Chapter 5
Geared investment
I
was promised I would never use one cent of my money.[1]
5.1
Long after their collapse, the legacy of failed agribusiness MIS
continues to cause untold trouble for some investors. Recent developments have
not only shed light on familiar deficiencies in the marketing and operation of
these schemes but have brought to light even greater flaws especially around
the borrowing arrangements investors used to finance their venture. Indeed, for
many investors the loan agreements they entered into to fund their MIS have compounded
their problems.
5.2
In this chapter, the committee recognises that when growers combined
leverage and investment, they exposed themselves to higher risk, as gearing accentuated
any loss stemming from the failure of the investment. Cognizant of the
increased risk, the committee looks closely at the way in which agribusiness
MIS promoters and financial advisers arranged finance for the investors.
History of predatory lending
5.3
Before the committee starts its consideration of the financing
arrangements offered to investors, it refers back to its June 2014 report which
dealt comprehensively with the emergence of poor lending practices from about
2000 to 2008/09. At that time, the committee concluded that since 2002, and
undoubtedly well before, some unscrupulous people in the financial services
industry in Australia exploited inadequate consumer credit laws to engage in imprudent,
even predatory, lending activities.
5.4
In summary, the committee found vulnerable people were targeted and
encouraged to take out loans they could ill afford, potentially placing their
home ownership in jeopardy. In many cases, the unwitting borrower discovered
later that information on their loan application forms had been fabricated and
signatures forged. The committee concluded that such practices, which were
allowed to continue unchecked for many years, reflected badly on the brokers,
the lenders and ASIC. It highlighted the vulnerability of unwary and trusting
borrowers, who were taken advantage of by unprincipled and self-interested
brokers and lenders. It should also be noted that the committee referred to the
improper lending practices associated with Storm Financial and the ensuing harm
caused to investors when that company collapsed. Notably, these irresponsible
lending practices emerged and took hold during the period that growers were
also taking out loans to fund their investments in agribusiness MIS.[2]
Investment lending
5.5
A significant number of growers used borrowed funds to purchase their
interest in MIS projects. In many cases, entities associated with the RE
provided direct finance to growers, while other growers entered into their own arrangements
with financial institutions to obtain finance.[3]
The committee's focus in this chapter is on the financing arm of the respective
RE that provided funds for the schemes' investors and the advisers who
facilitated the loans.
5.6
In the context of these schemes, Mr Mark Rantall, Financial Planning
Association (FPA), spoke of 'a cocktail of structure' that really came into
play when leverage was added to an already complex financial product. Put
simply, when the schemes failed to perform to expectations, people who were
over-leveraged had 'a real problem' meeting their repayments.[4]
Thus the anguish and financial loss suffered by those who had invested in the failed
schemes was compounded many times over by the loans they took out to fund their
venture. Not only were they left with a worthless investment but a sizeable
loan and interest that had to be repaid. Their distress was epitomised by one
couple who stated:
It was crushing enough to know the MIS projects would never
mature as promised in time for our retirement, but absolutely gut-wrenching to then
be informed we had taken out 12 huge loans from Timbercorp Finance. We were in
total disbelief seeing an amount of approximately $240,000 owing at the time of
collapse.[5]
5.7
A number of growers now burdened with a debt for which they had nothing
to show also faced increased interest rates and some, on legal advice, stopped making
repayments on their loans.
Cash flow negative/positive
5.8
The FPA noted that the lending arrangements were wrapped into the
agribusiness investment and that they evolved over time.[6]
It explained further that the arrangements could have been principal and
interest; interest only; and:
...ultimately, towards the end of the MIS situation, those
products often morphed into something where there was an initial interest-free
or interest-only period, with principal and interest deferred. So it is not a
static product per se.[7]
5.9
Tax concessions were generally a consideration in the total loan
structure. From the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's perspective, the tax treatment often
formed 'an integral part' of an investor's 'tax and cashflow management
strategies'.[8]
The ANZ observed that borrowing may have assisted investors in Timbercorp 'to
maximise taxation benefits'.[9]
For example, one grower understood that in the short term he would not have
much financial benefit from his investments, apart from a reasonable income tax
return. This return, however, would never cover the MIS fees.[10]
Mr David Huggins also saw the tax incentive in a different light from
the banks and referred to the downside of these concessions for retail
investors, submitting that:
...the tax treatment of these financial products (being able to
claim the amount invested as an up front tax deduction) served as a
means to lure clients into making what was, in reality, a highly speculative
investment—the issue being that the loan used to make the investment would have
to [be] paid back with interest (for example in my Client’s case in equal
monthly instalments over a 15 year period) in circumstances where it was always
highly doubtful as to what return would be received from the investment and
when that return would be received.[11]
5.10
In essence, the borrowing arrangements allowed a retail investor, who
did not have the funds, to borrow almost the total amount to finance their
agribusiness venture. It was not uncommon for growers to borrow up to 90 per
cent of the investment or gear their entire investment in agribusiness MIS.[12]
5.11
Typically, the loan was based on the assumption that the project would
be cash flow negative for the first few years, then subsequent returns from the
harvest proceeds would be used to pay down the debt.[13]
Investors had no reason to suspect they would default on their repayments because
of assurances that the cashflow from the harvest would pay off the debt and
eventually produce a reliable and secure income stream. According to one such
investor, he was shown 'clear forecasts' indicating that 'after a few years
there would start to be a small return and then the return would gradually grow
later in the investment'.[14]
Another investor explained:
In order to access this product, Great Southern Investments
was issuing loans to pay for the product. The product was supposed to provide a
cash flow to pay for the loan, and eventually pay the loan off and provide a
residual income once the loan had been paid off. As was recommended to us, I
invested $42,900 (my wife invested $31,200).[15]
5.12
One grower gave a similar explanation of the rationale behind the loan
structure:
The project I entered into and borrowed money on was designed
to be cash flow negative for the first 5 years, then harvest proceeds from [the]
6th year onwards, in my case around 2010/2011, become cash flow
positive paying down the loan.[16]
5.13
Likewise, one couple informed the committee that the loans they would
take out to fund the purchase were to be covered from years two onwards by the
returns from the grapes as well as the Navra share fund. They stated:
The first couple of years there would be [a] small shortfall
until the Grapevine returns kicked in—but with the tax deductions we'd get from
the product ruling (as this was supported by the government), plus the returns
from his share fund this would be covered. It sounded like we couldn't lose.[17]
5.14
Mr Peter Mazzucato was presented with a similar loan structure for his
almond scheme. He noted that in order to invest, he needed to take out a
substantial investment loan with Timbercorp Finance, explaining:
The way it was sold to me was that it would be cost flow
negative for 2 years after which the income from the sale of the almonds
would reduce the cost. The cost would become cash flow positive after about 4
years and then provide an income for 23 years. This really appealed to me so I
was keen to go on board.[18]
5.15
Consistent with the experiences of many other growers, the mother of two
young children was led to understand that her and her husband's loan
arrangements would be self-funding:
The short-term dividends would cover the loan repayments, and
the long-term dividends would cover our retirement.[19]
5.16
The couple's goal was 'always long-term financial independence'—that is
independence from government support as they aged.[20]
5.17
Generally, the loan, provided by the financing arm of the respective RE,
was part and parcel of a total investment package so that poor, inaccurate,
misleading advice and bad adviser behaviour carried over to the loan
arrangements. Mr Jayantha Anthony noted that his accountant, who
advised on the Timbercorp investment, also facilitated the refinancing of his properties
so that he could get extra money to pay part of the Timbercorp loan owed.[21]
Mr Dinu Ekanayake, who may have to sell the family home to meet his loan
obligations, was under a misapprehension about the risks involved in the loan agreement
for investing in MIS due, he reasoned, to misleading information:
I have purely invested for this project based on Cash flow
sheet which Timbercorp issued to all investors, they have not adequately showed
the risks (it was an excel worksheet which was in their web site). According to
that sheet we need to pay until 2013 and [the] rest of the loan term is self paid
by the project proceedings.
Then even [if] we lose, in this case we as investors were
only liable to pay until 2013 as they have indicated in the cash flow sheet in
their site. Other amount is to be covered from the project itself.[22]
5.18
On behalf of his client, a lawyer explained the arrangement his client
entered into and why, in his opinion, it was inappropriate:
- On
28 May 2009 and pursuant to financial advice provided to him by the Accountant,
my client agreed to make the Investment and to borrow $229,200 to do so. In
this regard, the Employee completed the Finance Package document on my Client's
behalf so that finance could be provided by the CBA.
- In my view, the Investment was grossly unsuitable (for multiple reasons)
for my Client. In this regard, the Accountant failed to provide my Client with
a Statement of Advice (contrary to the Corporations Act) in circumstances where
a properly drafted Statement of Advice ('Statement of Advice') would have
informed my Client as to the following matters:
-
that there was no reasonable
financial justification for my client to make the Investment;
-
the financing of the Investment
would involve my Client locking himself into an arrangement whereby my client
would be required to pay back the loan used to make the Investment in monthly
instalments (at an inflated interest rate) over a 15 year period;
-
that there were substantial (and
multiple risks) associated with the Investment such there was a substantial
risk that the Investment could fail leaving my Client in the position (which he
now is in) of having to pay back the entire amount borrowed to make the
Investment (with interest) over a 15 year period from his own resources; and
-
the Employee (and/or persons or
entities associated with him) would receive $22,920 by way of a commission
payment (that is, 10% of the amount invested by my Client—it may be that a
higher commission payment was received—10% was the base amount of commission
paid by these schemes).
- My client would not have made the Investment if he had been informed of any
of these matters and, in particular, he would not have made the Investment if
he had understood the size of the repayments he would have to make (over a 15
year period) [or] if he had understood that a commission payment of $22,900
would be received by the Accountant.[23]
5.19
For investors, this strategy of borrowing to invest in an MIS appeared
reasonable on paper—that within three or four years they would break even and thereafter
proceeds from the sale of the crops would take care of any repayments.[24]
For example, according to one grower, his family did the research, read the
product information given to them by their financial advisor, which all seemed
positive. He explained:
There were no questions raised as to the long term viability of
this scheme. This investment was supposed to be long term with the profits
helping us to pay off our loan with Timbercorp finance.[25]
5.20
Another grower noted that he initially borrowed about $70,000 to buy almond
lots where the almonds would be grown and then harvested and sold for a return.
He understood that the return would come gradually over many years. He stated:
I was shown clear forecasts of this indicating after a few
years there would start to be a small return and then the return would
gradually grow later in the investment.[26]
5.21
Growers simply could not understand how they found themselves in a
situation whereby they had to pay back a loan for something that no longer
existed and, in some cases, was 'never even planted'.[27]
Borrowing for annual fees
5.22
Furthermore, under their agreement some growers were required to fund
annual fees but were not made aware of this obligation. For example, one adviser
reassured his client that no additional funds would be required 'as the profits
made on the investment projects would maintain the management fees etc'. Similar
to other accounts given to the committee, this adviser claimed that the scheme
was presented as a low risk investment and the client should not be concerned
about having to make repayments.[28]
5.23
One investor indicated that she had no idea of management fees until
everything 'went bad', and there were loans with no source of funds to pay for
them.[29]
She was not alone in assuming incorrectly that the management fee for her
scheme was a one-off payment. Mr Brett Lawtie received an account from
Timbercorp for approximately $9,500 for the yearly maintenance of trees. He
explained that he 'was paying for trees that had not been planted'. To make matters
worse, his financial advisor had not informed him about this yearly ongoing
fee.[30]
In summary, Mr Lawtie stated:
...we made about a year or so worth of repayments, for trees
that were allegedly not planted, charged a yearly maintenance fee for trees
that were allegedly not planted, and now being pursued by Korda Mentha on
behalf of the ANZ bank, which we have been with for 30 years for an amount
nearly $20,000 more than the original loan.[31]
5.24
One couple stated quite clearly that they were under the impression that
the deposit and repayments of the $24,000 and $42,000 were the only payments they
were required to make with the scheme becoming self-funding after about three
years. But, according to the couple:
This scheme was completely mis-represented to us in that
Peter Holt [their adviser] neglected to advise us that there was also a
management fee each year for a period of 15 years, being $12,000 per annum on
the Mango trees and $22,000 on the avocado trees and probably escalating as the
years go by.[32]
5.25
As at September 2009, and at the age of 70, they owed Timbercorp $130,000
in management fees with an ongoing liability of 13 years of fees still in the
pipeline.[33]
Like so many others in similar positions, they faced being left with 'no money,
no home and no prospect of a reasonable standard of living'.[34]
As one grower observed:
Maintenance costs were escalating dramatically and beyond my
expectations.[35]
5.26
A number of these highly leveraged investors found themselves caught in a
trap of having to borrow further to pay for annual fees. Some investors did not
understand that the yearly management fees would become additional loan
commitments 'to sustain the overall investment'.[36]
In this regard, it would appear that the practice of re-financing loans to pay
for annual outlays was commonplace, which pushed some growers further into debt.[37]
For example, one such investor received a bill from Timbercorp Finance to the
tune of $10,000 for ongoing costs of maintaining the plots, which 'came out of
the blue and was completely unexpected'. He explained:
Not having this sort of money, I had no choice but to accept
Timbercorp finances offer of a loan to repay the money each month which added
to my cost for this scheme each month.[38]
5.27
Another grower explained that on his adviser's suggestion, his
management fee of approximately $26,000 was taken as a separate loan for tax
advantages.[39]
Along the same lines, another investor informed the committee that she was not
told that she needed to take out further loans for management fees nor did she
understand the implications of this MIS.[40]
Yet another stated that management fees meant 'additional loans through
Timbercorp Securities at a later date'.[41]
A 54-year old father of three was under the same misapprehension. He stated
that a couple of months after signing the contract, he received a bill for
approximately $18,000 for operational costs. In his words:
I was so shocked as no one had mentioned that to me!! I
didn't want to take out a further loan so paid this amount upfront. Then
another few months later I received another bill for around the same figure!! I
did not have the cash to pay this one up front, so had no choice but to take
out another loan with Timbercorp.[42]
5.28
His case typifies the experiences of many others whereby the investment
arrangement was structured in such a way that additional funds would be
required to cover ongoing maintenance fees and associated operating costs often
resulting in a refinancing of the loan.
5.29
One couple explained that they did not want to over stretch themselves
so decided to borrow $45,000 to fund the $50,000 investment in five almond
lots, which in their assessment was something they 'could do easily'.[43]
A month after being accepted into the almond scheme, this particular couple received
an invoice for $10,000 towards maintenance cost for the year (2008–2009), for which
finance was again organized through Timbercorp finance.[44]
5.30
Likewise, another couple, who borrowed money to invest in almond trees, received
a letter for a management fee for their almond lots of $12,700. They stated:
We did not have this money so had to re borrow from
Timbercorp Finance. The loan agreement date was the 28th October
2008.[45]
5.31
Another investor had a similar arrangement whereby he borrowed more
money to pay for yearly maintenance fees. He explained that in September 2008, he
received an invoice for the 2008 licence fee and management costs which equated
to $19,800, payable by 31 October. Put simply:
Again I had no choice but to borrow from Timbercorp to cover
these costs.[46]
5.32
The cumulative effect of these management fees and maintenance costs was
substantial for retail investors. For example, only a few months after becoming
a grower, one investor discovered that she had to pay additional costs for the
maintenance of the plantations. Subsequently, two more loans of $30,000 each
were added which made the repayments onerous but her adviser explained that
'this was just the way the scheme was set up and that it would all be ok'.[47]
Indeed, one grower wrote of his surprise at having to fund considerable annual
fees:
What the prospectus did not detail, nor my financial planner
point out, was that there were significant, if not outrageous annual growers'
fees to be paid, so outrageous that I kept having to borrow more money each
year to pay them.[48]
5.33
Mr Peter Mazzucato, who purchased three investments, each with a loan
attached for a total of $111,000, also learnt that he had to pay additional
costs for the maintenance of the plantations. He explained that although the
repayments and fees were becoming a burden, he had reliably paid the investment
each month as required paying off approximately $30,000. He comforted himself with
the fact that 'in only another year or so, I would have an income which would
offset the loan'.[49]
But the anticipated income from the investment that 'was going to provide
relief did not eventuate' and, instead, he found himself with a huge debt and
no income.[50]
5.34
As a final example, but still only one of many, an investor explained
the 'rude shock' she received when the first invoice arrived. In her words:
The accountant knew I would get this invoice and when I
called up to query why I had received it, he just advised me that I had paid
the initial investment amount in June, but that this was the management fee, 'Just
sign up for another loan through Timbercorp'. This was fully expected by him,
and yet no-one had made this clear to me before I signed up.[51]
5.35
According to the investor, the loans, including funds used to pay for
the unexpected annual fees, 'were passed off as if they were "de rigeur"—just
part of the investment...'[52]
Approval process—loan application forms
5.36
For investors, trust played a central role in their decision to invest
in an agribusiness MIS including entering into loan arrangements to fund their
investment. But it would appear that in some cases this trust was misplaced. A
number of investors cited irregularities in the process for arranging their
loan such as signing incomplete or blank application forms and not receiving
documentation.
5.37
Examples of other anomalies included the adviser inserting inaccurate
statements, such as inflated income and underestimated liabilities, in
application forms. As one submitter, who invested in Great Southern, described:
The loan documentation was filled in by my advisor in which I
stupidly signed, however there were many areas that were left blank (and
probably filled in later by the advisor to get the loan through). It was
obvious by my level of earnings that I would not be able to pay the loan and
the only way to pay the loan was by selling my house. I received no
documentation stating as to what was going on as all correspondence was sent to
Peter Holt who did not pass this correspondence on—that is if there was any
documentation.[53]
5.38
One investor described how her husband signed blank forms, which his
financial adviser filled in but the details were falsified. She recalled that
the adviser 'filled in my sole trader ABN form and forged my signature'.[54]
Yet another stated that his long time accountant helped him fill out the loan
application forms, which, in the accountant's handwriting, made reference to
high incomes. According to the investor, there were two such entries that were
'obviously untrue'. The submitter contended that his accountant should have
known otherwise when he made those statements regarding income status.[55]
5.39
Ray and Maree Wilde referred to their loan documentation relating to finance
for a 2007 Avocado scheme, which contained gross understatements in relation to
liabilities and expenses—loans of $200,000 when, at the time, they were
$534,586; living expenses recorded as $15,000 in that financial year but were $47,897.[56]
Mr Troy Lott spoke of being given blank loan documents to sign, which his
adviser indicated he would fill in later.[57]
Similarly, another grower indicated that his documents were mailed out to him
to sign, requiring him to fill out or arrange proof of his particulars.[58]
Another cited documentation that was incomplete, inaccurate and/or falsely
witnessed.[59]
Mr Peter Mazzucato explained the loan process:
We arranged for a meeting in the following weeks to then
conduct a questionnaire so that he could provide a statement of advice. The
planner coached me through the questionnaire so that my profile matched the
requirements for the investment. I was totally naive to why this was necessary.
I did not realise that he was protecting himself by being seen to be compliant.
As I did not think that there was any risk, it was simply a formality that
required to be done to expedite the loan.[60]
5.40
One of the most troubling allegations concerned investors being unaware
of loans taken out in their names.[61]
Some claimed that although they understood they had signed for one or two loans
they were tied to multiple loans.[62]
Mr John McDonald explained his bafflement on discovering that he had 12 loans
when he had only bought five Timbercorp products:
Apparently the forms I was signing, I later learnt, were not
just buy-in forms but were loan applications. I was borrowing money I did not
know I was borrowing. It can be argued that I signed these forms and no-one
held a gun to my head. Some will argue that there is a loan application and it
has your signature on it, so it is a loan application. It is hard to argue
against that, except for the fact that it all came down to trust over years—two
decades even—of signing forms without having to read them and having total
faith in the financial adviser. I had got into that bad habit.[63]
5.41
A group of investors suggested that all loan correspondence was sent to
their financial adviser, a Mr Peter Holt, at his office address and not
received directly by them at any time.[64]
Mr Bernard Kelly, a client of Mr Holt, also told the committee that he had five
loans, which he did not know existed. He indicated that other people filled in
most of the information on the loans, which were signed by witnesses he did not
know.[65]
A third client of Mr Holt, experienced the same situation. In this case, the
couple signed what they thought were three loans for Timbercorp, but discovered
they had eight.[66]
Yet another of Mr Peter Holt's clients indicated that all documentation from
Timbercorp was sent to the offices of Holt Norman Ashman Baker & Company
and he did not see copies of the loan documents.[67]
5.42
One investor referred to their loan documents as 'incomplete, pieced
together and addressed to his adviser's office'. A financial adviser who gave
evidence stated that clients were asked to sign 'blindly and with
no-follow-up'.[68]
According to another submitter who was also rushed to sign documents to invest
in Timbercorp:
...our Adviser never gave us a Statement of Advice and he had
no authority to proceed with the investment, we received the SOA 18 months
later and we signed a backdated 09/June 2004 SOA in December 2005, we totally
trusted them we thought they were looking after us we know now that instead
they were only lining their own pockets.[69]
5.43
Granting a power of attorney to advisers could offer a partial
explanation for how investors could unknowingly enter into a loan agreement.
Power of Attorney
5.44
In its 2014 discussion paper on the establishment and operation of
managed investment schemes, CAMAC observed:
To assist the RE in acting as agent for scheme members, it
has been the practice with some common enterprise schemes for the application
form signed by any person seeking to become a scheme member to contain a grant
of a power of attorney to the RE.[70]
5.45
According to the evidence, investors, in some cases, signed over a power
of attorney, which their adviser then used to arrange loans. A number of
submitters suggested further that they were required to sign a power of attorney
in order to obtain the finance to secure their vinelots.[71]
One couple explained that in October 2008 they were issued with another loan
through Timbercorp Finance to pay the management fees for the following year. They
claimed:
We never filled out an application for the loan, it was
regarded as part of the ongoing finance package, at no stage prior did we
receive any documentation to review before or after they were signed under
power of attorney? We did receive an explanation and terms for this loan after
the event. We then made 11 of the monthly payment instalments, at which point
the Timbercorp Group of companies went into liquidation.[72]
5.46
One couple referred to their adviser's use of power of attorney and how
they were kept in the dark about subsequent loans:
We were unaware of the specifics regarding subsequent
borrowings in our name following our initial investment. Subsequent borrowings
were authorized by a Power of Attorney that we knew nothing about and that was obtained
deceitfully. We had no discussion, agreement or informed consent in regard to a
Power of Attorney.[73]
5.47
Recounting a similar experience, another investor stated that he first
sighted the loan agreement, signed on his behalf by two Great Southern directors,
approximately nine months after he signed the application form in the PDS—the
only document bearing his 'physical signature'. He explained that his financial
adviser completed the application form and mailed it through to Great Southern
Finance:
The Loan Deed was later 'executed' on my behalf under a POA [power
of attorney] by inserting 'pictorial' signatures of Messrs Young and Rhodes.
...
At no stage during this process was I afforded the
opportunity to review the Loan Deed (and carefully consider any onerous
clauses) executed on my behalf. A copy of the Loan Deed was simply mailed to me
as a fait accompli under the POA.[74]
5.48
Ms Naomi Halpern, spokesperson, Holt Norman Ashman Baker (HNAB) Action
Group, told the committee that recently she obtained all her loan documents
from Timbercorp, which she had never seen. She then learnt her adviser had
power of attorney:
That is how he was able to put me into several loans over
several years. It was witnessed by someone I had never met.[75]
5.49
Based on its knowledge of agribusiness MIS, ASIC informed the committee
that:
...REs may require a Power of Attorney to be provided in order
to allow the RE to enter into a variety of agreements and leases on behalf of
the investor to give effect to the scheme.
The use of Powers of Attorney in this manner is practical in
nature, as it would be expensive and impractical to expect a grower to enter
into individual management and lease agreements with all the parties concerned.[76]
5.50
ASIC noted, however, that it has published on its MoneySmart website the
following advice: 'Power of attorney warning—Don't give your adviser power of
attorney. Reputable advisers won't ask you to do this'.[77]
The Financial Planning Association (AFP) stated emphatically that granting a
power of attorney to an advisor to sign someone into a loan should not be a
practice at all: that it was inappropriate.[78]
Powers of attorney are governed by state legislation.
Committee view
5.51
It is difficult to comprehend how the financial services industry in
Australia could have tolerated such lax and, in some cases, unethical lending practices.
They included exposing clients to unacceptable levels of risk; withholding
vital information and documents; falsifying documents; locking clients into
lending commitments they did not understand and, in some cases, did not consent
to; and improper use of a power of attorney. But instances of this conduct in
the agribusiness MIS sector provides yet another example of poor behaviour, including
predatory lending, evident in Storm Financial and Opes Prime and the infamous
low doc loan saga described at length in the committee's 2014 report.
Irresponsible lending
5.52
Based on the evidence, investors were allowed to borrow a substantial
proportion of the loan—90 to 100 per cent for example.[79]
Even those who clearly indicated that they were not in a strong financial
position were encouraged to borrow. Many of the investors argued that they
should never have been granted a loan: that their financial circumstances
indicated that the repayments were beyond their means. They asked about the
lenders' due diligence obligations.
5.53
One couple explained that they would not have been able to afford to
take on the investment, even if they wanted to because, as their tax returns
bear out, they had jointly earned $82,000 in 2005 and $95,000 in 2006. Their
adviser's recommendation was that they invest $126,000 in the 2007 scheme
between them, all funded via Great Southern Finance.[80]
In their situation, the loans were unaffordable or irresponsible. It was not,
however, an isolated case. Mr Andrew Peterson, former general manager of
distribution at Timbercorp, was of the view that many of the investors should
never have qualified for a loan:
If you were going for an individual loan at Timbercorp
Finance, all you had to put in was your individual pay slip and your assets and
liabilities. There was no request for a rates notice, no request for an ITR, a
tax return... Timbercorp Finance was approving it very quickly.[81]
5.54
He contrasted this practice with that of the bank where, as an example,
a client going to the ANZ for $100,000, would be asked 'for a rates notice if
you own property, your ITR [income tax return], everything'.[82]
Evidence also brought to light other irresponsible even negligent lending practices.
Full recourse loans
5.55
All of Timbercorp Finance's loans were 'recourse'.[83]
A recourse loan holds the borrower personally liable. With a recourse loan, repayment
may come from the proceeds of the asset being financed or the sale of specific
collateral, or from the resources of the borrower if, as in the case of some
agribusiness MIS, the scheme's cash flows proved insufficient. In other words,
lenders could pursue the borrower for the outstanding amounts owed—even after
the lender has taken collateral. Thus, if a borrower defaults on a recourse
loan, the lender can bring legal action against the borrower, garnish wages,
levy bank accounts, and use other methods to collect the amount owed.[84]
5.56
For the growers, their full recourse loan meant that their personal
assets could be used to discharge their debt if they were in default of their
loan—that the collapse of their scheme did not relieve them of their
obligations under these loans.[85]
Understanding risks of recourse
loans
5.57
In 2010, a group of researchers pointed to the nature of agribusiness
MIS loans whereby the scheme operator provided 'full recourse', high debt-to-investment
ratio loans to investors to fund their venture or arrange such loans. They
noted:
Sophisticated investors may be aware of substantial risks
associated with the investment such that project returns may be inadequate to
repay obligations on such a loan. But such loan-investment packages are not
always marketed as 'high risk' (despite disclosure of the risks).[86]
5.58
According to ASIC, the fact that these loans were full recourse is
significant because:
...it indicates that the risks associated with the investors'
'property' resulting from the actual investment in the forestry scheme were
perhaps too great for financiers. This resulted in them seeking alternative
security from the borrowers.[87]
5.59
Some investors were not only unaware that a full recourse loan usually
indicated higher risk but that they had entered into such a loan. Indeed, many
of the borrowers suggested that they did not fully comprehend the loan
arrangements with many assuming that the loan was held against the actual
investment and thus their liability was limited to the trees or plants. According
to one couple, their loans were obtained fraudulently without being alerted to
the fact that their personal assets were exposed to the risk of being used to
discharge their debt in the event of default.[88]
In some cases, growers indicated that they were misled and told that the loans
were
non-recourse.[89]
For example, an investor with Great Southern stated that her adviser led her to
assume that GS would loan her the money and, importantly, that it was a limited
recourse loan. She has since learnt that 'the loans were never limited recourse
(despite being assured they were), the lender was not GS but Bendigo Adelaide
Bank and for my own financial security I should have been screened according to
ordinary lending scrutiny/practices'.[90]
She explained further:
Had I received the loan application form I would have at
least had the chance to learn this! I would have also liked to have the
opportunity to fill out the paperwork and my understanding of it.[91]
5.60
A number of submitters referred to the assurances they were given that
their home would not be at risk: that the security was confined to the asset tied
to the loan.[92]
For example, one submitter informed the committee that they were told they were
borrowing from Timbercorp and had to put their Timber Lots and Almond Lots as
collateral but it was never mentioned that they were borrowing from any banks
or putting their house in jeopardy.[93]
Another couple certainly had no idea that if the grapevine returns failed to
materialise they would 'lose title to any assets and have to pay the loans
anyway, including interest and penalties'.[94]
5.61
Another couple stated that initially they were very wary of investing
and asked many questions. They were assured that there was no personal risk,
everything was fully insured and that their homes would never be 'on the line'
as the trees themselves were collateral for the investment. The couple now live
in fear of being sued.[95]
5.62
One investor was told that should the investments fail there would be
nothing more to pay. He noted that Great Southern employees actually stated this
in the information sessions.[96]
Another stated that his understanding was that the loans were secured against
the agricultural land and future income from the crops and, hence, he 'was not
exposed to being left with zero assets or zero income and then having to repay
these loans personally'.[97]
On behalf of her clients, who had invested in Great Southern, Mrs Susie Bennell
stated that, without exception, they were reassured by their advisers that
their homes would 'always be safe'.[98]
Many investors were under the same misconception.
5.63
Clearly, these borrowers felt that their adviser had 'badly misled' them
by indicating that the loans were non-recourse.[99]
In their view, they should have been made aware of the risks. One grower
suggested that the real risk of being exposed to debt recovery should the MIS
collapse was obscured from them. They explained:
The inherent risk associated with the taking out of a loan was
never talked about in our meeting because we understood the investment we had
made provided us with an asset to trade our way out of trouble if it
eventuated.[100]
5.64
One investor also spoke of the adviser's failure to disclose risks that,
in the grower's view, were 'high and many'.[101]
He suggested that some of the risks were spelt out in the PDS and others such
as financing risk 'famously weren't'.[102]
An investor with Gunns underlined this same point:
The PDS told investors about risks—showing investors that
they may do a bit better or worse than forecasts suggested—BUT entirely failed
to mention that you could lose 100% of your investment plus be pursued for a
loan.[103]
5.65
Many growers struggled to come to terms with the prospect of having to
repay a loan for something that was never delivered. One grower drew the
following parallel:
I liken it to buying a car from Holden with them providing
the finance. You go to pick it up and they say 'Sorry, we don't have a car for
you anymore and by the way, you now owe Ford the money for it![104]
5.66
Mr Michael Bryant, a former Timbercorp employee, understood why growers thought
their loan was non-recourse, that their house would be safe, and the loan low
risk. He informed the committee that all the presentations he saw conducted by
business development managers and the senior executive conveyed the impression
that liability was limited. He explained that if you walked away from such a
presentation:
...as somebody who was new to the process, you would have
believed that the only thing that was at risk was the investment asset that you
thought you were investing in.[105]
5.67
Mr Craig Stranger, Managing Director of PAC Partners, understood that the
managers of at least one leading MIS company were of the view that:
...if the Company failed, then respective MIS investors would
be fully protected. In hindsight this is clearly not the case.[106]
5.68
The liquidator for Timbercorp, KordaMentha, informed the committee that
to avoid any doubt, Timbercorp Finance's rights under the loan agreements did
not extend to the right to sell a borrower's home in the event they failed to
make repayments and breach their obligations under the loan agreements.[107]
But, as noted throughout this chapter, borrowers were still liable for any
outstanding loan and some had sold, or feared they would have to sell, their
home to meet their obligations.
5.69
Plainly, many growers who made submissions to the inquiry held the
common view that their liability was limited to their lots—they signed a
document that they understood was for a non-recourse loan.[108]
Moreover, evidence from some financial advisers involved in selling the schemes
indicated that even some of those actively recommending such investments did
not know that the loans their clients were taking out to fund the investment exposed
the clients to liabilities that went way beyond their investment.[109]
5.70
Many submitters, unaware that the loans were full recourse, maintained
that they would not have taken out such a loan if they had known of the
associated risks. For example, one couple indicated:
We do not recall being scrutinised for such, & were
therefore sold products that were way outside what would have normally been
appropriate. We maintain these were sold as a non-recourse loan & were
certainly not made aware of power of attorney clauses...these 2 points certainly
would void our involvement.[110]
5.71
In addition, they stated:
We are a husband and wife who took on the GS recommendations
of our NAVRA financial advisor, with the intention of creating an income stream
10 years down the track and not being reliant on government pensions in our
senior years. We genuinely went with the advice with the clear understanding GS
was a stand-alone loan against the GS asset only and, like hundreds of others
in our ERA group case, we still maintain we have been misled.[111]
5.72
Likewise, one grower with Timbercorp stated clearly:
When we purchased our investment in [the] Timbercorp scheme,
our intention [was] it would be for our future retirement (I am 68) we were
assured that the investment was its own security, and we would not be
personally liable for the loan. In hindsight we would not [have] invested in
Timbercorp if the representative had not assured us of this, although we will
not lose our home we have to sell our holiday house which was to fund our
retirement not to pay off a Timbercorp debt.[112]
Pressure selling
5.73
Not only were potential investors in agribusiness MIS presented with
complex loan arrangements but many were urged to sign-up to such a commitment
without time for proper consideration. As early as 2003, ASIC commented on the
sales techniques used to sell agribusiness MIS. Importantly, at that time, ASIC's
findings confirmed anecdotal information that:
...some promoters do employ high-pressure sales tactics,
encouraging investment in schemes using promotional material that focuses on
the before- and after-tax savings. In many cases, accountants invited clients
to these promotional seminars, but failed to give appropriate warnings to their
clients about the suitability of the scheme for their individual circumstances.[113]
5.74
Despite these early concerns about the marketing of agribusiness
MIS, the practices continued. Some submitters referred to the highly persuasive
even 'hard sell' promotional techniques advisers and product issuers used to
entice people into investing in the schemes.[114]
For example, Mr Jayantha Anthony explained that he was 'given the information
by a crooked Accountant and was signed the very next day with no time to
question as all were rushed'.[115]
Another submitter indicated that he was sold the investments in MIS through
aggressive sale tactics.[116]
5.75
The same approach applied to arrangements for loans, with one investor
stating that she was 'pushed to sign documents quickly' or risk missing out 'on
a great venture'.[117]
Another investor informed the committee that they were told the investment was long
term and would produce a moderate return: that there was no personal risk, everything
was insured and their home 'would never be on the line'. Against this
reassurance, their adviser emphasised that:
...the current subscription was closing in the next week as it
was nearly full, we were told it was quite urgent that we decide one way or
another.[118]
5.76
This undue haste to have the investor sign up to the loans was a common
story. Robert and Lynne Powell, aged 65, typified the many accounts provided to
the committee:
As uneducated investors we took our accountants advice and
entered into a Loan agreement in June 2008. We were alone with the Timbercorp
Representative when we signed up for the Loan and it was agreed and approved
within two days.[119]
5.77
Another investor spoke of being contacted many times over the weeks
following a promotional dinner, which was attended by his accountants/financial
advisers and where Timbercorp representatives made a presentation. The investor
and other members of his family were asked to invest and told that the
contracts were already drawn up. He recalled:
At that meeting the way to finance the investment was
discussed and we were told Timbercorp Finance had already approved our loans,
there was no need to bother looking for finance elsewhere. The documentation
was all ready for us to sign, pre packed into a pretty coloured folder, we were
not given copies of these contracts to review prior to signing, and we had no
real alternate avenue of information to rely on as it was our financial advisors
that were introducing us, prompting us to invest and then telling us what a
great deal it was.[120]
5.78
Furthermore, and consistent with the experiences of many other
investors, they were not told that their adviser was being paid a commission
for the introductions and subsequent signing up of clients. The investors were
also told that they 'needed to make decisions quickly' as the schemes were
being closed off in the coming weeks. They signed on the dotted line and
started making their repayments.[121]
5.79
One couple equated the sales approach to actively chasing down the
potential investor to 'complete the paperwork'. They referred to 'the extreme
efforts' taken by the adviser to obtain clients' signatures, which, in their
case, extended to having the paper work taxied to the investor at his place of
work and to have him sign the paperwork 'on the bonnet of the taxi and have the
taxi return to the adviser's office'. Based on their experience, there was an
underlying sense of urgency to get them to sign the paperwork.[122]
Moreover, some investors were urged to take out loans in the dying days of the
schemes. For example, one submitter told the committee that:
The final loan was approved when Timbercorp was facing
liquidation. It is no wonder that it was approved within a day and without
financials. In previous years it sometimes took Timbercorp weeks to approve
loans. This time around, Timbercorp obviously needed money. Lots of it and
fast.[123]
5.80
Mr Bryant, member of the Agriculture Growers Action Group and former
officer with a number of agribusiness MIS including Great Southern and
Timbercorp, explained that the people advising on the loan arrangements were
not bank trained staff. He argued that it would follow that those signing up
for the finance would not have received the level of advice and explanation
that a bank trained officer could offer. He stated further that to the best of
his knowledge:
...there was really no oversight by the finance department at
Timbercorp, which ran Timbercorp Finance, on how the representatives out in the
field, the financial planners, were writing the loans.[124]
5.81
The evidence before the committee establishes a clear pattern of poor,
and at times misleading advice, inadequate disclosure and pressure selling in
an environment of over optimism and marketing exuberance. Trust in a reassuring
adviser, who glossed over risks, coupled with aggressive selling techniques created
an environment at odds with sound, considered decision-making.
5.82
Although in a quite different context, the evidence presented to this
current inquiry regarding lending practices bears a striking resemblance to
those detailed in earlier reports that have touched on borrowing to invest.[125]
The accounts of hundreds and hundreds of people enticed into taking out loans
that they could ill afford or for highly risky products cannot be ignored.
Committee view
5.83
The same irresponsible lending practices described in full in the
committee's previous 2014 inquiry were similar to those associated with
providing, or assisting to provide, finance to MIS investors—deliberate targeting
of unsophisticated investors, falsifying information on loan applications,
withholding information and documents, downplaying risks, placing undue
pressure on potential growers to commit to a loan; overleveraging clients; and failing
to undertake due diligence.[126]
5.84
The cases of shoddy lending practices cited in this report only hint at
the extent of the practice and the number of people who saw themselves as victims
of irresponsible, even predatory, lending. Clearly, many of these borrowers had
no idea of the arrangements into which they were entering. As the schemes
failed to perform to expectations, investors found themselves with mounting
debt. In many cases, they were desperate to stem the losses and salvage
whatever they could from the financial mess they found themselves in and, for
some, to save their family home. They argued that had they been fully informed
about the loan arrangements they would never have agreed to them.[127]
5.85
The committee draws attention to its 2014 findings, highlighting the
fact that the practice of providing unsound and inappropriate advice to retail
investors and, among other things, fabricating information in loan applications
reflected badly on brokers, lenders and the regulator. It exposed the
vulnerability of unwary and trusting borrowers, who were taken advantage of by
unprincipled and self-interested brokers and lenders. Clearly, there is much
scope for regulatory reform in this area of investment lending to retail
investors. In chapter 11, the committee continues its consideration of the
financing arrangements for investors in agribusiness MIS, with a focus on the
banks as lenders.
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