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Activist shareholders

May

Businessman David Gonski says that layers of regulation unduly burden directors with liability, causing boardroom discussions to prioritise governance over critical strategic matters that improve operational performance and enhance returns for shareholders.

Director Awards underline importance of greater boardroom diversity

Homogeneity undermines accountability, stifles directors’ willingness to ask management the hard questions, and causes boards to succumb to mere conformity.

Sandon Capital founder Gabriel Radzyminski’s shareholder activism might not win him friends in boardrooms, but it has delivered strong returns over the last decade.

Why this fundie doesn’t mind a bruising fight to boost returns

Activist investor Gabriel Radzyminski is on a tear. He’s battling the Southern Cross Austereo board, cashing in on Fleetwood and ruing his timing on City Chic.

April

Palliser Capital’s James Smith at the London vote into his shareholder resolution.

Hedge fund uses ‘independent journalist’ in fight with Rio Tinto

In the battle to unify Rio’s dual-company structure – or not – the fine print is doing some heavy lifting.

Mike Hirst doesn’t seem to rate AMP’s reputation highly.

AMP rates its own reputation among the worst

From Qantas to Rio Tinto to ANZ to Optus, AMP’s board must have a dire view of the company AMP keeps in terms of public standing.

Palliser Capital’s James Smith in the audience when holders of Rio’s London-listed stock voted on the hedge fund’s proposal.

Rio says Australian dividends at risk if investors back activist fund

ASX shareholders will vote on whether to force the miner to review its dual-company structure and end its primary London listing next month.

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Kevin Gallagher at the AGM on Thursday.

Santos CEO says he’s not going anywhere, hits out at politicians

Kevin Gallagher has denied that he is about to step down after nine years of leading Santos, and has attacked politicians over the handling of the energy transition.

So Hardie’s directors will make billion-dollar bets behind closed doors while the real owners are cut out of having any say.

ASX’s James Hardie waiver is not in the market’s best interests

The bourse has set a terrible precedent by being complicit in undermining shareholder democracy.

Rio Tinto is facing its own Brexit moment.

Rio Tinto’s agitator sneaks payment in the fine print

Who knew influencers had more transparency around sponsored content than investment researchers?

Pacific Equity Partners’ Cameron Blanks.

PEP dealmaker throws weight behind shareholder transparency start-up

Complete shareholder registers have historically been the purview of internal investor relations departments.

March

Dominic Barton is Rio Tinto’s chairman. Glass Lewis said the mining giant’s board had not properly engaged with calls for a reconsideration of its dual-company structure.

Influential proxy adviser backs Rio Tinto’s London-listing vote

Glass Lewis has urged investors to back a review of the company’s structure, but noted unification will favour British over Australian shareholders.

Former WA treasurer Ben Wyatt is among three Woodside directors facing opposition from activists on their re-election.

Activist shareholder group to reject Woodside directors at AGM

Former Shell Australia chair Ann Pickard and ex-WA treasurer Ben Wyatt are among the directors being opposed for re-election due to climate risks and poor returns.

Rio investor warns it faces a Brexit moment with London-listing vote

WaveStone Capital has almost $10 billion in assets under management and says a push to end the mining giant’s primary UK listing will only enrich bankers.

February

Unlikely duo: Nick Bolton and Antony Catalano

Shareholders barred from Keybridge meeting as court freezes assets

Sources say observers who showed up in person were also prevented from entering.

Activist shareholder Nick Bolton.

Nicholas Bolton’s Keybridge to enter voluntary administration: sources

Melbourne accounting and advisory firm Lowe Lippmann is best placed to be appointed, sources said.

Bros before woes? Not so for the friendship between Antony Catalano (pictured) and Nicholas Bolton.

End of an era: Catalano, Bolton fall-out to give WAM the edge

Wilson, whose company has built a 45 per cent stake in Bolton’s ASX-listed investment vehicle Keybridge Capital, has been a thorn in Bolton’s side for almost a decade.

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December 2024

APA’s AGM in October attracted protesters concerned about the development of Beetaloo gas.

New pipeline unlocks Beetaloo gas for NT customers in 2026

A deal signed with pipeline owner APA Group looks set to stoke controversy over the development of a massive new onshore gas resource.

Metrics managing partner Andrew Lockhart is also the chairman of Navalo.

Metrics moves to compulsorily acquire BNPL underdog despite objections

Shareholders have accused Metrics of “grossly underestimating” the company’s valuation, “systematically devaluing the company through sham capital raises”, “selective disclosure” and “predatory behaviour”.

November 2024

Tiwi Islanders holding a banner they made to protest the Barossa gas project.

EDO to hand more than $9m to Santos after failed Barossa suit

But the oil and gas giant has been unsuccessful in forcing the taxpayer-funded, climate-focused legal service from disclosing publicly who bankrolled its suit.

Ramsay Health Care runs the country’s biggest network of private hospitals.

Ramsay investors push for shake-up of ‘failed’ overseas expansion

The country’s largest private hospital operator is facing demands from shareholders to discard international operations and focus on its local facilities.

News Corp’s board of directors pushed back on Starboard’s proposal in September.

Most non-Murdoch News Corp investors backed failed share collapse

A bid to end the family’s ‘outsized influence’ on the company has been “convincingly” defeated, News Corp says. Most other shareholders backed it, early results suggest.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/activist-shareholders-1mt6