NewsBite

Governance

Yesterday

Richard White is more powerful than ever at WiseTech after winning a boardroom power struggle.

White’s return as executive chairman puts ‘key man risk’ in play

Shareholders have been told to “exit stage left” if they have any doubts over Richard White’s ability to lead WiseTech.

This Month

WiseTech global founder Richard White will present the company’s financial results.

ASIC says it is making ‘preliminary inquiries’ into WiseTech

The comments from the regulator came after the software giant’s founder, Richard White, returned as executive chairman despite a board review into his conduct.

There is a market perception that Richard White, the founder and brains behind WiseTech’s business success, has won.

WiseTech must find new independent directors or risk ASX suspension

The fine print of the bourse’s corporate governance principles shows Richard White and the remaining board members are in a rather urgent pickle.

Richard White founded WiseTech and built it into one of the most successful software companies on the ASX. But he has been selling his shares in recent months.

WiseTech’s billionaire founder sells $200m in shares in two months

Richard White offloaded the stock in the midst of turmoil at the company which ultimately led to the exit of four independent directors earlier this week.

The ATO alleges Igor Cikes may be the “controlling mind” behind the tax fraud.

Chase has stalled in suspected $180m corporate fraud case

A liquidator has not been able to secure ATO funding to aid an investigation into a suspected tax fraud in the construction industry.

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Companies across the economy are introducing powers to suspend or terminate accounts when financial abuse is suspected. 

Banks, insurers crack down on abusers using their products as weapons

Financial abuse is estimated to cost victims $5.7 billion every year – more than twice the amount of losses from scams.

‘I am WiseTech’: How Richard White regained control of his company

On one side was a group of independent directors with their reputations on the line. On the other, a powerful founder with everything to lose.

WiseTech founder Richard White.

WiseTech is still a prisoner of its founder

Investors have now passed a harsh judgment on the company’s governance problems.

Richard White is the subject of an internal investigation at the company he founded, WiseTech.

WiseTech investors split as board quits en masse over Richard White

The software firm’s chairman and three directors have quit citing “intractable differences” over the billionaire businessman’s continuing role at the company.

WiseTech founder Richard White has thrown the tech giant into crisis again.

WiseTech is ungovernable. Is it still investible?

Through his own actions, Richard White has thrown the tech giant into crisis twice in six months. How can any serious investor trust him again?

Banks lashed for breaking Hayne-era bonus caps

The house economics committee has called on CBA to reverse last year’s decision to lift bonus caps, which threatened to unwind hard-won gains from the inquiry.

David Rowe illustration for Chanticleer column 7 August 2018 of ASX Corporate Governance Council chairman Elizabeth Johnstone

Killing ASX diversity rules should be start of governance reset

John Wylie’s new “first principles” rule book should be the starting point for the debate about what best practice corporate governance should now look like.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott says he is pleased the ASX have dropped new governance rules.

Failed diversity push triggers demands for ASX governance overhaul

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott said proposed governance guidelines ‘went too far’.

I’m an ESG insider. Here’s the truth behind how it went off the rails

Advocacy for moral concerns should be left to those with the proper mandate and ESG professionals should practice what they preach about good governance.

Elizabeth Johnstone, chair of the ASX Corporate Governance Council, killed proposed governance changes late on Wednesday.

Revealed: the 24-hour vote that killed off ASX diversity plan

The ASX Corporate Governance Council will drop proposed new rules for listed companies after nearly half the members voted not to proceed.

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The consequence is that the Council’s guidelines have become excessively long, prescriptive and increasingly disconnected from established principles of corporate law.

Time for a first principles model of corporate governance

A more competitive framework for our public companies is totally achievable while preserving Australia’s core commitment to high governance standards and confidence in our market integrity.

John Wylie of Tannara Capital is proposing his own version of the ASX governance rules.

John Wylie calls for annual director elections in ASX overhaul

The veteran fund manager is urging the ASX governance council to return to the drawing board and has proposed an alternative “commonsense” version of rules.

Top business groups say they will not support new reporting rules for ASX companies.

Corporate revolt set to kill off ASX diversity plan

At least four key business groups will oppose proposals to update the governance rules, killing the prospects of getting the broad consensus needed to proceed.

Ed Husic, Pip Marlow, Richard White, James Cameron, Rohit Antao, and Kate Pounder at the roundtable with AFR technology editor Paul Smith.

Boardroom diversity shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise

Corporate strategy should be shaped by people from different backgrounds whose fresh perspectives on solving problems and seizing opportunities can add value.

The former board of Star, who are facing civil penalties for alleged breaches of directors’ duties (L-R): John O’Neill, Matt Bekier, Kathleen Lahey, Richard Sheppard, Gerard Bradley, Sally Pitkin, Benjamin Heap and Zlatko Todorcevski.

Why the Star case has unnerved Australian boardrooms

“It’s a private company” is a big selling point for directors when headhunters call, and ASIC’s case against the embattled casino group is making many directors more nervous about public company boards.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/corporate-governance-1m02