Reports
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Open season for IBs and takeovers by stealth: Emergency capital raising relief
ASX and ASIC have announced “Temporary emergency capital raising relief”. The relief, which expires at the end of July 2020, provides for placement capacity of 25% where a raising is conducted alongside an entitlement offer or SPP. The relief, if used, will result in significant dilution for some – particularly…
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Declared dividend trends and updates
In turbulent markets, some companies are cancelling or suspending dividend payments to protect balance sheets Across the S&P/ASX 300 dividends announced but not paid as at March 25th totalled ~$17.6bn, and the ability to cancel such payments may be a key source of funding for many companies To date dividends…
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Lessons from GFC capital raisings: implications in the current environment
Capital raisings that took place during the GFC contain many lessons in the current environment. • GFC capital raisings revealed a preference for placements rather than entitlement offers • Some placements were made on expanded (post raising) capital bases where undertaken alongside entitlement offers and led…
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Key Audit Matters
For financial periods ending after 15 December 2016 the auditor has a responsibility to communicate key audit matters (KAM) in the audit report. This disclosure for listed companies has now been a requirement for a year, so all companies have at least one set of accounts with KAMs specified. OM…
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Review of 2015 general meeting outcomes
OM’s annual review of meeting outcomes across the S&P/ASX 300 reviews increased signs of investor willingness to oppose board-endorsed directors with incumbent directors at three companies resigning immediately prior to the annual meeting presumably in the face of significant investor opposition. The number of ‘strikes’ on remuneration report resolutions also…
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ASX submission: Review of approvals required for reverse takeovers
Read OM’s submission to the ASX’s call for consultation on whether it should introduce a rule making ‘reverse takeovers’ – where the ‘bidder’ shareholders end up with less than half the merged company – conditional on bidder shareholder approval. ASX is rare among global peer exchanges such as the LSE,…
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Submission to ASX Listing Rule Review
Read OM’s submission to the ASX’s review of Listing Rule 7.1A which allows smaller companies to conduct larger dilutive capital raisings than those in the S&P/ASX 300. OM has recommended ASX provide the market the same detail on participants in raisings under Rule 7.1A as it receives. To download a…
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2014 voting results summary: S&P/ASX 300
This report summarises key themes from the results of all resolutions at securityholder meetings of S&P/ASX 300 entities in 2014.
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A taxing time: a review of tax disputes in the ASX 200 – 2013/4
This comprehensive report reviews all disclosed tax disputes on foot with ASX 200 companies, highlighting the $711 million in earnings at risk.
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The cost of remuneration advice in the S&P/ASX 200
In a report prepared by Ownership Matters, the pay data for remuneration consultants is compiled and analysed, along with the regulatory regime that governs the disclosure of remuneration advice.
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Capital raisings 2013 – too much is never enough
Ownership Matters compiled and analysed capital raising data for every company in the S&P/ASX 300 in the post-GFC period (2010 to 2012).
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CEO Pay in the S&P/ASX 200 in 2012
Ownership Matters compared chief executive pay across the S&P/ASX 200 for the 2012 financial year in a report commissioned by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors.
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Board composition and non-executive director pay in the S&P/ASX 200
The 2012 board composition study, prepared by Ownership Matters and commissioned by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, is the 12th annual review of board composition and non-executive director fees in Australia’s largest listed companies. Overall, the study found that S&P/ASX 200 boards are becoming more diverse, a little greyer over time and an increasing number of directors are being selected to serve on boards for the first time in their careers.
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While you were sleeping: On-market share purchases for employees
Ownership Matters investigated the listed company practice of buying shares on market to fulfill employee equity schemes and catalogued the cost to companies and the impact on shareholders in the context of minimal, delayed, disclosure by companies.
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Institutional proxy voting in Australia in 2012
In a report commissioned by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, Ownership Matters comprehensively reviewed the voting system in Australia in 2012.
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Briefing paper on ‘two strikes’ one year in
Ahead of the 2012 AGM season, Ownership Matters prepared a paper that considered the operation of the two strikes regime in 2011 (its first year of operation) and its approach to board spill resolutions in 2012 and beyond.
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Governance in listed infrastructure funds
Martin Lawrence prepared this prescient paper with a former colleague, highlighting the governance deformities of these externally managed vehicles and the traps for unwary securityholders. This report was widely credited with hastening the demise of these entities.
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Capital raisings in 2008-2009
Simon Connal and Martin Lawrence published this report in August 2010 after comprehensively reviewing every capital raising by companies in the S&P/ASX 200 in 2008 and 2009. It calls for improved transparency and fairness in equity capital markets. Download This document is free to…