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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
1996-97-98
The Parliament of
the
Commonwealth of
Australia
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Presented and read a first
time
Financial Sector
(Shareholdings) Bill 1998
No. ,
1998
(Treasury)
A Bill
for an Act relating to shareholdings in certain financial sector companies, and
for related purposes
98031.20—787/24.3.1998—(31/98)
Cat. No. 97 2816 3 ISBN 0644 518812
Contents
A Bill for an Act relating to shareholdings in certain
financial sector companies, and for related purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
This Act may be cited as the Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act
1998.
This Act commences on the commencement of the Australian Prudential
Regulation Authority Act 1998.
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
100% subsidiary has the same meaning as in the Income Tax
Assessment Act 1997.
agreement means any agreement, whether formal or informal and
whether express or implied.
Australia, when used in a geographical sense, includes the
external Territories.
authorised deposit-taking institution has the same meaning as
in the Banking Act 1959.
authorised insurance company means:
(a) a company authorised under the Insurance Act 1973 to carry on
insurance business; or
(b) a company registered under the Life Insurance Act
1995.
company means a body corporate.
Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.
financial sector company means:
(a) an authorised deposit-taking institution; or
(b) an authorised insurance company; or
(c) a holding company of a company covered by paragraph (a) or
(b).
holding company has the meaning given by section 4.
scheme means:
(a) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, promise or undertaking,
whether express or implied and whether or not enforceable, or intended to be
enforceable, by legal proceedings; and
(b) any scheme, plan, proposal, action, course of action or course of
conduct, whether unilateral or otherwise.
unacceptable shareholding situation has the
meaning given by section 10.
Note: Schedule 1 sets out definitions of expressions used in
Part 2 (which deals with restrictions on shareholdings).
For
the purposes of this Act, a company (the first company) is the
holding company of another company if the other company is a 100%
subsidiary of the first company.
(1) This Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the
States, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory and of
Norfolk Island.
(2) This Act does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an
offence.
This Act extends to all the external Territories.
This Act extends to acts, omissions, matters and things outside
Australia.
The following is a simplified outline of this Part:
• Financial sector companies are subject to a
15% shareholding limit. The Treasurer may approve a higher percentage limit on
national interest grounds.
• Those limits relate to a person’s
stake in a company.
• A person’s stake is the
aggregate of the person’s voting power and the voting power of the
person’s associates.
• A person whose stake in a financial sector
company does not exceed 15% may be declared by the Treasurer to have
practical control of the company.
• The person covered by the declaration must
take steps to ensure that the person does not have:
(a) a stake that exceeds 15%; or
(b) practical control.
• The regulations may require records to be
kept, and information to be given, for purposes relating to the restrictions on
shareholdings.
Schedule 1 sets out definitions of expressions used in this
Part.
For the purposes of this Act, an unacceptable shareholding
situation exists in relation to a particular financial sector company
and in relation to a particular person if the person holds a stake in the
company of more than:
(a) 15%; or
(b) if an approval of a higher percentage is in force under Division 3 in
relation to the company and in relation to the person—that higher
percentage.
Note: A person’s stake includes the
interests of the person’s associates—see Schedule
1.
If:
(a) a person, or 2 or more persons under an arrangement, acquire shares in
a company; and
(b) the acquisition has the result, in relation to a financial sector
company, that:
(i) an unacceptable shareholding situation comes into existence in
relation to the company and in relation to a person; or
(ii) if an unacceptable shareholding situation already exists in relation
to the company and in relation to a person—there is an increase in the
stake held by the person in the company; and
(c) the person or persons mentioned in paragraph (a) were reckless as to
whether the acquisition would have that result;
the person or persons mentioned in paragraph (a) are guilty of an offence
punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding 400 penalty units.
Note: Chapter
2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general
principles of criminal responsibility.
(1) If an unacceptable shareholding situation exists in relation to a
financial sector company, the Federal Court may, on application by the Treasurer
or the company, make such orders as the court considers appropriate for the
purpose of ensuring that that situation ceases to exist.
(2) If an unacceptable shareholding situation has existed in relation to a
financial sector company, the Federal Court may, on application by the Treasurer
or the company, make such orders as the court considers appropriate.
(3) The Federal Court’s orders include:
(a) an order directing the disposal of shares; or
(b) an order restraining the exercise of any rights attached to shares;
or
(c) an order prohibiting or deferring the payment of any sums due to a
person in respect of shares held by the person; or
(d) an order that any exercise of rights attached to shares be
disregarded.
(4) Subsection (3) does not, by implication, limit subsection (1) or
(2).
(5) In addition to the Federal Court’s powers under subsections (1),
(2) and (3), the court:
(a) has power, for the purpose of securing compliance with any other order
made under this section, to make an order directing any person to do or refrain
from doing a specified act; and
(b) has power to make an order containing such ancillary or consequential
provisions as the court thinks just.
(6) The Federal Court may, before making an order under this section,
direct that notice of the application be given to such persons as it thinks fit
or be published in such manner as it thinks fit, or both.
(7) The Federal Court may, by order, rescind, vary or discharge an order
made by it under this section or suspend the operation of such an
order.
(1) A person may apply to the Treasurer for approval to hold a stake in a
particular financial sector company of more than 15%.
(2) The application must:
(a) specify the percentage of the stake (if any) the person currently
holds in the financial sector company; and
(b) specify the percentage of the stake the person is seeking approval to
hold in the company; and
(c) set out the person’s reasons for making the application;
and
(d) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(1) If the applicant satisfies the Treasurer that it is in the national
interest to approve the applicant holding a stake in the company of more than
15%, the Treasurer may grant the application.
Grant of application
(2) If the Treasurer grants the application, the Treasurer must:
(a) give written notice of the approval to the applicant; and
(b) specify the percentage of the stake the Treasurer approves the
applicant holding in the company (which may not be the percentage the applicant
applied for); and
(c) either:
(i) specify the period during which the approval remains in force;
or
(ii) specify that the approval remains in force indefinitely.
Refusal of application
(3) If the Treasurer refuses the application, the Treasurer must give
written notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Notification of approval
(4) The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of approval under
this section to be:
(a) published in the Gazette; and
(b) given to the company concerned.
(1) An approval under section 14 remains in force:
(a) if the notice of approval specifies a period during which the approval
remains in force—until the end of that period, or if the Treasurer extends
that period, until the end of that extended period; or
(b) otherwise—indefinitely.
Extension of approval
(2) A person who holds an approval under section 14 that is in force for a
specified period may apply to the Treasurer to extend that period.
(3) The application must:
(a) set out the person’s reasons for making the application;
and
(b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(4) If the applicant satisfies the Treasurer that it is in the national
interest to grant the extension, the Treasurer may grant the
application.
(5) If the Treasurer grants the application, the Treasurer must:
(a) give written notice of the extension to the applicant; and
(b) specify the extended period during which the approval remains in force
(which may not be the period the applicant applied for).
(6) If the Treasurer refuses the application, the Treasurer must give
written notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Notification of extension
(7) The
Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of extension under this section to
be:
(a) published in the Gazette; and
(b) given to the financial sector company concerned.
(1) An approval under section 14 is subject to such conditions (if any) as
are specified in the notice of approval.
(2) The Treasurer may, by written notice given to a person who holds an
approval under section 14:
(a) impose one or more conditions or further conditions to which the
approval is subject; or
(b) revoke or vary any condition:
(i) imposed under paragraph (a); or
(ii) specified in the notice of approval.
Procedures
(3) The Treasurer’s power under subsection (2) may be
exercised:
(a) on the Treasurer’s own initiative; or
(b) on application made to the Treasurer by the person who holds the
approval.
(4) An application made by a person under paragraph (3)(b) must:
(a) set out the person’s reasons for making the application;
and
(b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(5) If the Treasurer refuses an application under paragraph (3)(b), the
Treasurer must give written notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Notification
(6) The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice under subsection (2)
to be:
(a) published in the Gazette; and
(b) given to the financial sector company concerned.
Application by holder of approval
(1) A person who holds an approval under section 14 may apply to the
Treasurer to vary the percentage specified in the approval.
(2) The application must:
(a) specify the percentage of the stake the person currently holds in the
financial sector company concerned; and
(b) specify the percentage of the stake the person is seeking approval to
hold in the company; and
(c) set out the person’s reasons for making the application;
and
(d) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) If the applicant satisfies the Treasurer that it is in the national
interest to vary the percentage, the Treasurer may grant the
application.
(4) If the Treasurer grants the application, the Treasurer must:
(a) give written notice of the variation to the applicant; and
(b) specify the variation granted (which may not be the variation the
applicant applied for).
(5) If the Treasurer refuses an application, the Treasurer must give
written notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Treasurer’s own initiative
(6) The Treasurer may, by written notice given to a person who holds an
approval under section 14, vary the percentage specified in the approval if the
Treasurer is satisfied that it is in the national interest to do so.
Percentage varied upwards
(7) If the Treasurer varies a percentage upwards, the variation takes
effect on the day the notice of variation is given.
Percentage varied downwards
(8) If the Treasurer varies a percentage downwards, the variation takes
effect on the day specified in the notice of variation. The specified day must
be a day at least 90 days after the day on which the notice is given.
Notification of variation
(9) The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of variation under
this section to be:
(a) published in the Gazette; and
(b) given to the financial sector company concerned.
Revocation on specified grounds
(1) The Treasurer may, by written notice given to a person who holds an
approval under section 14 in relation to a financial sector company, revoke the
approval if the Treasurer is satisfied that:
(a) it is in the national interest to do so; or
(b) an unacceptable shareholding situation exists in relation to the
financial sector company and in relation to the person; or
(c) there has been a contravention of a condition to which the approval is
subject.
(2) The revocation takes effect on the day specified in the notice of
revocation. The specified day must be a day at least 90 days after the day on
which the notice is given.
Revocation on request
(3) If a person who holds an approval under section 14 requests the
Treasurer to revoke the approval, the Treasurer must, by written notice given to
the person, revoke the approval. The revocation takes effect on the day
specified in the notice of revocation.
Notification of revocation
(4) The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of revocation under
this section to be:
(a) published in the Gazette; and
(b) given to the financial sector company concerned.
100% subsidiaries of holding company
(1) If:
(a) at a particular time, a person holds an approval under section 14 to
hold a stake in a financial sector company of more than 15%; and
(b) the financial sector company is a holding company of an authorised
deposit-taking institution or an authorised insurance company;
there are taken to be in force at that time approvals of the Treasurer,
under section 14, for the person to hold the same percentage stake in each
financial sector company that is a 100% subsidiary of the holding
company.
(2) If, on a particular day, a financial sector company that is a 100%
subsidiary of the holding company ceases to be a 100% subsidiary of the holding
company, the approval that is taken to be in force, because of subsection (1),
in relation to that financial sector company continues in force until:
(a) the end of 90 days after that day; or
(b) if, during that period of 90 days, the person becomes the holder of
another approval under section 14 in relation to the financial sector
company—that other approval comes into force.
Officers of company
(3) If, at a particular time, a company (the approval
company) holds an approval under section 14 to hold a stake in a
financial sector company of more than 15%, there is taken to be in force at that
time an approval of the Treasurer, under section 14, for each officer of the
approval company to hold the same percentage stake in the financial sector
company.
(1) This section applies to an application under this Division.
(2) The Treasurer may, by written notice given to the applicant, require
the applicant to give the Treasurer, within a specified period, further
information about the application.
(3) The Treasurer may refuse to consider the application until the
applicant gives the Treasurer the information.
(1) The Treasurer may require or permit an application under this Division
to be given, in accordance with specified software requirements and specified
authentication requirements:
(a) on a specified kind of data storage device; or
(b) by way of a specified kind of electronic transmission.
(2) If an application is given by way of electronic transmission, the
application is taken to be accompanied by a fee if the fee is paid within 7 days
after the transmission.
(3) In this section:
data storage device means any article or material (for
example, a disk) from which information is capable of being reproduced with or
without the aid of any other article or device.
In this Division:
control includes control as a result of, or by means of,
trusts, agreements, arrangements, understandings and practices, whether or not
having legal or equitable force and whether or not based on legal or equitable
rights.
Declaration
(1) If:
(a) the Treasurer is satisfied that:
(i) the directors of a financial sector company are accustomed or under an
obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the
directions, instructions or wishes of a person (either alone or together with
associates); or
(ii) a person (either alone or together with associates) is in a position
to exercise control over a financial sector company; and
(b) the Treasurer is satisfied that:
(i) the person does not have any stake in the company; or
(ii) if the person has a stake in the company—that stake is not more
than 15%; and
(c) the Treasurer is satisfied that it is in the national interest to
declare that the person has practical control of the company for the purposes of
this Act;
the Treasurer may declare that the person has practical
control of the company for the purposes of this Act.
Declaration has effect
(2) A declaration under this section has effect accordingly.
Revocation of declaration
(3) The Treasurer must revoke a declaration under this section if the
Treasurer ceases to be satisfied of the matters referred to in paragraphs
(1)(a), (b) and (c).
Notification of declaration
(4) If a declaration under this section is made or revoked, the Treasurer
must arrange for a copy of the declaration or revocation to be given to the
financial sector company and the person concerned.
(1) If a person has practical control of a financial sector company, the
person must take such steps as are necessary to ensure that:
(a) the directors of the company are not accustomed or under an
obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the
directions, instructions or wishes of the person (either alone or together with
associates); and
(b) the person (either alone or together with associates) is not in a
position to exercise control over the company; and
(c) either:
(i) the person does not have any stake in the company; or
(ii) if the person has a stake in the company—that stake is not more
than 15%.
Note: Practical control has the meaning given
by section 23.
(2) The person must take those steps:
(a) within 90 days after receiving the copy of the most recent declaration
under section 23 relating to the practical control of the company; or
(b) if the Treasurer, by written notice given to the person, allows a
longer period for compliance—before the end of that longer
period.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is subject to a requirement under this section;
and
(b) the person recklessly contravenes the requirement.
Penalty: 400 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
(1) If:
(a) a declaration under section 23 is in force in relation to a person and
in relation to a financial sector company; and
(b) the Federal Court is satisfied that:
(i) the directors of the company are accustomed or under an obligation,
whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions,
instructions or wishes of the person (either alone or together with associates);
or
(ii) the person (either alone or together with associates) is in a
position to exercise control over the company; and
(c) the Federal Court is satisfied that:
(i) the person does not have any stake in the company; or
(ii) if the person has a stake in the company—that stake is not more
than 15%;
the court may, on application by the Treasurer, make such orders as the
court considers appropriate to ensure that:
(d) the directors of the company are not accustomed or under an
obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the
directions, instructions or wishes of the person (either alone or together with
associates); and
(e) the person (either alone or together with associates) is not in a
position to exercise control over the company; and
(f) either:
(i) the person does not have any stake in the company; or
(ii) if the person has a stake in the company—that stake is not more
than 15%.
(2) The Federal Court’s orders include:
(a) an order directing the disposal of shares; or
(b) an order restraining the exercise of any rights attached to shares;
or
(c) an order prohibiting or deferring the payment of any sums due to a
person in respect of shares held by the person; or
(d) an order that any exercise of rights attached to shares be
disregarded.
(3) Subsection (2) does not, by implication, limit subsection
(1).
(4) In addition to the Federal Court’s powers under subsections (1)
and (2), the court:
(a) has power, for the purpose of securing compliance with any other order
made under this section, to make an order directing any person to do or refrain
from doing a specified act; and
(b) has power to make an order containing such ancillary or consequential
provisions as the court thinks just.
(5) The Federal Court may, before making an order under this section,
direct that notice of the Treasurer’s application be given to such persons
as it thinks fit or be published in such manner as it thinks fit, or
both.
(6) The Federal Court may, by order, rescind, vary or discharge an order
made by it under this section or suspend the operation of such an
order.
(1) The regulations may make provision for and in relation to requiring a
person:
(a) to keep and retain records, where the records are relevant to an
ownership matter; and
(b) to give information to the Treasurer that is relevant to an ownership
matter; or
(c) to give information to a financial sector company, where the
information is relevant to an ownership matter that concerns the
company.
Note: Ownership matter is defined by
subsection (6).
Statutory declarations
(2) The regulations may provide that information given in accordance with
a requirement covered by paragraph (1)(b) or (c) must be verified by statutory
declaration.
No self-incrimination
(3) An individual is not required to give information in accordance with a
requirement covered by paragraph (1)(b) or (c) if the information might tend to
incriminate the individual or expose the individual to a penalty.
Offence
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is subject to a requirement covered by paragraph (1)(a),
(b) or (c); and
(b) the person recklessly contravenes the requirement.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
Regulations may confer discretionary powers on the
Treasurer
(5) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may make provision
for or in relation to a matter by conferring a power on the Treasurer. For
example, the regulations could provide that the Treasurer may, by written notice
given to a financial sector company, require the company to give the Treasurer,
within the period and in the manner specified in the notice, specified
information about an ownership matter relating to the company.
Definition
(6) For the purposes of this section, each of the following matters is an
ownership matter:
(a) whether a person holds a stake in a financial sector company and, if
so, the percentage of that stake;
(b) whether the directors of a financial sector company are accustomed or
under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the
directions, instructions or wishes of a person (either alone or together with
associates);
(c) whether a person (either alone or together with associates) is in a
position to exercise control over a financial sector company.
For this purpose, control has the same meaning as in section
22.
(1) This Part does not apply in relation to a financial sector company
unless the company is:
(a) a constitutional corporation (other than a corporation that carries on
State banking, or State insurance, not extending beyond the limits of the State
concerned); or
(b) a body corporate that carries on the business of banking; or
(c) a body corporate that carries on the business of insurance.
Severability
(2) Without prejudice to its effect apart from this subsection, subsection
(1) also has the effect it would have if:
(a) the reference in paragraph (1)(b) to a body corporate that carries on
the business of banking were, by express provision, confined to a body corporate
that carries on as its sole or principal business the business of banking;
and
(b) the reference in paragraph (1)(c) to a body corporate that carries on
the business of insurance were, by express provision, confined to a body
corporate that carries on as its sole or principal business the business of
insurance.
Definitions
(3) In this section:
business of banking does not include State banking not
extending beyond the limits of the State concerned.
business of insurance does not include State insurance not
extending beyond the limits of the State concerned.
constitutional corporation means a corporation to which
paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
It is the intention of the Parliament that this Part is not to apply to
the exclusion of a law of a State or Territory to the extent that that law is
capable of operating concurrently with this Part.
An act is not invalidated by the fact that it constitutes an offence
against this Part.
(1) The Federal Court must not make an order under this Part if:
(a) the order would result in the acquisition of property from a person
otherwise than on just terms; and
(b) the order would be invalid because of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the
Constitution.
(2) In this section:
acquisition of property has the same meaning as in paragraph
51(xxxi) of the Constitution.
just terms has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xxxi) of
the Constitution.
(1) If:
(a) one or more persons enter into, begin to carry out or carry out a
scheme; and
(b) it would be concluded that the person, or any of the persons, who
entered into, began to carry out or carried out the scheme or any part of the
scheme did so for the sole or dominant purpose of avoiding the application of
any provision of Part 2 in relation to any person or persons (whether or not
mentioned in paragraph (a)); and
(c) as a result of the scheme or a part of the scheme, a person (the
stakeholder) increases the stakeholder’s stake in a
financial sector company;
the Treasurer may give the stakeholder a written direction to cease holding
that stake within a specified time.
Offence
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is subject to a direction under subsection (1);
and
(b) the person intentionally contravenes the direction.
Penalty: 400 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
Definitions
(3) In this section:
increase, in relation to a stake in a company, includes an
increase from a starting point of nil.
stake, in relation to a company, has the same meaning as in
Schedule 1.
Restraining injunctions
(1) If a person has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage in any
conduct in contravention of section 11, the Federal Court may, on the
application of the Treasurer, grant an injunction:
(a) restraining the person from engaging in the conduct; and
(b) if, in the court’s opinion, it is desirable to do
so—requiring the person to do something.
(2) If:
(a) a person has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage in any
conduct in contravention of section 11; and
(b) the contravention relates to the existence of an unacceptable
shareholding situation in relation to a financial sector company;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the company, grant an
injunction:
(c) restraining the person from engaging in the conduct; and
(d) if, in the court’s opinion, it is desirable to do
so—requiring the person to do something.
(3) If a person has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage in any
conduct in contravention of a condition to which an approval under section 14 is
subject, the Federal Court may, on the application of the Treasurer, grant an
injunction:
(a) restraining the person from engaging in the conduct; and
(b) if, in the court’s opinion, it is desirable to do
so—requiring the person to do something.
Performance injunctions
(4) If:
(a) a person has refused or failed, or is refusing or failing, or is
proposing to refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
(b) the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of section
26 or 31;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the Treasurer, grant an
injunction requiring the person to do that act or thing.
(5) If:
(a) a person has refused or failed, is refusing or failing, or is
proposing to refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
(b) the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of
subsection 26(4) that relates to a requirement covered by paragraph 26(1)(c) to
give information to a financial sector company;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the company, grant an
injunction requiring the person to do that act or thing.
(6) If:
(a) a person has refused or failed, or is refusing or failing, or is
proposing to refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
(b) the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of a
condition to which an approval under section 14 is subject;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the Treasurer, grant an
injunction requiring the person to do that act or thing.
Grant of interim injunction
(1) If an application is made to the court for an injunction under section
32, the court may, before considering the application, grant an interim
injunction restraining a person from engaging in conduct of a kind referred to
in that section.
No undertakings as to damages
(2) The court is not to require an applicant for an injunction under
section 32, as a condition of granting an interim injunction, to give any
undertakings as to damages.
The court may discharge or vary an injunction granted under this
Part.
Restraining injunctions
(1) The power of the court under this Part to grant an injunction
restraining a person from engaging in conduct of a particular kind may be
exercised:
(a) if the court is satisfied that the person has engaged in conduct of
that kind—whether or not it appears to the court that the person intends
to engage again, or to continue to engage, in conduct of that kind; or
(b) if it appears to the court that, if an injunction is not granted, it
is likely that the person will engage in conduct of that kind—whether or
not the person has previously engaged in conduct of that kind and whether or not
there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person if the person
engages in conduct of that kind.
Performance injunctions
(2) The power of the court under this Part to grant an injunction
requiring a person to do an act or thing may be exercised:
(a) if the court is satisfied that the person has refused or failed to do
that act or thing—whether or not it appears to the court that the person
intends to refuse or fail again, or to continue to refuse or fail, to do that
act or thing; or
(b) if it appears to the court that, if an injunction is not granted, it
is likely that the person will refuse or fail to do that act or
thing—whether or not the person has previously refused or failed to do
that act or thing and whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial
damage to any person if the person refuses or fails to do that act or
thing.
The powers conferred on the court under this Part are in addition to, and
not instead of, any other powers of the court, whether conferred by this Act or
otherwise.
A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person makes a statement (whether orally, in a document or in any
other way); and
(b) the statement:
(i) is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(ii) omits any matter or thing without which the statement is misleading
in a material particular; and
(c) either:
(i) the statement is made to a person who is exercising powers or
performing functions under, or in connection with, this Act; or
(ii) the statement is made in purported compliance with a requirement
covered by paragraph 26(1)(c).
Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is subject to a requirement covered by paragraph 26(1)(a);
and
(b) in purported compliance with that requirement, the person makes a
record of any matter or thing; and
(c) the person makes the record in such a way that it does not correctly
record the matter or thing.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
An offence against section 11, 24 or 31 is an indictable
offence.
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against
this Act.
(1) This section applies to a summons or process in any criminal
proceedings under this Act, where:
(a) service of the summons or process is required to be served on a body
corporate incorporated outside Australia; and
(b) the body corporate does not have a registered office or a principal
office in Australia; and
(c) the body corporate has an agent in Australia.
(2) Service of the summons or process may be effected by serving it on the
agent.
(3) Subsection (2) has effect in addition to section 28A of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901.
Note: Section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901
deals with the service of documents.
(4) In this section:
criminal proceeding includes a proceeding to determine
whether a person should be tried for an offence.
State of mind
(1) If, in a civil proceeding under this Act in respect of conduct engaged
in by a corporation, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the
corporation, it is sufficient to show that:
(a) a director, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that
conduct; and
(b) the director, employee or agent was, in engaging in that conduct,
acting within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority;
and
(c) the director, employee or agent had that state of mind.
Conduct
(2) If:
(a) conduct is engaged in on behalf of a corporation by a director,
employee or agent of the corporation; and
(b) the conduct is within the scope of his or her actual or apparent
authority;
the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a civil proceeding under this
Act, to have been engaged in by the corporation unless the corporation
establishes that it took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to
avoid the conduct.
Extended meaning of state of mind
(3) A reference in subsection (1) to the state of mind of a
person includes a reference to:
(a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person;
and
(b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or
purpose.
Extended meaning of director
(4) A reference in this section to a director of a
corporation includes a reference to a constituent member of a body corporate
incorporated for a public purpose by a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a
Territory.
Extended meaning of engaging in conduct
(5) A reference in this section to engaging in conduct
includes a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.
State of mind
(1) If, in a civil proceeding under this Act in respect of conduct engaged
in by a person other than a corporation, it is necessary to establish the state
of mind of the person, it is sufficient to show that:
(a) the conduct was engaged in by an employee or agent of the person
within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and
(b) the employee or agent had that state of mind.
Conduct
(2) If:
(a) conduct is engaged in on behalf of a person other than a corporation
by an employee or agent of the person; and
(b) the conduct is within the employee’s or agent’s actual or
apparent authority;
the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a civil proceeding under this
Act, to have been engaged in by the person unless the person establishes that he
or she took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the
conduct.
Extended meaning of state of mind
(3) A reference in this section to the state of mind of a
person includes a reference to:
(a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person;
and
(b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or
purpose.
Extended meaning of engaging in conduct
(4) A reference in this section to engaging in conduct
includes a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.
(1) The Treasurer may, by writing, delegate any or all of the
Treasurer’s powers under this Act to:
(a) the Chief Executive Officer of APRA (the Australian Prudential
Regulation Authority); or
(b) a member of the board of management (including the Chair) of APRA;
or
(c) an APRA staff member (within the meaning of the Australian
Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998).
(2) The delegate is, in the exercise of any power delegated under
subsection (1), subject to the directions of the Treasurer.
(1) This Act and the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975
operate independently of each other.
(2) In particular, a decision under either Act has effect only for the
purposes of the Act concerned.
The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving
effect to this Act.
(1) This section applies if, immediately before the commencement of this
section:
(a) a person held a stake in a particular financial sector company of more
than 15%; and
(b) the holding of that stake did not, to any extent, involve a
contravention of a provision of the Banks (Shareholdings) Act 1972 or the
Insurance Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1991.
(2) This Act has effect as if the Treasurer had, immediately after the
commencement of this section, by written notice under section 14, approved the
person holding the same percentage stake in the company.
Note: This approval can be varied or revoked in accordance
with the provisions of Division 3 of Part 2.
(3) For the purposes of this section, Part 1 and Schedule 1 are taken to
have been in force immediately before the commencement of this
section.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a company that is an authorised
deposit-taking institution immediately after the commencement of this section is
taken to have been an authorised deposit-taking institution immediately before
the commencement of this section.
The object of this Schedule is to define terms used in Part 2 (which
deals with restrictions on shareholdings).
In Part 2 and this Schedule, unless the contrary intention
appears:
acquisition includes an agreement to acquire, but does not
include:
(a) an acquisition by will or by devolution by operation of law;
or
(b) an acquisition by way of enforcement of a loan security.
arrangement has a meaning affected by clause 3.
associate has the meaning given by clause 4.
constituent document, in relation to a company,
means:
(a) the memorandum and articles of association of the company;
or
(b) any rules or other documents constituting the company or governing its
activities.
direct control interest has the meaning given by clause
11.
director includes any person occupying the position of
director of a company, by whatever name called.
discretionary trust means a trust where:
(a) a person (who may include the trustee) is empowered (either
unconditionally or on the fulfilment of a condition) to exercise any power of
appointment or other discretion; and
(b) the exercise of the power or discretion, or the failure to exercise
the power or discretion, has the effect of determining, to any extent, either or
both of the following:
(i) the identities of those who may benefit under the trust;
(ii) how beneficiaries are to benefit, as between themselves, under the
trust.
increase, in relation to a stake in a company, includes an
increase from a starting point of nil.
interest in a share has the meaning given by clause
7.
lender, in relation to a loan security, means the person who
is entitled to enforce the security.
lending money includes providing non-equity finance where the
provision of the finance may reasonably be regarded as equivalent to lending
money.
loan security means a security held solely for the purposes
of a moneylending agreement.
management employee, in relation to a company, means an
employee of the company who is concerned in, or takes part in, the management of
the company.
moneylending agreement means an agreement entered into in
good faith in the ordinary course of carrying on a business of lending money,
but does not include an agreement dealing with any matter unrelated to the
carrying on of that business.
officer, in relation to a company, means:
(a) a director, secretary or management employee of the company;
or
(b) a receiver and manager of any part of the undertaking of the company
appointed under a power contained in any instrument; or
(c) a liquidator of the company appointed in a voluntary
winding-up.
ownership provisions means Part 2 and this
Schedule.
power to appoint a director of a company has a meaning
affected by clause 5.
practical control, in relation to a financial sector company,
has the meaning given by section 23.
relative, in relation to a person, means:
(a) the person’s spouse; or
(b) another person who, although not legally married to the person, lives
with the person on a bona fide domestic basis as the husband or wife of
the person; or
(c) a parent or remoter lineal ancestor of the person; or
(d) a son, daughter or remoter issue of the person; or
(e) a brother or sister of the person.
share, in relation to a company, means a share in the share
capital of the company, and includes:
(a) stock into which any or all of the share capital of the company has
been converted; or
(b) an interest in such a share or in such stock.
stake, in relation to a company, has the meaning given by
clause 10.
voting power has the meaning given by clause 9.
(1) For the purposes of the ownership provisions, a person is taken to
have proposed to enter into an agreement or arrangement if the person takes part
in, or proposes to take part in, negotiations with a view to entering into the
agreement or arrangement.
(2) A reference in the ownership provisions to entering into an
agreement or arrangement includes a reference to altering or varying an
agreement or arrangement.
(3) A reference in the ownership provisions to entering into an
arrangement is a reference to entering into any formal or informal
scheme, arrangement or understanding, whether expressly or by implication and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes a reference
to:
(a) entering into an agreement; or
(b) creating a trust, whether express or implied; or
(c) entering into a transaction;
and a reference in the ownership provisions to an arrangement is to be
construed accordingly.
(4) A reference in the ownership provisions to an arrangement
does not include a reference to a moneylending agreement.
(1) For the purposes of the ownership provisions, the following persons
are associates of a person:
(a) a relative of the person;
(b) a partner of the person;
(c) a company of which the person is an officer;
(d) if the person is a company—an officer of the company;
(e) an officer of a company of which the person is an officer;
(f) an employee of an individual of whom the person is an
employee;
(g) the trustee of a discretionary trust where the person or another
person who is an associate of the person by virtue of another paragraph of this
subclause benefits, or is capable (whether by the exercise of a power of
appointment or otherwise) of benefiting, under the trust, either directly or
through any interposed companies, partnerships or trusts;
(h) a company whose directors are accustomed or under an obligation,
whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions,
instructions or wishes of the person;
(i) a company where the person is accustomed or under an obligation,
whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions,
instructions or wishes of the company;
(j) a company in which the person has, apart from this paragraph, a stake
of not less than 15%;
(k) if the person is a company—a person who holds, apart from this
paragraph, a stake in the company of not less than 15%;
(l) a person who is, because of this subclause, an associate of any other
person who is an associate of the person (including a person who is an associate
of the person by any other application or applications of this
paragraph).
(2) If a person (the first person) enters, or proposes to
enter, into an arrangement with another person (the second person)
that relates to any of the following matters:
(a) the first person and the second person being in a position, by acting
together, to control any of the voting power in a company;
(b) the power of the first person and the second person, by acting
together, to appoint or remove a director of a company;
(c) the situation where one or more of the directors of a company are
accustomed or under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in
accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the first person and
the second person acting together;
then, the second person is taken to be an associate of the
first person for the purposes of the application of a provision of the ownership
provisions in relation to the matter concerned.
(1) A reference in the ownership provisions to a power to appoint a
director includes a reference to such a power whether exercisable with
or without the consent or concurrence of any other person.
(2) For the purposes of the ownership provisions, a person is taken to
have the power to appoint a director if:
(a) the person has the power (whether exercisable with or without the
consent or concurrence of any other person) to veto such an appointment;
or
(b) a person’s appointment as a director of the company follows
necessarily from that person being a director or other officer of the
first-mentioned person.
For the purposes of the ownership provisions, a person is entitled
to acquire anything if the person is absolutely or contingently entitled
to acquire it, whether because of any constituent document of a company, the
exercise of any right or option or for any other reason.
(1) Subject to this clause, a person holds an interest in a
share if the person has any legal or equitable interest in the
share.
(2) A person is taken to hold an interest in a share if:
(a) the person has entered into a contract to purchase the share;
or
(b) the person has a right (otherwise than because of having an interest
under a trust) to have the share transferred to the person or to the
person’s order (whether the right is exercisable presently or in the
future and whether or not on the fulfilment of a condition); or
(c) the person has a right to acquire the share, or an interest in the
share, under an option (whether the right is exercisable presently or in the
future and whether or not on the fulfilment of a condition); or
(d) the person is otherwise entitled to acquire the share or an interest
in the share; or
(e) the person is entitled (otherwise than because of having been
appointed as a proxy or representative to vote at a meeting of members of the
company or of a class of its members) to exercise or control the exercise of a
right attached to the share.
(3) Subclause (2) does not, by implication, limit subclause (1).
(4) A person is taken to hold an interest in a share even if the person
holds the interest in the share jointly with another person.
(5) For the purpose of determining whether a person holds an interest in a
share, it is immaterial that the interest cannot be related to a particular
share.
(6) An interest in a share is not to be disregarded only because
of:
(a) its remoteness; or
(b) the manner in which it arose; or
(c) the fact that the exercise of a right conferred by the interest is, or
is capable of being made, subject to restraint or restriction.
(1) For the purposes of the ownership provisions, the following interests
must be disregarded:
(a) an interest in a share held by a person whose ordinary business
includes the lending of money if the person holds the interest as a loan
security;
(b) an interest in a share held by a person, being an interest held by the
person because the person holds a prescribed office;
(c) an interest of a prescribed kind in a share, being an interest held by
such persons as are prescribed.
(2) For the purposes of the ownership provisions, if:
(a) a person holds an interest in a share as a loan security;
and
(b) the ordinary business of the person includes the lending of money;
and
(c) the loan security is enforced; and
(d) as a result of the enforcement of the loan security, the person
becomes the holder of the share; and
(e) the person holds the share for a continuous period (the holding
period) beginning at the time when the security was enforced;
the person’s interest in the share must be disregarded at all times
during so much of the holding period as occurs during whichever of the following
periods is applicable:
(f) the period of 90 days beginning when the security was
enforced;
(g) if the Treasurer, by written notice given to the person, allows a
longer period—the end of that longer period.
(1) A reference in the ownership provisions to the voting
power in a company is a reference to the total rights of shareholders to
vote, or participate in any decision-making, concerning any of the
following:
(a) the making of distributions of capital or profits of the company to
its shareholders;
(b) the constituent document of the company;
(c) any variation of the share capital of the company;
(d) any appointment of a director of the company.
(2) A reference in the ownership provisions to control of the voting
power in a company is a reference to control that is direct or indirect,
including control that is exercisable as a result of or by means of arrangements
or practices:
(a) whether or not having legal or equitable force; and
(b) whether or not based on legal or equitable rights.
(3) If the percentage of total rights to vote or participate in
decision-making differs as between different types of voting or decision-making,
the highest of those percentages applies for the purposes of this
clause.
(4) If a company:
(a) is limited both by shares and by guarantee; or
(b) does not have a share capital;
this clause has effect as if the members or policy holders of the company
were shareholders in the company.
(1) The stake that a person holds in a company at a
particular time is the aggregate of:
(a) the direct control interests in the company that the person holds at
that time; and
(b) the direct control interests in the company held at that time by
associates of the person.
(2) In calculating the stake that a person holds in a company, a direct
control interest held because of subclause 11(2) is not to be counted under
paragraph (1)(a) to the extent to which it is calculated by reference to a
direct control interest in the company that is taken into account under
paragraph (1)(b).
(1) A person holds a direct control interest in a company at
a particular time equal to the percentage of the voting power in the company
that the person is in a position to control at that time.
(2) If:
(a) a person holds a direct control interest (including a direct control
interest that is taken to be held because of one or more previous applications
of this subclause) in a company (the first level company);
and
(b) the first level company holds a direct control interest in another
company (the second level company);
the person is taken to hold a direct control interest in the second level
company equal to the percentage worked out using the formula:
where:
first level percentage means the percentage of the direct
control interest held by the person in the first level company.
second level percentage means the percentage of the direct
control interest held by the first level company in the second level
company.