The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has obtained orders in the Federal Court in Sydney forcing Rural & General Insurance Broking Pty Limited to remove “misleading and deceptive” material from its website.

Rural & General Insurance had its insurance licence cancelled by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority last year. A company named Rural & General International Insurance Ltd is now conducting business in Vanuatu. Business has been directed to it by Rural & General Insurance Brokers, a Sydney-based company that was registered in 2000.

ASIC said the information displayed on the website includes representations that the Vanuatu company is required to meet the minimal capital and solvency requirements under the Vanuatu Insurance Act. In fact, as an “exempt insurer” it is not required to meet any minimum capital and solvency requirements by the local administration.

The court also ordered Rural & General to supply ASIC with the details of the people who visited the site while the material was displayed.

The matter will be heard in the Federal Court at Sydney on April 11.