Panel Declines Application in Relation to Ashton Mining

The Takeovers Panel advises that it will not make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to the affairs of Ashton Mining Limited in response to an application made by De Beers Australia Holdings Pty Ltd. on Friday, 29 September.

The Panel has also declined to make any interim order under section 657E of the Corporations Law restraining Rio Tinto from dispatching its bidder's statement to Ashton shareholders.

Application in relation to St Barbara Mines Limited

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has received an application on 27 September 2000 by shareholders of St Barbara Mines Limited for a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to the proposed merger of St Barbara and Taipan Resources NL which was announced on 13 June 2000. Under the proposed scheme of arrangement each St Barbara shareholder (other than Taipan) will receive three Taipan shares for each St Barbara share held. Similar terms will be offered to St Barbara optionholders.

Panel Receives Application in Relation to Ashton Mining

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has received an application by De Beers Australia Holdings Pty Ltd for a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to the affairs of Ashton Mining Limited.

De Beers has applied for an interim order under section 657E of the Corporations Law to restrain Rio Tinto from dispatching its bidder's statement to Ashton shareholders until it is amended.

De Beers alleges that the following circumstances constitute unacceptable circumstances in relation to the affairs of Ashton:

Panel Declines Application in Relation to Advance Property Fund

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has today resolved not to make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to the affairs of Advance Property Fund (Advance ). This follows an application by Mirvac Funds Limited (Mirvac ) on 18 September 2000 for such a declaration.

The members of the sitting Panel are Ian Ramsay (sitting President), Alice McCleary (deputy President) and Jennifer Seabrook.