The Takeovers Panel advises that it has received an application dated 2 December 2005 from Lion Nathan Limited and Lion Nathan Australia Pty Limited (together Lion Nathan) in relation to the off-market takeover offer by Lion Nathan Australia Pty Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lion Nathan Limited, of Coopers Brewery Limited (Coopers).

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has today made an interim order restraining the holding of the Extraordinary General Meeting (Constitution EGM) of Coopers Brewery Limited (Coopers) due to be held at 10.00 a.m. ACDT on Tuesday 29 November 2005. The Panel advised it would have no objection to the EGM being held in conjunction with the further EGM (Buy-back EGM) proposed for 7 December 2005 provided Coopers issues a corrective statement, approved by the Panel, giving Coopers shareholders sufficient time to consider the corrective statement before the Constitution EGM. The Panel made no orders restraining the holding of Coopers AGM which is due to be held on 29 November 2005.

The Panel advises that the Federal Court of Australia yesterday handed down temporary orders in relation to an application by Glencore International A.G. and Fornax Investments Limited (together, Glencore) for review of the Takeovers Panel's decision in Austral Coal Limited 02RR.

The Panel announces today that it has received notice of an application to the Federal Court of Australia for review of the Panel's decision to make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances and final orders in relation to the Austral Coal Limited 02RR matter (see Media Releases TP05/75 and TP05/78).

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has received an application dated 21 November 2005 from Lion Nathan Limited and Lion Nathan Australia Pty Limited (together Lion Nathan) in relation to the off-market takeover offer by Lion Nathan Australia Pty Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lion Nathan Limited, of Coopers Brewery Limited (Coopers).

The Takeovers Panel has now made orders in the matter of Austral Coal 02RR and released its reasons for making a declaration of unacceptable circumstances and orders in that matter. Under the orders, with one exception everyone who sold Austral Coal shares on ASX from 22 March to 4 April (inclusive) will receive a payment of about 5 cents per share, from an amount of $1.3 million to be paid by Glencore.

The Takeovers Panel has today released an Issues Paper seeking public comment on the circumstances in which the Panel may consider whether or not unacceptable circumstances exist in relation to collateral benefits in takeovers transactions. The purpose of the Issues Paper is to facilitate discussion among, and obtain feedback from, market participants and investors who may be affected by any guidance which the Panel publishes on collateral benefits, or otherwise have an interest in such guidance.

The Takeovers Panel has today released a draft Guidance Note seeking public comment on the circumstances in which the Panel may consider whether or not unacceptable circumstances exist in relation to a rights issue which has the potential to have an effect on control of a company1. The purpose of the draft Guidance Note is to facilitate discussion among, and obtain feedback from, market participants and investors who may be affected by any guidance which the Panel publishes on rights issues, or otherwise have an interest in such guidance.

The Takeovers Panel today made a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to the affairs of Austral Coal Limited, in the Austral Coal 02RR proceedings which were remitted to the Panel by the Federal Court on 14 September 2005.