STOCKHOLDERS’ VOTING – AUSTRALIA

Coles finally checks out from Wesfarmers

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Eli Greenblat, Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 19 & 29 : 16-Nov-18

The demerger of grocery giant Coles was supported by more than 98 per cent of votes cast at a special meeting of Wesfarmers shareholders on 15 November. The Perth-based conglomerate will retain a 15 per cent stake in Coles when its shares begin trading on a deferred settlement basis on 21 November. Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney has dismissed any concerns about an overhang, stressing that the company intends to retain its Coles stake in the long-term. Wesfarmers shareholders will be allocated Coles shares on a one-for-one basis.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, COLES GROUP LIMITED, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS

Tabcorp hits out over 40pc first strike

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 18-Oct-18

Tabcorp Holdings’ remuneration report was rejected by 40.4 per cent of shareholders at its 2018 annual meeting. Tabcorp chair Paula Dwyer attributes the high protest vote to factors such as the wagering group’s decision to terminate its Sun Bets joint venture in the UK and a record fine of $45m for breaching anti-money-laundering and counterterrorism financing laws. Dwyer has also accused proxy advisers of providing misleading information to investors about Tabcorp, and says shareholders should engage directly with the company rather than via such advisers.

CORPORATES
TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, SUN BETS, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION

Westfield done deal for Unibail

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Turi Condon, Ben Wilmot
The Australian – Page: 23 : 24-May-18

Westfield Corporation’s shareholders are widely tipped to vote in favour of its acquisition by Unibail-Rodamco on 24 May. Winston Sammut of Folkestone Maxim Asset Management says factors such as the support of proxy advisers and the absence of a rival bid suggests that the $A30bn deal will be approved. He attributes the recent fall in Westfield’s share price to investors replacing the stock in their portfolios in expectation of the deal proceeding.

CORPORATES
WESTFIELD CORPORATION – ASX WFD, UNIBAIL-RODAMCO, FOLKESTONE MAXIM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, CGI GLASS LEWIS PTY LTD, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, GOODMAN GROUP – ASX GMG, DEXUS – ASX DXS, GPT GROUP – ASX GPT

Wilkins sorry as first strike pounds AMP

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 19 & 23 : 11-May-18

AMP incurred a backlash from investors at its annual meeting on 10 May, with 61.5 per cent of votes cast rejecting its remuneration report. The financial services group could face a board spill in 2019 under the "two-strikes" regime. AMP director Andrew Harmos has retained his seat on the board, although 37.5 per cent of votes cast were opposed to his re-election. Meanwhile, acting executive chairman Mike Wilkins has apologised to shareholders for the "fees-for-no-service" scandal, and acknowledged that rebuilding trust and confidence in the AMP brand will take time.

CORPORATES
AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, CLAYTON UTZ, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Firms sidestep AGM protest votes

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 19 : 30-Jan-18

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has released the results of its review of the latest AGM season. ASIC found that there was a decline in the number of "first strikes" issued against company boards over their remuneration reports, although here was an increase in the number of votes against individual directors. Shareholder-generated resolutions relating to climate change and human rights were tabled at eight AGMs, but attracted an average of just six per cent of "for" votes.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE

Tatts all folks: Tabcorp wins bid

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 19 : 13-Dec-17

Some 98.64 per cent of Tatts Group shareholders voted in favour of a merger with Tabcorp Holdings at a scheme of arrangement meeting on 12 December. The enlarged Tabcorp will boast a market capitalisation of about $A11bn and pro-forma annual revenue of $A5bn. Tatts’ outgoing CEO Robbie Cooke noted at its last AGM that the gaming and lotteries group’s market value has risen by $A2.5bn since he took the helm five years ago. Tatts chairman Harry Boon will join the Tabcorp board.

CORPORATES
TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, LADECO AIRLINES, GVC CORPORATION

Fairfax shareholders back Domain spin-off

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 9-Nov-17

Some 99.89 per cent of votes cast at a scheme meeting of Fairfax Media shareholders were in favour of the proposal to demerge Domain and list it on the sharemarket. Domain CEO Antony Catalano says it is right time to float the property listings business, adding that he is fully prepared for his new role as the head of a listed company. Fairfax will retain a 60 per cent stake in Domain, with the balance of the stock to be distributed to the media group’s existing shareholders.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, MARTIN CURRIE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED

Rio weighs up $3.5bn mines windfall

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Matt Chambers, Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 22 : 30-Jun-17

Rio Tinto will proceed with the sale of its Hunter Valley coal mines to Yancoal after its Australian shareholders endorsed the $US2.69bn ($3.5bn) deal on 29 June. Shareholders in Rio Tinto’s London-listed entity had approved the sale earlier in the week, and Rio has advised that more than 97 per cent of shareholders overall voted for the deal. Some analysts and investors have suggested that part of the proceeds should be returned to shareholders via a share buyback or an increased dividend, but chairman Jan du Plessis says the miner will consider its options in due course.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, YANCOAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX YAL, GLENCORE PLC, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, COAL AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES LIMITED, YANKUANG CORPORATION GROUP LIMITED

Robb joins fight over free-to-air licence fees

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 23 : 9-Dec-16

The Ten Network’s remuneration report was rejected by 17.06 per cent of votes cast at the 2016 AGM. Ten is lobbying the Federal Government for a further reduction in TV broadcasting licence fees, but chairman David Gordon concedes that these efforts have had limited effect to date. Ten director Andrew Robb, who stepped down as trade minister earlier in 2016, says both major political parties recognise that local networks pay higher licence fees than their overseas peers. He adds that the government’s fiscal problems may be delaying reform.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

South32 cops criticism on executive pay

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Tess Ingram, Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 24-Nov-16

Institutional Shareholder Services has questioned South32’s short-term incentives scheme given the group’s large net loss for 2015-16 and its industrial safety record. The proxy adviser has recommended that shareholders vote against the miner’s remuneration report at the 2016 AGM. The Australian Shareholders’ Association also intends to vote against the remuneration report, as well as the issuance of share rights to CEO Graham Kerr. South32’s 2015 remuneration report was rejected by 5.6 per cent of shareholders.

CORPORATES
SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, INSTITUTIONAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION, ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY