Guidance Note 18: Takeover Documents

Date
Issue
3
  1. Introduction
  2. Document requirements
  3. Accessibility
  4. Marketing information
  5. Broker valuation
  6. Premia
  7. Intentions
  8. Recommendations
  9. Information outside takeovers documents
  10. Expert’s report
  11. Publication History
  12. Related material
  13. Attachment A
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Introduction

  1. This guidance note has been prepared to assist market participants:
    1. understand the Panel’s approach to information in takeover documents, including a bidder’s statement or target’s statement and
    2. create more accessible takeover documents.
  2. The examples are illustrative only and nothing in the note binds the Panel in a particular case.
  3. The policy bases for this note are that information that is deficient or not readily accessible to the target audience may:
    • inhibit the acquisition of control over voting shares taking place in an efficient, competitive and informed market or
    • deny holders of the relevant class of shares enough information to enable them to assess the merits of the proposal.1
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Document requirements

  1. Section 636 applies to a bidder’s statement. It requires a bidder’s statement to include specific information. It also requires any other information material to the making of a decision by offeree shareholders whether to accept the bid, being information known to the bidder and, to the extent not already disclosed, which does not relate to the value of any securities offered.
  2. Section 638 applies to a target’s statement. It requires a target’s statement to include all the information that offeree shareholders and their professional advisers would reasonably require for making an informed assessment whether to accept the offer, but only to the extent that it is reasonable for them to expect to find such information in the statement and it is known to any director of the target.
  3. Section 640 requires an expert’s report to accompany a target’s statement if the bidder’s voting power is 30% or more, the bidder is a director of the target or a director of a corporate bidder is a director of the target.
  4. Section 643 requires a supplementary bidder’s statement if the bidder becomes aware of a material misleading or deceptive statement, omission or new circumstance.
  5. Section 644 requires a supplementary target’s statement in similar circumstances.
  6. A bidder (target) must send the bidder’s (target’s) statement to offeree shareholders, ASIC, the market (if the target securities are quoted) and the target (bidder).2
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Accessibility

  1. The Panel’s general approach to information in takeover documents is that the information should be accessible to the document’s target audience; that is, it should be written with that audience in mind.3 Long documents and complex drafting reduce accessibility, particularly for retail shareholders. The Panel encourages brevity and plain English.4
  2. While recognising that there are often complexities, information in takeover documents should be presented as clearly, concisely and effectively as possible.5 This does not necessarily involve reducing the amount of information available to shareholders. Accessibility is enhanced by providing key information to the audiences in an effective manner.

A summary section for takeover documents

  1. It is common for a takeover document to include a summary of the offer and the key information at the front of the bidder’s statement or target’s statement. The Panel encourages summaries that are accessible to retail shareholders in particular.
  2. Adoption of the summary section is likely to remove, or reduce, the need for other summary features such as a ‘Q&A’ section.

Length

  1. The length of the summary will depend on the control transaction, but should be short enough to be comprehended quickly.

Appearance

  1. The accessibility of the information is affected by the typeface used, consistency of the font and point size,6 and the arrangement of material on the page (including layout elements, such as the margins and white space between paragraphs).
  2. Headings aid interpretation and navigation. Sub-headings may also be appropriate.

Content and structure of a summary

  1. The contents will depend on the particular case. Attachment A is an example of what the Panel considers most likely to be of importance.7 Consideration should be given to placing more important information in the particular case nearer the front.
  2. It may also improve accessibility to provide cross-references to detailed information in the remainder of the document.8
  3. The summary would most naturally follow the Chairman’s letter.
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Marketing information

  1. Marketing information9 in any takeover document, particularly in the summary section, is the type of information most likely to be read by retail investors. It is intended to be influential. It may include:
    1. a letter to offeree shareholders
    2. the reasons why offeree shareholders should accept (reject) the bid and
    3. ‘repackaged’ information (eg, from other parts of the bidder’s statement or target’s statement such as a ‘Q&A’ section or colour graphics). ‘Repackaged’ information should not be presented in a more persuasive manner than the material from which it is drawn, although fair graphical representation of tabular data is likely to be helpful and not unacceptable.

      Example: it may give rise to unacceptable circumstances if, by the scale adopted, a graphical presentation is unduly persuasive

  2. In the case of a bidder’s statement, marketing information is sometimes prepared separately. If separate, it should nevertheless be:
    1. lodged with ASIC and given to the target when the bidder’s statement is first provided to them10 and
    2. presented in final form as for the offeree shareholders (eg, graphics in their final size, colour and location).
  3. Marketing information in a bidder’s statement may need to be updated before dispatch of the bidder’s statement. Unless the marketing information is genuinely new information, in which case a supplementary bidder’s statement11 or revised bidder’s statement12 may be appropriate, such updated information should be restricted to:
    1. limited, specific information (that has been clearly identified or space allowed for)

      Example: space could be reserved for recent trading information that takes into account the market's response to the proposed bid13

    2. information that is not reasonably considered to be influential.

      Example: a Help Line telephone number

  4. It may give rise to unacceptable circumstances if marketing information is not provided to ASIC and the target (bidder) when the bidder’s statement (target’s statement) is first provided to them.

    Example: marketing information put into a supplementary bidder’s statement that is not given to the target but is dispatched with the bidder’s statement14

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Broker valuation

15
  1. A bidder (target)16 may want to include a broker valuation to indicate that the offer price is at a premium (discount) to the share price or share value. However, there is a risk of a broker valuation misleading or confusing offeree shareholders, giving rise to unacceptable circumstances, if enough information to enable them to assess the weight they should give the valuation is not included.
  2. The Panel considers that, with any broker valuation in a takeover document, there should be clear disclosure of:
    1. the criteria used to select the valuation or valuations and
    2. any potential conflict the broker or brokers may have.17 Larger companies tend to be covered by many brokers, but others may have only one broker covering them because of a relationship (eg, having floated the company). The relationship may affect the broker’s independence, in which case it may not be feasible to use the valuation even with disclosure.
  3. Moreover the broker’s consent18 should be given only if the valuation is used properly and in proper context. When seeking the broker’s consent, the broker should be informed that it should carefully assess what information should accompany the valuation to ensure that it is not misleading or confusing to offeree shareholders.
  4. It may give rise to unacceptable circumstances for a bidder (target) to, for example:
    1. use a broker's valuation but not identify the broker or get its consent or
    2. use a broker's valuation in a document other than a bidder’s statement or target’s statement so as to avoid the requirement for consent.

Aggregating valuations

  1. A bidder (target) may want to aggregate the valuations of a number of brokers into a single average value. The Panel makes no general comment on whether the consent of each is required.19 However, it should be noted that a bidder (target) that aggregates valuations takes responsibility for the entirety of the information provided and not merely responsibility that the average was correctly calculated from its components.
  2. To reduce the risk of an aggregated valuation being misleading or confusing, at least 4 broker valuations should be included in the aggregation and the following information should be disclosed:
    1. the number of broker valuations aggregated
    2. the date range of the valuations
    3. the dispersion of the valuations and total range
    4. the selection criteria for the valuations and why those criteria were used

      Example: “All publicly available valuations known to the bidder for the 3 months prior to the announcement of the bidder’s intention to bid”

    5. whether any valuations were excluded despite fitting the selection criteria, why they were excluded and their effect on the average if included. In general, all valuations that fall within the selection criteria should be used

      Example: A bidder that aggregated the lowest 4 out of 10 available valuations of a target would be likely to mislead offeree shareholders, giving rise to unacceptable circumstances

    6. whether any of the valuations used in the aggregation was made on a different basis to the others (eg, portfolio basis versus whole of company basis)
    7. whether the directors of the bidder (target) adopt the average value20 and
    8. any other material information21

      Example 1. Events since the date of the individual valuations which might reasonably affect them

      2. Whether some of the valuations came from before the announcement of (or speculation of) the bid and some after.

  3. If a valuation is excluded (eg, as an outlier or because of unusual, specific assumptions) this should be explained clearly and the same criteria applied to all valuations (eg, both high and low material outliers should be excluded). The use of an aggregated valuation may not be feasible if there is a risk of selectivity.
  4. A party (eg, a bidder) using an aggregated valuation should consider giving the other party (eg, the target) a list of the valuations that make up the aggregation. This will allow the other party to assess the reasonableness of the average and associated disclosure. Consideration should be given to whether:
    1. the other party needs to agree not to disclose such information publicly without each broker’s consent and
    2. any continuous disclosure obligations arise.
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Premia

  1. A bidder (target) may want to show that the bid price is at a premium (discount) to the share price or share value.22
  2. In a cash bid, the share price of the target will change with the market’s view of the bid (or potential bid), including the likelihood of the bid succeeding and the bid consideration being increased. In a scrip bid, these factors affect also the bidder’s share price. It is therefore important, if comparing the bid consideration to the target’s share price or value, to do so in a way that will not mislead or confuse offeree shareholders.
  3. A statement as to premium (discount) in a takeover document is necessarily a snapshot. For example, often the share price immediately before the announcement of the bid and the bid price are compared. This can be useful for shareholders because the pre-announcement price is less likely to be influenced by the bid. However, unacceptable circumstances may arise if:
    1. the prices at the most recent practicable date are not included.23 This would be the date just before the date of the bidder’s statement or target’s statement; or, if the bidder’s statement or target’s statement is subsequently amended, just before printing. Particular care is needed if the target’s shares are thinly traded24
    2. there is not a clear explanation of the reason for selecting the particular date for the comparison25
    3. the comparison is not like-for-like and the method used to calculate it, if not the most reasonable, is not adequately explained26
    4. statements as to value are included without a reasonable basis for them being disclosed.27
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Intentions

  1. Section 636(1)(c) requires a bidder to include in the bidder’s statement details of its intentions regarding continuation of the business, major changes to be made to the business, and future employment of present employees.
  2. The section does not require intentions to be formed, only that they be disclosed if formed. However, non-disclosure may result in a departure from the principles in ss 602(a) and (b)(iii).28 The types of disclosure that should be considered include:
    1. integration plans or directions, even if imprecise
    2. management expertise and
    3. intended dividend policy.29
  3. The section is not subject to a materiality threshold or a confidentiality carve-out.30
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Recommendations

  1. The Panel encourages target directors to make a recommendation.31 They do not necessarily need to value the target’s shares to do so.32
  2. The basis for a recommendation must be disclosed, must not be misleading and must give offeree shareholders enough information for them to make an informed assessment about whether to accept the offer.33
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Information outside takeovers documents

  1. Unacceptable circumstances can apply in any control transaction.34
  2. The Panel takes the view that the same standard of care and the same standard of disclosure should be applied to any takeover document sent to offeree shareholders as is applied to the formal bidder’s statement or target’s statement.35 Accurate, reliable information and properly reasoned views will best assist offeree shareholders and promote an efficient, competitive and informed market.36
  3. From the time it is apparent to a bidder that it is likely to make a takeover (or becomes apparent to a target that a takeover is imminent), a heightened state of alert regarding all the bidder’s (target’s) public announcements that might influence offeree shareholders should exist.37
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Expert’s report

38
  1. Expert’s reports are required in some situations39 and desirable in others.40 The Panel encourages the use of expert’s reports in appropriate situations, even when not required.41
  2. An expert’s report should be as clear, concise and effective as possible.42 It should be written with the intended audience in mind (in most cases, the offeree shareholders).43 Thus it should set out the expert's conclusions, assumptions and reasons so they are accessible to the target audience.44
  3. While it is a matter for the expert what information to rely on and disclose,45 the basis of the valuation should be set out sufficiently to allow an assessment of its reliability46 and material implications of the transaction terms should be clearly explained.47
  4. Care is needed when using an expert’s report not prepared for the specific purpose.48
  5. An expert’s report that is required to comply, or says it complies, with an industry standard (eg, JORC) must do so.49
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Publication History

First Issue 15 December 2006

Second Issue 20 April 2012

Third Issue 21 July 2014

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GN 5: Specific remedies: information deficiency

GN 22: Recommendations and Undervalue Statements

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Attachment A

Example of a takeover document summary

(Headings may be placed in any appropriate order)

Headings Bidder’s Statement Target’s Statement

Offer consideration

Details of the consideration offered

Describe if the target considers this helpful

Reasons to accept/reject offer

(i) Reasons to accept the offer

(ii) Expert’s conclusion (if one is appointed by bidder)

(i) Reasons to accept/reject the offer

(ii) Expert’s conclusion (if one is appointed by target)

Recommendation50

N/A

Recommendations of the target’s directors (or reasons no recommendation given)

Key dates

(i) Date offer opens

(ii) Date offer closes

(iii) Date bidder must advise status of conditions(iv) Date of payment

(v) A qualification that dates (ii), (iii) and (iv) are correct at the time but the offer may be extended or withdrawn (if applicable)

Describe if the target considers this helpful

Conditions and terms of offer

(i) A summary of the key conditions of the offer

(ii) A description of what happens if the conditions are not fulfilled

(iii) Cross-reference to the full list

(iv) Explain the time when the conditions need to be satisfied and the bidder’s ability to waive its conditions

(v) Explain security holders’ ability or inability to withdraw acceptances

Describe if the target considers this helpful (and must do so if the target thinks conditions not mentioned by the bidder in its summary section are unusual or bid-specific or a condition has been or will be triggered)

Bidder information

Description of the identity of the bidder and its intentions51

Describe if the target considers this helpful

Summary of expert’s report (if any)52

(If the bidder has appointed an expert)

(i) Expert’s conclusion

(ii) Main reasons for the expert’s conclusion

(iii) Cross-reference to the full report and bidder’s statement (where applicable)

(If relevant) the target’s response, if any, to the bidder’s expert’s report(If the target has appointed an expert)

(i) Expert’s conclusion

(ii) Main reasons for the expert’s conclusion

(iii) Cross-reference to the full report and target’s statement (where applicable)

Key risks

A description of the key risks for shareholders if they accept or reject the offer, from the bidder’s viewpoint

A description of the key risks for shareholders if they accept or reject the offer, from the target’s viewpoint

Action to take

How to accept the offer

How to accept or reject the offer, consistent with any directors’ recommendations

Other key issues

(Use of sub-headings here may be helpful)

Description of any unusual features of, or key issues raised by, the offer from the bidder’s viewpoint. Examples - tax issues, foreign scrip issues

Description of any unusual features of, or key issues raised by the offer, from the target’s viewpoint. Example – tax issues, foreign scrip issues
  • 1Sections 602(a) and 602(b)(iii). References are to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) unless otherwise indicated
  • 2Sections 633 and 635
  • 3Tully Sugar Ltd [2009] ATP 26 at [21]; Northern Energy Corporation Limited [2011] ATP 2 at [112]. The audience comprises retail shareholders, institutional shareholders and the market (eg, advisers) and the document should address all their needs
  • 4Procedural Rule 2.1.1 requires documents for the Panel to be succinct, clear and avoid repetition
  • 5In RG 228 (Prospectuses: Effective disclosure for retail investors) ASIC says at [228.24]:

    We consider that your prospectus will generally be ‘clear, concise and effective’ if it:

    (a) highlights key information (e.g. through an investment overview as explained in Section C);
    (b) uses plain language (see Table 3);
    (c) is as short as possible (see RG 228.30-228.45);
    (d) explains complex information, including any technical terms (see Table 3); and
    (e) is logically organised and easy to navigate (see Table 4).

  • 6It should be legible, eg, 10 point
  • 7RG 228 (Prospectuses: Effective disclosure for retail investors), at [228.46]-[228.57], also identifies matters that should be considered in preparing a summary section
  • 8Particular information may be important enough to be included under ‘Other key issues’ in the summary rather than simply cross-referred
  • 9This information was often separately printed and “wrapped” around the bidder's statement when sent to offeree shareholders (ie a “Wrap”). Wrap information is, generally, now incorporated in the bidder's statement. If information is to be provided in a ‘Wrap’, it should be dealt with in the same way as information in the bidder’s statement: Southcorp Limited [2005] ATP 4
  • 10Target directors must have a reasonable time to consider a proposal under which a person proposes to acquire a substantial interest in the company: s602(b)(ii)
  • 11Section 643
  • 12ASIC Class order 00/344
  • 13By analogy, ASIC Class Order 01/1543 allows the copy bidder’s statement provided to ASIC, ASX and the target to exclude, among other things, the date of the proposed offer
  • 14The purpose of a supplementary bidder’s statement is the disclosure of new information, not the disclosure of information withheld from the target or ASIC until dispatch of the original bidder’s statement
  • 15“Price recommendations” may be a more accurate description
  • 16Also other entities in respect of other control transaction disclosure documents
  • 17Brokers are required to have adequate arrangements for the management of conflicts of interest: s912A(1)(aa)
  • 18Section 636(3)
  • 19The Panel considered that it was not required in the circumstances in Southcorp Limited [2005] ATP 4 at [10]
  • 20Origin Energy Limited 02 [2008] ATP 23 at [20]
  • 21See also paragraph on conflicts
  • 22See also section on broker valuations
  • 23General Property Trust [2004] ATP 30; Programmed Maintenance Services Limited [2008] ATP 7 at [24] ]; Minemakers Limited [2012] ATP 8 at [56]
  • 24Queensland Ores Limited [2009] ATP 8
  • 25Magna Pacific (Holdings) Limited [2007] ATP 2 at [46] ; Minemakers Limited [2012] ATP 8 at [56]
  • 26Programmed Maintenance Services Limited 02 [2008] ATP 9 at [35]; Minemakers Limited [2012] ATP 8 at [56]
  • 27Tully Sugar Ltd [2009] ATP 26 at [18]; Minemakers Limited [2012] ATP 8 at [56]
  • 28Mildura Co-operative Fruit Company Limited [2004] ATP 5 at [87], although the Panel noted the relevant intentions and special nature of the company as a cooperative
  • 29Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group Limited 01 [2004] ATP 19, which concerned disclosure should the bidder obtain a relevant interest in more than 50% but less than 90% of the shares, the bid being subject to a 50.1% minimum acceptance condition
  • 30National Foods Limited 01 [2005] ATP 8 at [40]
  • 31See s638(3); GN 22 (Recommendations and Undervalue Statements)
  • 32Guidance as to the value of the target is usually required: See GN 22 at paragraph [18]. Moreover, it may be desirable or necessary to get expert advice in certain cases, such as if there is no earnings history
  • 33Tully Sugar Limited 01R [2010] ATP 1 at [16]
  • 34Section 657A. See GN 1 (Unacceptable circumstances)
  • 35GN 5 at [17]; Universal Resources Limited [2005] ATP 6 at [16]; Consolidated Minerals Limited 01 [2007] ATP 20 at [75]; Programmed Maintenance Services Limited 02 [2008] ATP 9 at [20]; Foster's Group Limited [2011] ATP 15 at [24]-[25]; Alesco Corporation Limited 01 and 02 [2012] ATP 14 at [31]-[32]
  • 36Programmed Maintenance Services Limited 02 [2008] ATP 9 at [18]. An example involving a listing statement under s625 is Premium Income Fund [2011] ATP 10 at [44]
  • 37Foster's Group Limited [2011] ATP 15 at [34]
  • 38See also ASIC RG 111 (Content of expert reports) and RG 112 (Independence of experts)
  • 39For example s 636(2), s 640
  • 40For example, Sirtex Medical Ltd [2003] ATP 22 at [66]
  • 41Note that consent is required: s636(3); s638(5)
  • 42See also ASIC RG 111 (Content of expert reports) at [111.84]
  • 43Northern Energy Corporation Limited [2011] ATP 2 at [111]-[112]
  • 44Bowen Energy Limited 02R [2009] ATP 19 at [71]; Northern Energy Corporation Limited [2011] ATP 2 at [98]
  • 45Queensland Gas Company Limited [2006] ATP 36 at [39]; see also Minemakers Limited 02 [2012] ATP 13 at [20] and Minemakers Limited 02R [2012] ATP 16 at [10]-[11]
  • 46Goodman Fielder 02 [2003] ATP 5 at [70]; Bowen Energy Limited 02R [2009] ATP 19 at [80]
  • 47Becker Group Limited 01 [2007] ATP 13 at [91]-[94]
  • 48Great Mines Limited [2004] ATP 1
  • 49Namakwa Diamond Company NL 02 [2001] ATP 9; Bowen Energy Limited 02R [2009] ATP 19; Northern Energy Corporation Limited [2011] ATP 2
  • 50See paragraph 38 and following
  • 51See paragraph 35 and following. The bidder may need to provide a cross reference to parts of its bidder’s statement
  • 52See paragraph 43 and following
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