Theta should also consider lodging a Proof of Debt with Theta’s Liquidators.

15 April 2020 – AFCA update

ASIC refers Sterling investors to two media releases on the AFCA website.

27 March 2020 – 'Statement on Sterling Complaints'.

ASIC notes AFCA’s comments in that media release regarding:

• the recent withdrawal of a number of Sterling complaints; and
• the potential for these withdrawals to hamper complainants’ potential access to any compensation scheme of last resort that is ultimately able to be established by the Federal Government (Compensation Scheme of Last Resort).

On 14 April 2020, AFCA provided a further update on its consideration of complaints relating to insolvent companies (such as Theta and most of the companies within the Sterling Group of Companies, including the Silverlink entities) and a Compensation Scheme of Last Resort being considered by the Federal Government.

ASIC notes the advice from AFCA:

'AFCA acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has subsequently become the key priority and focus for the Government, and as a result it is unclear what the impact will be on the establishment of a compensation scheme of last resort. 

Until there is certainty provided about the scope and timing of the Compensation Scheme, AFCA has reviewed and put in place appropriate arrangements for dealing with any complaints it receives against insolvent financial firms. AFCA will put a pause on processing complaints against insolvent firms, this includes existing and new complaints. AFCA will accept future complaints about insolvent financial firms, but we will hold them over until there is more clarity about the Compensation Scheme, and the parameters of the scheme.'

Taking into account this latest advice from AFCA, ASIC remains of the view that it is in the interests of investors in the Sterling Group of Companies to continue to lodge and maintain complaints with AFCA, as it is only by doing so that such investors could be considered for compensation under any potential future Compensation Scheme of Last Resort that is ultimately able to be established.

11 December 2019 – Civil proceedings commenced by ASIC

On 11 December 2019, ASIC commenced action in the Federal Court in Western Australia focused on the promotion and management of the Sterling Income Trust.

The action is against:

• Theta Asset Management Ltd (Theta), an Australian financial services licensee and responsible entity of Sterling Income Trust; and
• Robert Patrick Marie (Mr Marie), a director of Theta.

ASIC alleges that Theta and Mr Marie were responsible for authorising the issue of five Product Disclosure Statements for the Sterling Income Trust, failing to ensure that each of them was not defective. In particular, it is alleged that Theta and Mr Marie failed to ensure that they did not contain:

• misleading or deceptive statements; and
• omissions in respect to statements and information required to be disclosed.

ASIC also alleges multiple failures by Theta that are contrary to the compliance plan that Theta issued for the Sterling Income Trust.

Read the full ASIC Media Release 19-347MR ASIC takes court action against Sterling Income Trust responsible entity and its managing director.

Background

Of the 101 consumers who entered into Sterling New Life Leases, 63 of those Lessees invested in the Sterling Income Trust to generate funds to cover their rental expenses under such Leases. The remaining 38 Lessees did not invest in that Trust, rather they invested in Preference Shares offered by companies by the name of 'Silverlink' within the Sterling Group of Companies. Because Theta as Responsible Entity only had duties in relation to the Sterling Income Trust, the Court proceedings commenced by ASIC in the Federal Court are relevant to investors in the Sterling Income Trust but not relevant to investors in the Silverlink Preference Shares.

ASIC continues to investigate the roles and conduct of several parties at various points in time during the operation of the Sterling Group of Companies, including in relation to the promotion of the Silverlink Preference Shares. Consequently, it is expected that ASIC’s investigation of other aspects of the conduct in this case, not covered by the current Court proceedings, will continue well into the new calendar year due to the requirement to gather evidence admissible in a court of law to support any further proceedings ultimately considered appropriate.