The need for an efficient, competitive and informed market is a central aim of the regulation of takeovers in Australia. The Corporations and Securities Panel has a role to play in achieving that aim. The Panel is charged with responsibility for determining whether conduct in relation to takeovers has been unacceptable according to principles embodied in legislation, the origins of which can be traced back to the Report of the Eggleston Committee in 1969.

On 4 July 1991 the Australian Securities Commission (ASC) made application to the Corporations and Securities Panel (Panel) seeking declarations under Section 733(3) of the Corporations Law in relation to certain acquisitions of shares in Titan Hills Australia Ltd. (Titan Hills) and Precision Data Holdings Ltd. (PDHL) and conduct engaged in by certain persons in relation to the specified acquisitions.

The Panel, Diana Chang, Mark Darras and Anthony Sweetman (sitting President), declined to conduct proceedings on an application by Knights Capital Group Limited in relation to its affairs. The application concerned whether a registered holder of shares in Knights was a bare trustee under s609(2) and, if not, whether acquisitions of shares in Knights contravened s606. The issue arose in the context of resolutions to be put at Knights' 2012 annual general meeting involving the replacement of two non-executive directors with three new directors. The Panel accepted an undertaking offered by the registered holder and decided there was no reasonable prospect that it would declare the circumstances unacceptable. The Panel also considered that the application was not timely.

Introduction

1. The Panel, Tracey Horton, Ron Malek (sitting President) and John Sheahan QC, declined to make a declaration of unacceptable circumstances in relation to the affairs of Ainsworth Game Technology Limited after accepting undertakings.