The Panel today published the reasons for its decision on an application dated 14 December 2010 from Viento Group Limited in relation to its affairs.

The Panel has declined to make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in response to an application dated 10 January 2010 from Brockman Resources Limited (see TP11/04). Wah Nam International Holdings Limited has made a takeover bid for Brockman, which is scheduled to close on 16 February 2010.

The President of the Panel made interim orders in this matter on 13 January 2011 (see TP11/06).

The Panel has considered a request to vary the Panel's orders dated 13 January 2011 to allow disposals of their shares in Brockman.

The Panel made a declaration of unacceptable circumstances on 13 January 2011 in relation to an application dated 14 December 2010 by Viento Group in relation to its affairs (see TP10/73 and TP11/05).

The Panel has accepted an undertaking from Northern Energy to make corrective disclosure and has declined to make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in response to an application dated 10 December 2010 from Arkdale Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of New Hope Corporation Limited, in relation to the affairs of Northern Energy Corporation Ltd. Northern Energy is the subject of an off-market cash takeover bid by Arkdale (see TP10/70).

On 31 August 2010, Simon McKeon retired from his position as President of the Australian Government Takeovers Panel.

The Acting President of the Panel has made interim orders in response to an application dated 10 January 2011 by Brockman Resources Limited in relation to its affairs.

The Panel has made a declaration of unacceptable circumstances (Annexure A) in relation to an application dated 14 December 2010 by Viento Group Limited in relation to its affairs (see TP10/73).

The Panel has received an application from Brockman Resources Limited in relation to its affairs.  Brockman is currently the subject of an off-market takeover bid by Wah Nam International Holdings Limited, announced on 10 November 2010.

On 30 December 2010, the Panel received an application from Crane Group Limited for an interim order restraining dispatch of a bidder's statement by Fletcher Building (Australia) Pty Ltd in relation to a bid for Crane Group. Crane Group and Fletcher Building were able to negotiate changes to the bidder's statement without involvement of the Panel. Therefore it was not necessary to make an interim order.