Harvey Norman says it should not be fined more than $24 million for running misleading ads touting interest-free financing, telling a court it should not be punished for “unattractive” remarks its founder made in the media about the legal system.
ASIC on Thursday pushed for penalties totalling $85 million against Harvey Norman and Latitude Finance, after an appeals court found the retailer’s ads touting interest-free financing were misleading.
The trustee for super fund Cbus has agreed to pay a $23.5 penalty after admitting liability in the corporate regulator’s case over excessive delays in processing $20 million in death and disability claims.
The corporate cop has launched two new cases and sought approval to bring a third action over financial advice that led customers to sink hundreds of millions of dollars in retirement savings into the failed Shield and First Guardian investment funds.
ASIC has called for a court to strike out negligence and public misfeasance claims in a suit by billionaire Clive Palmer alleging the regulator and its chief investigator were “improperly influenced” by corporate rivals.
Penalties imposed for disclosure breaches will hit two directors of e-commerce firm Open4Sale where it hurts, after a court on Tuesday barred the pair from having recourse to any indemnity by the company.
ASIC has filed proceedings against mineral exploration company AVZ Minerals and two of its directors, alleging the company failed to disclose a critical legal dispute, including a forgery claim, relating to a $32 million lithium mine deal.
The High Court has declined to hear an appeal of a ruling that found the directors of payday lenders Cigno and BSF are liable for the companies’ unlicensed credit activity.
Superannuation funds Hesta and Prime Super have been pinged by the corporate regulator for allegedly greenwashing their investment portfolios.
ASIC is considering an appeal of a ruling that tossed its conflicted remuneration case against Freedom Insurance’s former boss and another executive over a sales incentive scheme.