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The boardroom battles that shocked Australia

Andrew Clark
Andrew ClarkSenior writer

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The apex of the 80s takeover frenzy was the battle for BHP. It was a struggle for control of Australia’s biggest company involving three prominent raiders – Robert Holmes a Court, John Elliott and John Spalvins.

Spread over four years, it generated panic in the Melbourne business establishment and a fundamental reordering of perceptions of the role of management and shareholders. As Malcolm Maiden commented in the Financial Review, Holmes a Court could “claim responsibility for the development of an entire sector of the Australian equity market through his use of stock exchange-traded options in BHP”.

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Andrew Clark is a former editor of The Sun-Herald and Australian Business. He was a correspondent in Europe and North America, a political correspondent in Canberra and has been a journalist for more than 55 years. Email Andrew at aclark@afr.com.au

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/the-boardroom-battles-that-shocked-australia-20220126-p59r9j