Panel Receives Application to Review ASIC Decision in Federation Bid for Pinnacle

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has received an application by Federation Group Ltd for a review of a decision by ASIC to decline to modify the Corporations Law to allow Federation to exercise options in Pinnacle. Federation would currently breach the 20% threshold if it exercised the options. The Panel received the application on Thursday 25 January.

Panel Declares Circumstances Unacceptable in Relation to RP Data's Bid for Realestate.com.au Ltd

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has today declared that unacceptable circumstances existed in relation to a takeover bid by two companies associated with RP Data Ltd (RP Data) for all the shares in Realestate.com.au Ltd. The declaration is in response to an application from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission made on 30 November, 2000.

Pinnacle VRB Ltd 10

An application under section 657C of the Corporations Act by Mr David Pethard and Ronay Investments Pty Ltd for a declaration of unacceptable circumstances, interim orders and final orders from the Panel in relation to Vanteck (VRB) Technology Corp’s (Vanteck) takeover bid (the Bid) for Pinnacle VRB Limited (Pinnacle). The Panel has declared that unacceptable circumstances exist, and has made orders unwinding the Disputed Acceptances.

Taipan Resources NL 06

These are the reasons for our decision, in relation to an application for review by Troy Resources NL under section 656A of the Corporations Law, to affirm the decisions of ASIC dated 2 November 2000 and 5 December 2000 under section 655A of the Corporations Law in relation to a takeover bid by Troy Resources NL for Taipan Resources NL.

  1. The sitting Panel in this matter comprises Simon McKeon (President), Ian Ramsay (sitting Deputy President) and Denis Byrne.

     

Taipan Resources NL 05

These are the reasons for our decision to affirm the decision of ASIC dated 1 December 2000 in relation to the dispatch of the target's statement of Taipan Resources NL on the application for review by Troy Resources NL under section 656A of the Corporations Law.

Panel Declines Application by Taipan in Relation to Troy Announcement of Further Bid

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has declined an application from Taipan Resources for a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to Troy Resources' announcement of 13 December. Troy has announced that it intends to allow its previous bid for Taipan to lapse and to make another offer that is not conditional on the merger between St Barbara and Taipan not proceeding. It's previous bid contained this condition.

Application by Taipan Resources in Relation to Troy Resources' Bidder's Statement

The Takeovers Panel advises that it has declined to make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to Troy Resources bidder's statement dated 2 November in its first takeover bid for Taipan Resources. This formalises the Panel's advice to parties on 13 December that it saw little value in further enquiries in the matter. On 16 November, the Panel announced that it had declined to restrain dispatch of Troy's bidder's statement. Taipan applied to the Panel on 16 November.

Application by Taipan Resources in Relation to Troy Resources Announcement of Further Bid

The Takeovers Panel advises that today, it has received an application from Taipan Resources for a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to Troy Resource's announcement of 13 December that it intends to allow its current, conditional bid for Taipan to lapse and to make another unconditional offer shortly.

Taipan is seeking a declaration of unacceptable circumstances, and both interim and final orders. The alternative orders that Taipan is seeking the Panel to make include:

Panel Declines Application by Troy on Issue of Taipan Shares

The Takeovers Panel advises that yesterday evening it declined an application from Troy Resources in relation to the issue of up to 25 million shares in Taipan Resources approved at the Taipan AGM on 30 November. Troy applied on 29 November.

Troy had sought an interim order restraining the issue of the shares, pending the decision of the Panel on Troy's application for a declaration of unacceptable circumstances. Troy asserted that the issue of shares, at this time, would, in the absence of other strong reasons, be for the purpose of impeding Troy's takeover.