Insights

High Court decision on share buy-backs and share capital accounts

On 5 December 2012, the High Court of Australia gave its judgment in Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd...

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Materiality in continuous disclosure

The High Court's recent decision in Fortescue Metals Group did not, as some had hoped, clarify the materiality threshold for continuous disclosure one way or the

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Significant Investor Visa

Under the Federal Government's Significant Investor Visa initiative, a visa may now be obtained by an investor of $5 million in certain complying Australian investments if the investor meets...

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Foreign Bribery Update - November 2012

The US Department of Justice and the Securities & Exchange Commission last week issued their long-awaited Resources Guide to foreign bribery, investigations and prosecutions under the US Foreign...

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Expert determination - what are the choices?

Dispute resolution clauses in contracts often include an expert determination mechanism to resolve some or all disputes that might arise. Parties need to think about whether expert determination is

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Hedge fund disclosure requirements - RG 240

On 18 September 2012, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission released Regulatory Guide 240 "Hedge funds: Improving

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Proposed loss carry-back scheme for corporate taxpayers

On 23 August 2012, the Commonwealth Treasury released, for consultation, an exposure package consisting of draft legislation and accompanying draft explanatory memorandum in respect of the...

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Proposed ASX amendments relating to mid to small caps

In April 2012, ASX issued a consultation paper proposing amendments to the ASX Listing Rules impacting on mid to small cap listed entities - that is, entities with a market capitalisation of...

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Departing employees - longer restraint periods being enforced

A 3 year non-solicitation clause with a liquidated damages provision has been enforced against a former employee of an accounting firm on appeal to the Supreme Court of Victoria. The decision

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International arbitration clauses in commercial contracts

International arbitration is an increasingly popular means of resolving disputes in contracts involving cross-border commercial transactions, primarily due to the ease with which arbitral awards...

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Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA)

The following attachments provide a useful summary on key issues to consider in connection to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act

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Is ASIC's benchmark disclosure merely regulating disclosure? If not, why not?

ASIC is increasingly requiring offer documents for particular types of products to include disclosure on particular benchmarks. While this may, in some cases, result in improved disclosure, the

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Mega-cartel in the automotive parts industry

The automotive parts industry is subject to one of the largest global cartel investigations in recent history by the DOJ, CCB, DG Comp and JFTC. It is possible, if not likely, that other antitrust

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Personal Property Securities Act - implications for the resources sector

The Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA) took effect throughout Australia on 30 January 2012. The PPSA can alter your rights to property and the way in which various types of contracts will be...

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ASX Limited - 'good fame and character' requirement for directors of new listed companies

We previously reported on proposed amendments to the ASX Listing Rules to require an applicant for ASX Listing to satisfy ASX that its directors or proposed directors at the date of listing are of...

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Joint bids without a 'match or accept' condition

In this article, we discuss the potential for major shareholders to come together to make a joint bid without having to put their stakes at risk with a condition requiring them to "match or accept...

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Changes to Queensland stamp duty - duty treatment of prospecting and exploration permits and authori

The Queensland Government announced in its Mid Year Fiscal and Economic Review (State Budget 2011-12) released on 13 January 2012 the stamp duty changes to the imposition of duty on direct and...

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ACCC vs Metcash

On 30 November 2011, the full bench of the Federal Court dismissed the ACCC's appeal against the primary judge...s ruling that the acquisition of Franklins by Metcash will not result in a...

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ASIC regulatory guide 228: Prospectuses - effective disclosure for retail investors

On 10 November 2011, ASIC issued Regulatory Guide 228: Prospectuses: Effective disclosure for retail investors (RG 228) following extensive industry consultation. In this update, we summarise the...

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Chocolate or coffee? Stopping 'lookalike' sales

The Federal Court has recently stopped a company from selling "look alike" coffee plungers. Has there been a change in the law? No, there hasn't, but the decision in this case provides important

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Creeping acquisitions

Recent amendments to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA) are intended to ensure that section 50 of the CCA applies to "creeping acquisitions", and will provide legislative support to the...

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Crescent Gold - an important Panel decision on "association"

In Crescent Gold [2011] ATP 14, the Takeovers Panel has dealt with a thorny takeovers issue, that has has been troubling market participants for over a decade. This decision should be persuasive...

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Infringement Notices

The ACCC has the power to use infringement, substantiation and public warning notices in carrying out its enforcement activities, and has embraced infringement notices to resolve minor...

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New OH&S obligations of Directors and Officers

On 1 January 2012 the new Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) will come into effect along with similar legislation which is expected to come into effect next year in all States and Territories...

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