C2004C00963
|
|
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998
Compilation Information

Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998
Act No. 55 of 1998 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 2 July 2003 taking into account amendments
up to Act No. 42 of 2003
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in
the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by
application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting, Attorney-General's
Department, Canberra
Long Title
An Act relating to shareholdings in certain financial
sector companies, and for related purposes
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 1Preliminary
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 1 Short title [see Note 1]
This Act may be cited as the Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 2 Commencement [see Note 1]
This Act commences on the commencement of the Australian Prudential
Regulation Authority Act 1998.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 3 Definitions
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
100% subsidiary has the same meaning as in the Income Tax
Assessment Act 1997.
agreement means any agreement, whether formal or informal and
whether express or implied.
Australia, when used in a geographical sense, includes the
external Territories.
authorised deposit-taking institution has the same meaning as in
the Banking Act 1959.
authorised insurance company means:
- (a)
- a company authorised under the Insurance Act 1973 to carry on
insurance business; or
- (b)
- a company registered under the Life Insurance Act 1995.
company means a body corporate.
Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.
financial sector company means:
- (a)
- an authorised deposit-taking institution; or
- (b)
- an authorised insurance company; or
- (c)
- a holding company of a company covered by paragraph (a) or (b).
holding company has the meaning given by section 4.
scheme means:
- (a)
- any agreement, arrangement, understanding, promise or undertaking, whether
express or implied and whether or not enforceable, or intended to be
enforceable, by legal proceedings; and
- (b)
- any scheme, plan, proposal, action, course of action or course of conduct,
whether unilateral or otherwise.
Back to Top
unacceptable shareholding situation has the meaning
given by section 10.
Note: Schedule 1 sets out definitions of expressions used in
Part 2 (which deals with restrictions on shareholdings).
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 4 Holding companies
For the purposes of this Act, a company (the first company) is
the holding company of another company if the other company is a
100% subsidiary of the first company.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 5 Crown to be bound
- (1)
- This Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the
States, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory and of
Norfolk Island.
- (2)
- This Act does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 6 External Territories
This Act extends to all the external Territories.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 7 Extra-territorial operation
This Act extends to acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 2Restrictions on shareholdings in financial sector companies
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Division 1Introduction
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 8 Simplified outline
The following is a simplified outline of this Part:
* Financial sector companies are subject to a 15% shareholding limit.
The Treasurer may approve a higher percentage limit on national interest
grounds.
* Those limits relate to a person's stake in a company.
* A person's stake is the aggregate of the person's voting
power and the voting power of the person's associates.
* A person whose stake in a financial sector company does not exceed 15%
may be declared by the Treasurer to have practical control of the
company.
* The person covered by the declaration must take steps to ensure that the
person does not have:
(a) a stake that exceeds 15%; or
(b) practical control.
* The regulations may require records to be kept, and information to be
given, for purposes relating to the restrictions on shareholdings.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 9 Definitions in Schedule 1
Schedule 1 sets out definitions of expressions used in this Part.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Division 215% shareholding limit
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 10 Meaning of unacceptable shareholding situation
For the purposes of this Act, an unacceptable shareholding
situation exists in relation to a particular financial sector company
and in relation to a particular person if the person holds a stake in the
company of more than:
Back to Top
- (a)
- 15%; or
- (b)
- if an approval of a higher percentage is in force under Division 3 in
relation to the company and in relation to the personthat higher percentage.
Note: A person's stake includes the interests of
the person's associatessee Schedule 1.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 11 Acquisitions of shares
If:
- (a)
- a person, or 2 or more persons under an arrangement, acquire shares in a
company; and
- (b)
- the acquisition has the result, in relation to a financial sector company,
that:
- (i)
- an unacceptable shareholding situation comes into existence in relation to
the company and in relation to a person; or
- (ii)
- if an unacceptable shareholding situation already exists in relation to
the company and in relation to a personthere is an increase in the stake held
by the person in the company; and
- (c)
- the person or persons mentioned in paragraph (a) were reckless as to
whether the acquisition would have that result;
the person or persons mentioned in paragraph (a) are guilty of an
offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding 400 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 12 Remedial orders
- (1)
- If an unacceptable shareholding situation exists in relation to a
financial sector company, the Federal Court may, on application by the
Treasurer or the company, make such orders as the court considers appropriate
for the purpose of ensuring that that situation ceases to exist.
- (2)
- If an unacceptable shareholding situation has existed in relation to a
financial sector company, the Federal Court may, on application by the
Treasurer or the company, make such orders as the court considers
appropriate.
- (3)
- The Federal Court's orders include:
- (a)
- an order directing the disposal of shares; or
- (b)
- an order restraining the exercise of any rights attached to shares; or
- (c)
- an order prohibiting or deferring the payment of any sums due to a person
in respect of shares held by the person; or
- (d)
- an order that any exercise of rights attached to shares be disregarded.
- (4)
- Subsection (3) does not, by implication, limit subsection (1) or
(2).
- (5)
- In addition to the Federal Court's powers under subsections (1), (2)
and (3), the court:
- (a)
- has power, for the purpose of securing compliance with any other order
made under this section, to make an order directing any person to do or refrain
from doing a specified act; and
- (b)
- has power to make an order containing such ancillary or consequential
provisions as the court thinks just.
Back to Top
- (6)
- The Federal Court may, before making an order under this section, direct
that notice of the application be given to such persons as it thinks fit or be
published in such manner as it thinks fit, or both.
- (7)
- The Federal Court may, by order, rescind, vary or discharge an order made
by it under this section or suspend the operation of such an order.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Division 3Approval to exceed 15% shareholding limit
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 13 Application for approval to exceed 15% shareholding limit
- (1)
- A person may apply to the Treasurer for approval to hold a stake in a
particular financial sector company of more than 15%.
- (2)
- The application must:
- (a)
- specify the percentage of the stake (if any) the person currently holds in
the financial sector company; and
- (b)
- specify the percentage of the stake the person is seeking approval to hold
in the company; and
- (c)
- set out the person's reasons for making the application; and
- (d)
- be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 14 Approval of application
- (1)
- If the applicant satisfies the Treasurer that it is in the national
interest to approve the applicant holding a stake in the company of more than
15%, the Treasurer may grant the application.
Grant of application
- (2)
- If the Treasurer grants the application, the Treasurer must:
- (a)
- give written notice of the approval to the applicant; and
- (b)
- specify the percentage of the stake the Treasurer approves the applicant
holding in the company (which may not be the percentage the applicant applied
for); and
- (c)
- either:
- (i)
- specify the period during which the approval remains in force; or
- (ii)
- specify that the approval remains in force indefinitely.
Refusal of application
- (3)
- If the Treasurer refuses the application, the Treasurer must give written
notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Notification of approval
- (4)
- The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of approval under this
section to be:
- (a)
- published in the Gazette; and
- (b)
- given to the company concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 15 Duration of approval
- (1)
- An approval under section 14 remains in force:
- (a)
- if the notice of approval specifies a period during which the approval
remains in forceuntil the end of that period, or if the Treasurer extends
that period, until the end of that extended period; or
- (b)
- otherwiseindefinitely.
Back to Top
Extension of approval
- (2)
- A person who holds an approval under section 14 that is in force for
a specified period may apply to the Treasurer to extend that period.
- (3)
- The application must:
- (a)
- set out the person's reasons for making the application; and
- (b)
- be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
- (4)
- If the applicant satisfies the Treasurer that it is in the national
interest to grant the extension, the Treasurer may grant the application.
- (5)
- If the Treasurer grants the application, the Treasurer must:
- (a)
- give written notice of the extension to the applicant; and
- (b)
- specify the extended period during which the approval remains in force
(which may not be the period the applicant applied for).
- (6)
- If the Treasurer refuses the application, the Treasurer must give written
notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Notification of extension
- (7)
- The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of extension under this
section to be:
- (a)
- published in the Gazette; and
- (b)
- given to the financial sector company concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 16 Conditions of approval
- (1)
- An approval under section 14 is subject to such conditions (if any)
as are specified in the notice of approval.
- (2)
- The Treasurer may, by written notice given to a person who holds an
approval under section 14:
- (a)
- impose one or more conditions or further conditions to which the approval
is subject; or
- (b)
- revoke or vary any condition:
- (i)
- imposed under paragraph (a); or
- (ii)
- specified in the notice of approval.
Procedures
- (3)
- The Treasurer's power under subsection (2) may be exercised:
- (a)
- on the Treasurer's own initiative; or
- (b)
- on application made to the Treasurer by the person who holds the approval.
- (4)
- An application made by a person under paragraph (3)(b) must:
- (a)
- set out the person's reasons for making the application; and
- (b)
- be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
- (5)
- If the Treasurer refuses an application under paragraph (3)(b), the
Treasurer must give written notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Back to Top
Notification
- (6)
- The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice under
subsection (2) to be:
- (a)
- published in the Gazette; and
- (b)
- given to the financial sector company concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 17 Varying percentage stake approved
Application by holder of approval
- (1)
- A person who holds an approval under section 14 may apply to the
Treasurer to vary the percentage specified in the approval.
- (2)
- The application must:
- (a)
- specify the percentage of the stake the person currently holds in the
financial sector company concerned; and
- (b)
- specify the percentage of the stake the person is seeking approval to hold
in the company; and
- (c)
- set out the person's reasons for making the application; and
- (d)
- be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
- (3)
- If the applicant satisfies the Treasurer that it is in the national
interest to vary the percentage, the Treasurer may grant the application.
- (4)
- If the Treasurer grants the application, the Treasurer must:
- (a)
- give written notice of the variation to the applicant; and
- (b)
- specify the variation granted (which may not be the variation the
applicant applied for).
- (5)
- If the Treasurer refuses an application, the Treasurer must give written
notice of the refusal to the applicant.
Treasurer's own initiative
- (6)
- The Treasurer may, by written notice given to a person who holds an
approval under section 14, vary the percentage specified in the approval
if the Treasurer is satisfied that it is in the national interest to do so.
Percentage varied upwards
- (7)
- If the Treasurer varies a percentage upwards, the variation takes effect
on the day the notice of variation is given.
Percentage varied downwards
- (8)
- If the Treasurer varies a percentage downwards, the variation takes effect
on the day specified in the notice of variation. The specified day must be a
day at least 90 days after the day on which the notice is given.
Notification of variation
- (9)
- The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of variation under this
section to be:
- (a)
- published in the Gazette; and
- (b)
- given to the financial sector company concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 18 Revoking an approval
Revocation on specified grounds
Back to Top
- (1)
- The Treasurer may, by written notice given to a person who holds an
approval under section 14 in relation to a financial sector company,
revoke the approval if the Treasurer is satisfied that:
- (a)
- it is in the national interest to do so; or
- (b)
- an unacceptable shareholding situation exists in relation to the financial
sector company and in relation to the person; or
- (c)
- there has been a contravention of a condition to which the approval is
subject.
- (2)
- The revocation takes effect on the day specified in the notice of
revocation. The specified day must be a day at least 90 days after the day on
which the notice is given.
Revocation on request
- (3)
- If a person who holds an approval under section 14 requests the
Treasurer to revoke the approval, the Treasurer must, by written notice given
to the person, revoke the approval. The revocation takes effect on the day
specified in the notice of revocation.
Notification of revocation
- (4)
- The Treasurer must arrange for a copy of a notice of revocation under this
section to be:
- (a)
- published in the Gazette; and
- (b)
- given to the financial sector company concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 19 Flow-on approvals
100% subsidiaries of holding company
- (1)
- If:
- (a)
- at a particular time, a person holds an approval under section 14 to
hold a stake in a financial sector company of more than 15%; and
- (b)
- the financial sector company is a holding company of an authorised
deposit-taking institution or an authorised insurance company;
there are taken to be in force at that time approvals of the Treasurer,
under section 14, for the person to hold the same percentage stake in each
financial sector company that is a 100% subsidiary of the holding company.
- (2)
- If, on a particular day, a financial sector company that is a 100%
subsidiary of the holding company ceases to be a 100% subsidiary of the holding
company, the approval that is taken to be in force, because of
subsection (1), in relation to that financial sector company continues in
force until:
- (a)
- the end of 90 days after that day; or
- (b)
- if, during that period of 90 days, the person becomes the holder of
another approval under section 14 in relation to the financial sector
companythat other approval comes into force.
Officers of company
- (3)
- If, at a particular time, a company (the approval company)
holds an approval under section 14 to hold a stake in a financial sector
company of more than 15%, there is taken to be in force at that time an
approval of the Treasurer, under section 14, for each officer of the
approval company to hold the same percentage stake in the financial sector
company.
Back to Top
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 20 Further information about applications
- (1)
- This section applies to an application under this Division.
- (2)
- The Treasurer may, by written notice given to the applicant, require the
applicant to give the Treasurer, within a specified period, further information
about the application.
- (3)
- The Treasurer may refuse to consider the application until the applicant
gives the Treasurer the information.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 21 Electronic lodgment of applications
- (1)
- The Treasurer may require or permit an application under this Division to
be given, in accordance with specified software requirements and specified
authentication requirements:
- (a)
- on a specified kind of data storage device; or
- (b)
- by way of a specified kind of electronic transmission.
- (2)
- If an application is given by way of electronic transmission, the
application is taken to be accompanied by a fee if the fee is paid within 7
days after the transmission.
(3) In this section:
data storage device means any article or material (for example, a
disk) from which information is capable of being reproduced with or without the
aid of any other article or device.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Division 4Practical control where 15% shareholding limit
not exceeded
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 22 Meaning of control
In this Division:
control includes control as a result of, or by means of, trusts,
agreements, arrangements, understandings and practices, whether or not having
legal or equitable force and whether or not based on legal or equitable rights.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 23 Treasurer may declare person to have practical control of a financial sector company
Declaration
- (1)
- If:
- (a)
- the Treasurer is satisfied that:
- (i)
- the directors of a financial sector company are accustomed or under an
obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the
directions, instructions or wishes of a person (either alone or together with
associates); or
- (ii)
- a person (either alone or together with associates) is in a position to
exercise control over a financial sector company; and
- (b)
- the Treasurer is satisfied that:
- (i)
- the person does not have any stake in the company; or
- (ii)
- if the person has a stake in the companythat stake is not more than
15%; and
Back to Top
- (c)
- the Treasurer is satisfied that it is in the national interest to declare
that the person has practical control of the company for the purposes of this
Act;
the Treasurer may declare that the person has practical
control of the company for the purposes of this Act.
Declaration has effect
- (2)
- A declaration under this section has effect accordingly.
Revocation of declaration
- (3)
- The Treasurer must revoke a declaration under this section if the
Treasurer ceases to be satisfied of the matters referred to in
paragraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c).
Notification of declaration
- (4)
- If a declaration under this section is made or revoked, the Treasurer must
arrange for a copy of the declaration or revocation to be given to the
financial sector company and the person concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 24 Requirement to relinquish practical control or reduce stake
- (1)
- If a person has practical control of a financial sector company, the
person must take such steps as are necessary to ensure that:
- (a)
- the directors of the company are not accustomed or under an obligation,
whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions,
instructions or wishes of the person (either alone or together with
associates); and
- (b)
- the person (either alone or together with associates) is not in a position
to exercise control over the company; and
- (c)
- either:
- (i)
- the person does not have any stake in the company; or
- (ii)
- if the person has a stake in the companythat stake is not more than 15%.
Note: Practical control has the meaning given by
section 23.
- (2)
- The person must take those steps:
- (a)
- within 90 days after receiving the copy of the most recent declaration
under section 23 relating to the practical control of the company; or
- (b)
- if the Treasurer, by written notice given to the person, allows a longer
period for compliancebefore the end of that longer period.
- (3)
- A person is guilty of an offence if:
- (a)
- the person is subject to a requirement under this section; and
- (b)
- the person intentionally or recklessly contravenes the requirement.
Penalty: 400 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
Back to Top
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 25 Remedial orders
- (1)
- If:
- (a)
- a declaration under section 23 is in force in relation to a person
and in relation to a financial sector company; and
- (b)
- the Federal Court is satisfied that:
- (i)
- the directors of the company are accustomed or under an obligation,
whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions,
instructions or wishes of the person (either alone or together with
associates); or
- (ii)
- the person (either alone or together with associates) is in a position to
exercise control over the company; and
- (c)
- the Federal Court is satisfied that:
- (i)
- the person does not have any stake in the company; or
- (ii)
- if the person has a stake in the companythat stake is not more than 15%;
the court may, on application by the Treasurer, make such orders as the
court considers appropriate to ensure that:
- (d)
- the directors of the company are not accustomed or under an obligation,
whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions,
instructions or wishes of the person (either alone or together with
associates); and
- (e)
- the person (either alone or together with associates) is not in a position
to exercise control over the company; and
- (f)
- either:
- (i)
- the person does not have any stake in the company; or
- (ii)
- if the person has a stake in the companythat stake is not more than 15%.
- (2)
- The Federal Court's orders include:
- (a)
- an order directing the disposal of shares; or
- (b)
- an order restraining the exercise of any rights attached to shares; or
- (c)
- an order prohibiting or deferring the payment of any sums due to a person
in respect of shares held by the person; or
- (d)
- an order that any exercise of rights attached to shares be disregarded.
- (3)
- Subsection (2) does not, by implication, limit subsection (1).
- (4)
- In addition to the Federal Court's powers under subsections (1) and
(2), the court:
- (a)
- has power, for the purpose of securing compliance with any other order
made under this section, to make an order directing any person to do or refrain
from doing a specified act; and
- (b)
- has power to make an order containing such ancillary or consequential
provisions as the court thinks just.
- (5)
- The Federal Court may, before making an order under this section, direct
that notice of the Treasurer's application be given to such persons as it
thinks fit or be published in such manner as it thinks fit, or both.
- (6)
- The Federal Court may, by order, rescind, vary or discharge an order made
by it under this section or suspend the operation of such an order.
Back to Top
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Division 5Record-keeping and giving of information
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 26 Record-keeping and giving of information
- (1)
- The regulations may make provision for and in relation to requiring a
person:
- (a)
- to keep and retain records, where the records are relevant to an ownership
matter; and
- (b)
- to give information to the Treasurer that is relevant to an ownership
matter; or
- (c)
- to give information to a financial sector company, where the information
is relevant to an ownership matter that concerns the company.
Note: Ownership matter is defined by
subsection (6).
Statutory declarations
- (2)
- The regulations may provide that information given in accordance with a
requirement covered by paragraph (1)(b) or (c) must be verified by
statutory declaration.
No self-incrimination
- (3)
- An individual is not required to give information in accordance with a
requirement covered by paragraph (1)(b) or (c) if the information might
tend to incriminate the individual or expose the individual to a penalty.
Offence
- (4)
- A person is guilty of an offence if:
- (a)
- the person is subject to a requirement covered by paragraph (1)(a),
- (b)
- or (c); and
- (b)
- the person intentionally or recklessly contravenes the requirement.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
Regulations may confer discretionary powers on the Treasurer
- (5)
- Regulations made for the purposes of this section may make provision for
or in relation to a matter by conferring a power on the Treasurer. For example,
the regulations could provide that the Treasurer may, by written notice given
to a financial sector company, require the company to give the Treasurer,
within the period and in the manner specified in the notice, specified
information about an ownership matter relating to the company.
Definition
- (6)
- For the purposes of this section, each of the following matters is an
ownership matter:
- (a)
- whether a person holds a stake in a financial sector company and, if so,
the percentage of that stake;
- (b)
- whether the directors of a financial sector company are accustomed or
under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the
directions, instructions or wishes of a person (either alone or together with
associates);
- (c)
- whether a person (either alone or together with associates) is in a
position to exercise control over a financial sector company.
Back to Top
For this purpose, control has the same meaning as in
section 22.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Division 6Ancillary matters
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 27 Provision to attract the corporations power, the banking power and the insurance power
- (1)
- This Part does not apply in relation to a financial sector company unless
the company is:
- (a)
- a constitutional corporation (other than a corporation that carries on
State banking, or State insurance, not extending beyond the limits of the State
concerned); or
- (b)
- a body corporate that carries on the business of banking; or
- (c)
- a body corporate that carries on the business of insurance.
Severability
- (2)
- Without prejudice to its effect apart from this subsection,
subsection (1) also has the effect it would have if:
- (a)
- the reference in paragraph (1)(b) to a body corporate that carries on
the business of banking were, by express provision, confined to a body
corporate that carries on as its sole or principal business the business of
banking; and
- (b)
- the reference in paragraph (1)(c) to a body corporate that carries on
the business of insurance were, by express provision, confined to a body
corporate that carries on as its sole or principal business the business of
insurance.
Definitions
- (3)
- In this section:
business of banking does not include State banking not extending
beyond the limits of the State concerned.
business of insurance does not include State insurance not
extending beyond the limits of the State concerned.
constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph
51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 28 Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws
It is the intention of the Parliament that this Part is not to apply to the
exclusion of a law of a State or Territory to the extent that that law is
capable of operating concurrently with this Part.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 29 Validity of acts done in contravention of this Part
An act is not invalidated by the fact that it constitutes an offence against
this Part.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 30 Acquisition of property
- (1)
- The Federal Court must not make an order under this Part if:
- (a)
- the order would result in the acquisition of property from a person
otherwise than on just terms; and
- (b)
- the order would be invalid because of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the
Constitution.
Back to Top
- (2)
- In this section:
acquisition of property has the same meaning as in paragraph
51(xxxi) of the Constitution.
just terms has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xxxi) of the
Constitution.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 3Anti-avoidance
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 31 Anti-avoidance
- (1)
- If:
- (a)
- one or more persons enter into, begin to carry out or carry out a scheme;
and
- (b)
- it would be concluded that the person, or any of the persons, who entered
into, began to carry out or carried out the scheme or any part of the scheme
did so for the sole or dominant purpose of avoiding the application of any
provision of Part 2 in relation to any person or persons (whether or not
mentioned in paragraph (a)); and
- (c)
- as a result of the scheme or a part of the scheme, a person (the
stakeholder) increases the stakeholder's stake in a financial
sector company;
the Treasurer may give the stakeholder a written direction to cease holding
that stake within a specified time.
Offence
- (2)
- A person is guilty of an offence if:
- (a)
- the person is subject to a direction under subsection (1); and
- (b)
- the person intentionally contravenes the direction.
Penalty: 400 penalty units.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
Definitions
- (3)
- In this section:
increase, in relation to a stake in a company, includes an
increase from a starting point of nil.
stake, in relation to a company, has the same meaning as in
Schedule 1.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 4Injunctions
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 32 Injunctions
Restraining injunctions
- (1)
- If a person has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage in any
conduct in contravention of section 11, the Federal Court may, on the
application of the Treasurer, grant an injunction:
- (a)
- restraining the person from engaging in the conduct; and
- (b)
- if, in the court's opinion, it is desirable to do sorequiring the person
to do something.
- (2)
- If:
Back to Top
- (a)
- a person has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage in any conduct
in contravention of section 11; and
- (b)
- the contravention relates to the existence of an unacceptable shareholding
situation in relation to a financial sector company;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the company, grant an
injunction:
- (c)
- restraining the person from engaging in the conduct; and
- (d)
- if, in the court's opinion, it is desirable to do sorequiring the person
to do something.
- (3)
- If a person has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage in any
conduct in contravention of a condition to which an approval under
section 14 is subject, the Federal Court may, on the application of the
Treasurer, grant an injunction:
- (a)
- restraining the person from engaging in the conduct; and
- (b)
- if, in the court's opinion, it is desirable to do sorequiring the person
to do something.
Performance injunctions
- (4)
- If:
- (a)
- a person has refused or failed, or is refusing or failing, or is proposing
to refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
- (b)
- the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of
section 26 or 31;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the Treasurer, grant an
injunction requiring the person to do that act or thing.
- (5)
- If:
- (a)
- a person has refused or failed, is refusing or failing, or is proposing to
refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
- (b)
- the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of subsection
26(4) that relates to a requirement covered by paragraph 26(1)(c) to give
information to a financial sector company;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the company, grant an
injunction requiring the person to do that act or thing.
- (6)
- If:
- (a)
- a person has refused or failed, or is refusing or failing, or is proposing
to refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
- (b)
- the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of a condition
to which an approval under section 14 is subject;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the Treasurer, grant an
injunction requiring the person to do that act or thing.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 33 Interim injunctions
Grant of interim injunction
- (1)
- If an application is made to the court for an injunction under
section 32, the court may, before considering the application, grant an
interim injunction restraining a person from engaging in conduct of a kind
referred to in that section.
Back to Top
No undertakings as to damages
- (2)
- The court is not to require an applicant for an injunction under
section 32, as a condition of granting an interim injunction, to give any
undertakings as to damages.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 34 Discharge etc. of injunctions
The court may discharge or vary an injunction granted under this Part.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 35 Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply
Restraining injunctions
- (1)
- The power of the court under this Part to grant an injunction restraining
a person from engaging in conduct of a particular kind may be exercised:
- (a)
- if the court is satisfied that the person has engaged in conduct of that
kindwhether or not it appears to the court that the person intends to engage
again, or to continue to engage, in conduct of that kind; or
- (b)
- if it appears to the court that, if an injunction is not granted, it is
likely that the person will engage in conduct of that kindwhether or not the
person has previously engaged in conduct of that kind and whether or not there
is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person if the person engages
in conduct of that kind.
Performance injunctions
- (2)
- The power of the court under this Part to grant an injunction requiring a
person to do an act or thing may be exercised:
- (a)
- if the court is satisfied that the person has refused or failed to do that
act or thingwhether or not it appears to the court that the person intends to
refuse or fail again, or to continue to refuse or fail, to do that act or
thing; or
- (b)
- if it appears to the court that, if an injunction is not granted, it is
likely that the person will refuse or fail to do that act or thingwhether or
not the person has previously refused or failed to do that act or thing and
whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person
if the person refuses or fails to do that act or thing.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 36 Other powers of the court unaffected
The powers conferred on the court under this Part are in addition to, and not
instead of, any other powers of the court, whether conferred by this Act or
otherwise.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 5Offences
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 38 Incorrect records
A person is guilty of an offence if:
- (a)
- the person is subject to a requirement covered by paragraph 26(1)(a);
and
- (b)
- in purported compliance with that requirement, the person makes a record
of any matter or thing; and
- (c)
- the person makes the record in such a way that it does not correctly
record the matter or thing.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the
general principles of criminal responsibility.
Back to Top
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 39 Indictable offences
An offence against section 11, 24 or 31 is an indictable offence.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 40 Application of Criminal Code
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against
this Act.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 41 Service of summons or process on foreign corporationscriminal proceedings
- (1)
- This section applies to a summons or process in any criminal proceedings
under this Act, where:
- (a)
- service of the summons or process is required to be served on a body
corporate incorporated outside Australia; and
- (b)
- the body corporate does not have a registered office or a principal office
in Australia; and
- (c)
- the body corporate has an agent in Australia.
- (2)
- Service of the summons or process may be effected by serving it on the
agent.
- (3)
- Subsection (2) has effect in addition to section 28A of the
Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Note: Section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901
deals with the service of documents.
- (4)
- In this section:
criminal proceeding includes a proceeding to determine whether a
person should be tried for an offence.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 6Civil liability
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 42 Civil liability of corporations
State of mind
- (1)
- If, in a civil proceeding under this Act in respect of conduct engaged in
by a corporation, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the
corporation, it is sufficient to show that:
- (a)
- a director, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that conduct;
and
- (b)
- the director, employee or agent was, in engaging in that conduct, acting
within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and
- (c)
- the director, employee or agent had that state of mind.
Conduct
- (2)
- If:
- (a)
- conduct is engaged in on behalf of a corporation by a director, employee
or agent of the corporation; and
- (b)
- the conduct is within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority;
the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a civil proceeding under this Act,
Back to Top
to have been engaged in by the corporation unless the corporation establishes
that it took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the
conduct.
Extended meaning of state of mind
- (3)
- A reference in subsection (1) to the state of mind of a
person includes a reference to:
- (a)
- the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and
- (b)
- the person's reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.
Extended meaning of director
- (4)
- A reference in this section to a director of a corporation
includes a reference to a constituent member of a body corporate incorporated
for a public purpose by a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
Extended meaning of engaging in conduct
- (5)
- A reference in this section to engaging in conduct includes
a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 43 Civil liability of persons other than corporations
State of mind
- (1)
- If, in a civil proceeding under this Act in respect of conduct engaged in
by a person other than a corporation, it is necessary to establish the state of
mind of the person, it is sufficient to show that:
- (a)
- the conduct was engaged in by an employee or agent of the person within
the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and
- (b)
- the employee or agent had that state of mind.
Conduct
- (2)
- If:
- (a)
- conduct is engaged in on behalf of a person other than a corporation by an
employee or agent of the person; and
- (b)
- the conduct is within the employee's or agent's actual or apparent
authority;
the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a civil proceeding under this Act,
to have been engaged in by the person unless the person establishes that he or
she took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the
conduct.
Extended meaning of state of mind
- (3)
- A reference in this section to the state of mind of a person
includes a reference to:
- (a)
- the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and
- (b)
- the person's reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.
Extended meaning of engaging in conduct
- (4)
- A reference in this section to engaging in conduct includes
a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Part 7Miscellaneous
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 44 Delegation by Treasurer
Back to Top
- (1)
- The Treasurer may, by writing, delegate any or all of the Treasurer's
powers under this Act to:
- (a)
- APRA (the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority); or
- (b)
- an APRA member (within the meaning of the Australian Prudential
Regulation Authority Act 1998); or
- (c)
- an APRA staff member (within the meaning of the Australian Prudential
Regulation Authority Act 1998).
- (2)
- The delegate is, in the exercise of any power delegated under
subsection (1), subject to the directions of the Treasurer.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 45 Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 and this Act to operate independently of each other
- (1)
- This Act and the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975
operate independently of each other.
- (2)
- In particular, a decision under either Act has effect only for the
purposes of the Act concerned.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 46 Regulations
The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters:
- (a)
- required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
- (b)
- necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect
to this Act.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 47 Transitionalpre-commencement stakes in financial sector companies
- (1)
- This section applies if, immediately before the commencement of this
section:
- (a)
- a person held a stake in a particular financial sector company of more
than 15%; and
- (b)
- the holding of that stake did not, to any extent, involve a contravention
of a provision of the Banks (Shareholdings) Act 1972 or the Insurance
Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1991.
- (2)
- This Act has effect as if the Treasurer had, immediately after the
commencement of this section, by written notice under section 14, approved
the person holding the same percentage stake in the company.
Note: This approval can be varied or revoked in accordance with
the provisions of Division 3 of Part 2.
- (3)
- For the purposes of this section, Part 1 and Schedule 1 are
taken to have been in force immediately before the commencement of this
section.
- (4)
- For the purposes of this section, a company that is an authorised
deposit-taking institution immediately after the commencement of this section
is taken to have been an authorised deposit-taking institution immediately
before the commencement of this section.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 48 Transitionalpre-transfer stakes held in bodies transferring to regulation by the Commonwealth
Back to Top
- (1)
- This section applies if, immediately before the transfer date:
- (a)
- a person held a stake in a particular transferring financial sector
company of more than 15%; and
- (b)
- the holding of that stake did not, to any extent, involve a contravention
of a provision of the replaced legislation.
- (2)
- The Treasurer is taken, on the transfer date, by written notice under
section 14, to have approved the person holding the same percentage stake
in the company. The approval is taken to specify the period of 18 months
starting on the transfer date as the period during which it remains in force.
- (3)
- An approval taken by subsection (2) to have been granted by the
Treasurer may be dealt with under this Act as if it had actually been granted
under section 14. However, subsections 14(2) and (4) do not apply to the
approval.
- (4)
- For the purposes of this section, Part 1 and Schedule 1 are
taken to have been applicable to transferring financial sector companies
immediately before the transfer date.
- (5)
- For the purposes of this section, a transferring financial sector company
that is, on the transfer date:
- (a)
- an authorised deposit-taking institution; or
- (b)
- a company registered under the Life Insurance Act 1995;
is taken to have been a body of that kind immediately before the transfer
date.
- (6)
- In this section:
replaced legislation has the same meaning as it has for the
purposes of item 22 of Schedule 8 to the Financial Sector Reform
(Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999.
transfer date means the date that is the transfer date for the
purposes of the Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional
Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999.
transferring financial sector company means a financial sector
company that is a transferring body for the purposes of Part 1 of
Schedule 8 to the Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional
Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 - SECT 49 Transitionalstakes held as a result of completion of transfers of engagements or mergers under certain State or Territory laws
- (1)
- This section applies if:
- (a)
- a transfer of engagements or a merger takes effect on a date (the
date of effect) after the transfer date in accordance with a
State or Territory transitional law referred to in subitem 19(1) of
Schedule 8 to the Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional
Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999; and
- (b)
- the transfer or merger results in a person holding a stake in a particular
financial sector company of more than 15%; and
- (c)
- the holding of that stake would not, to any extent, have involved a
contravention of a provision of the replaced legislation if the transfer or
merger had taken effect immediately before the transfer date.
- (2)
- The Treasurer is taken, on the date of effect, by written notice under
section 14, to have approved the person holding the same percentage stake
in the company. The approval is taken to specify the period of 18 months
starting on the date of effect as the period during which it remains in
force.
- (3)
- An approval taken by subsection (2) to have been granted by the
Treasurer may be dealt with under this Act as if it had actually been granted
under section 14. However, subsections 14(2) and (4) do not apply to the
approval.
- (4)
- In this section:
Back to Top
replaced legislation has the same meaning as it has for the
purposes of item 22 of Schedule 8 to the Financial Sector Reform
(Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999.
transfer date means the date that is the transfer date for the
purposes of the Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional
Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Schedule 1Ownership definitions
Note: See section 9.
1 Object
The object of this Schedule is to define terms used in Part 2 (which
deals with restrictions on shareholdings).
2 Definitions
In Part 2 and this Schedule, unless the contrary intention appears:
acquisition includes an agreement to acquire, but does not
include:
- (a)
- an acquisition by will or by devolution by operation of law; or
- (b)
- an acquisition by way of enforcement of a loan security.
arrangement has a meaning affected by clause 3.
associate has the meaning given by clause 4.
constituent document, in relation to a company, means:
- (a)
- the memorandum and articles of association of the company; or
- (b)
- any rules or other documents constituting the company or governing its
activities.
direct control interest has the meaning given by
clause 11.
director includes any person occupying the position of director
of a company, by whatever name called.
discretionary trust means a trust where:
- (a)
- a person (who may include the trustee) is empowered (either
unconditionally or on the fulfilment of a condition) to exercise any power of
appointment or other discretion; and
- (b)
- the exercise of the power or discretion, or the failure to exercise the
power or discretion, has the effect of determining, to any extent, either or
both of the following:
- (i)
- the identities of those who may benefit under the trust;
- (ii)
- how beneficiaries are to benefit, as between themselves, under the trust.
increase, in relation to a stake in a company, includes an
increase from a starting point of nil.
interest in a share has the meaning given by clause 7.
lender, in relation to a loan security, means the person who is
entitled to enforce the security.
lending money includes providing non-equity finance where the
provision of the finance may reasonably be regarded as equivalent to lending
money.
loan security means a security held solely for the purposes of a
moneylending agreement.
management employee, in relation to a company, means an employee
of the company who is concerned in, or takes part in, the management of the
company.
moneylending agreement means an agreement entered into in good
faith in the ordinary course of carrying on a business of lending money, but
does not include an agreement dealing with any matter unrelated to the carrying
on of that business.
officer, in relation to a company, means:
Back to Top
- (a)
- a director, secretary or management employee of the company; or
- (b)
- a receiver and manager of any part of the undertaking of the company
appointed under a power contained in any instrument; or
- (c)
- a liquidator of the company appointed in a voluntary winding-up.
ownership provisions means Part 2 and this Schedule.
power to appoint a director of a company has a meaning affected
by clause 5.
practical control, in relation to a financial sector company, has
the meaning given by section 23.
relative, in relation to a person, means:
- (a)
- the person's spouse; or
- (b)
- another person who, although not legally married to the person, lives with
the person on a bona fide domestic basis as the husband or wife of the
person; or
- (c)
- a parent or remoter lineal ancestor of the person; or
- (d)
- a son, daughter or remoter issue of the person; or
- (e)
- a brother or sister of the person.
share, in relation to a company, means a share in the share
capital of the company, and includes:
- (a)
- stock into which any or all of the share capital of the company has been
converted; or
- (b)
- an interest in such a share or in such stock.
stake, in relation to a company, has the meaning given by
clause 10.
voting power has the meaning given by clause 9.
3 Entering into an agreement or arrangement
- (1)
- For the purposes of the ownership provisions, a person is taken to have
proposed to enter into an agreement or arrangement if the person takes part in,
or proposes to take part in, negotiations with a view to entering into the
agreement or arrangement.
- (2)
- A reference in the ownership provisions to entering into an
agreement or arrangement includes a reference to altering or varying an
agreement or arrangement.
- (3)
- A reference in the ownership provisions to entering into an
arrangement is a reference to entering into any formal or informal
scheme, arrangement or understanding, whether expressly or by implication and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes a reference to:
- (a)
- entering into an agreement; or
- (b)
- creating a trust, whether express or implied; or
- (c)
- entering into a transaction;
and a reference in the ownership provisions to an arrangement is to be
construed accordingly.
- (4)
- A reference in the ownership provisions to an arrangement
does not include a reference to a moneylending agreement.
4 Associates
- (1)
- For the purposes of the ownership provisions, the following persons are
associates of a person:
- (a)
- a relative of the person;
- (b)
- a partner of the person;
- (c)
- a company of which the person is an officer;
- (d)
- if the person is a companyan officer of the company;
- (e)
- an officer of a company of which the person is an officer;
- (f)
- an employee of an individual of whom the person is an employee;
- (g)
- the trustee of a discretionary trust where the person or another person
who is an associate of the person by virtue of another paragraph of this
subclause benefits, or is capable (whether by the exercise of a power of
appointment or otherwise) of benefiting, under the trust, either directly or
through any interposed companies, partnerships or trusts;
- (h)
- a company whose directors are accustomed or under an obligation, whether
formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or
wishes of the person;
- (i)
- a company where the person is accustomed or under an obligation, whether
formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or
wishes of the company;
- (j)
- a company in which the person has, apart from this paragraph, a stake of
not less than 15%;
- (k)
- if the person is a companya person who holds, apart from this paragraph,
a stake in the company of not less than 15%;
- (l)
- a person who is, because of this subclause, an associate of any other
person who is an associate of the person (including a person who is an
associate of the person by any other application or applications of this
paragraph).
Back to Top
- (2)
- If a person (the first person) enters, or proposes to enter,
into an arrangement with another person (the second person) that
relates to any of the following matters:
- (a)
- the first person and the second person being in a position, by acting
together, to control any of the voting power in a company;
- (b)
- the power of the first person and the second person, by acting together,
to appoint or remove a director of a company;
- (c)
- the situation where one or more of the directors of a company are
accustomed or under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in
accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the first person and
the second person acting together;
then, the second person is taken to be an associate of the
first person for the purposes of the application of a provision of the
ownership provisions in relation to the matter concerned.
5 Power to appoint director
- (1)
- A reference in the ownership provisions to a power to appoint a
director includes a reference to such a power whether exercisable with
or without the consent or concurrence of any other person.
- (2)
- For the purposes of the ownership provisions, a person is taken to have
the power to appoint a director if:
- (a)
- the person has the power (whether exercisable with or without the consent
or concurrence of any other person) to veto such an appointment; or
- (b)
- a person's appointment as a director of the company follows necessarily
from that person being a director or other officer of the first-mentioned
person.
6 Meaning of entitled to acquire
For the purposes of the ownership provisions, a person is entitled to
acquire anything if the person is absolutely or contingently entitled
to acquire it, whether because of any constituent document of a company, the
exercise of any right or option or for any other reason.
7 Meaning of interest in a share
- (1)
- Subject to this clause, a person holds an interest in a
share if the person has any legal or equitable interest in the share.
- (2)
- A person is taken to hold an interest in a share if:
- (a)
- the person has entered into a contract to purchase the share; or
- (b)
- the person has a right (otherwise than because of having an interest under
a trust) to have the share transferred to the person or to the person's order
(whether the right is exercisable presently or in the future and whether or not
on the fulfilment of a condition); or
- (c)
- the person has a right to acquire the share, or an interest in the share,
under an option (whether the right is exercisable presently or in the future
and whether or not on the fulfilment of a condition); or
- (d)
- the person is otherwise entitled to acquire the share or an interest in
the share; or
- (e)
- the person is entitled (otherwise than because of having been appointed as
a proxy or representative to vote at a meeting of members of the company or of
a class of its members) to exercise or control the exercise of a right attached
to the share.
- (3)
- Subclause (2) does not, by implication, limit subclause (1).
- (4)
- A person is taken to hold an interest in a share even if the person holds
the interest in the share jointly with another person.
- (5)
- For the purpose of determining whether a person holds an interest in a
share, it is immaterial that the interest cannot be related to a particular
share.
- (6)
- An interest in a share is not to be disregarded only because of:
- (a)
- its remoteness; or
- (b)
- the manner in which it arose; or
- (c)
- the fact that the exercise of a right conferred by the interest is, or is
capable of being made, subject to restraint or restriction.
Back to Top
8 Certain interests in shares to be disregarded
- (1)
- For the purposes of the ownership provisions, the following interests must
be disregarded:
- (a)
- an interest in a share held by a person whose ordinary business includes
the lending of money if the person holds the interest as a loan security;
- (b)
- an interest in a share held by a person, being an interest held by the
person because the person holds a prescribed office;
- (c)
- an interest of a prescribed kind in a share, being an interest held by
such persons as are prescribed.
- (2)
- For the purposes of the ownership provisions, if:
- (a)
- a person holds an interest in a share as a loan security; and
- (b)
- the ordinary business of the person includes the lending of money; and
- (c)
- the loan security is enforced; and
- (d)
- as a result of the enforcement of the loan security, the person becomes
the holder of the share; and
- (e)
- the person holds the share for a continuous period (the holding
period) beginning at the time when the security was enforced;
the person's interest in the share must be disregarded at all times during
so much of the holding period as occurs during whichever of the following
periods is applicable:
- (f)
- the period of 90 days beginning when the security was enforced;
- (g)
- if the Treasurer, by written notice given to the person, allows a longer
periodthe end of that longer period.
9 Voting power
- (1)
- A reference in the ownership provisions to the voting power
in a company is a reference to the total rights of shareholders to vote, or
participate in any decision-making, concerning any of the following:
- (a)
- the making of distributions of capital or profits of the company to its
shareholders;
- (b)
- the constituent document of the company;
- (c)
- any variation of the share capital of the company;
- (d)
- any appointment of a director of the company.
- (2)
- A reference in the ownership provisions to control of the voting
power in a company is a reference to control that is direct or
indirect, including control that is exercisable as a result of or by means of
arrangements or practices:
- (a)
- whether or not having legal or equitable force; and
- (b)
- whether or not based on legal or equitable rights.
- (3)
- If the percentage of total rights to vote or participate in
decision-making differs as between different types of voting or
decision-making, the highest of those percentages applies for the purposes of
this clause.
- (4)
- If a company:
- (a)
- is limited both by shares and by guarantee; or
- (b)
- does not have a share capital;
this clause has effect as if the members or policy holders of the company
were shareholders in the company.
Back to Top
10 Stake in a company
- (1)
- The stake that a person holds in a company at a particular
time is the aggregate of:
- (a)
- the direct control interests in the company that the person holds at that
time; and
- (b)
- the direct control interests in the company held at that time by
associates of the person.
- (2)
- In calculating the stake that a person holds in a company, a direct
control interest held because of subclause 11(2) is not to be counted under
paragraph (1)(a) to the extent to which it is calculated by reference to a
direct control interest in the company that is taken into account under
paragraph (1)(b).
11 Direct control interests in a company
- (1)
- A person holds a direct control interest in a company at a
particular time equal to the percentage of the voting power in the company that
the person is in a position to control at that time.
- (2)
- If:
- (a)
- a person holds a direct control interest (including a direct control
interest that is taken to be held because of one or more previous applications
of this subclause) in a company (the first level company); and
- (b)
- the first level company holds a direct control interest in another company
(the second level company);
the person is taken to hold a direct control interest in the second level
company equal to the percentage worked out using the formula:

where:
first level percentage means the percentage of the direct control
interest held by the person in the first level company.
second level percentage means the percentage of the direct
control interest held by the first level company in the second level company.
FINANCIAL SECTOR (SHAREHOLDINGS) ACT 1998 Notes to the Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998
Note 1
The Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998 as shown in this
compilation comprises Act No. 55, 1998 amended as indicated in the Tables
below.
For all relevent information pertaining to application, saving or transitional
provisions see Table A.
Table of Acts
Act
|
Number
and year
|
Date
of Assent
|
Date
of commencement
|
Application,
saving or transitional provisions
|
Financial
Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998
|
55,
1998
|
29 June
1998
|
1 July
1998 (see s. 2)
|
|
Financial
Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999
|
44,
1999
|
17 June
1999
|
Schedule 7
(item 45): 1 July 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S283)
(a) Schedule 8: Royal Assent (a)
|
Sch.
8 (items 22, 23) S. 3(2)(e) (am. by 160, 2000, Sch. 4 [item 4])
|
as
amended by
|
|
|
|
|
Financial
Sector Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2000
|
160,
2000
|
21
Dec 2000
|
Schedule
1 (item 21): Royal Assent Remainder: 18 Jan 2001
|
|
Criminal
Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000
|
137,
2000
|
24
Nov 2000
|
Ss.
1-3 and Schedule 1 (items 1, 4, 6, 7, 9-11, 32): Royal Assent Remainder:
24 May 2001
|
Sch.
2 (items 418, 419)
|
Treasury
Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act (No. 1) 2001
|
31,
2001
|
28
Apr 2001
|
Schedule
1 (items 1-4): 28 Apr 2001 (b)
|
|
Treasury
Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act (No. 3) 2001
|
117,
2001
|
18
Sept 2001
|
Schedule
3 (items 1-4): 19 Sept 2001 (c)
|
S.
4
|
Australian
Prudential Regulation Authority Amendment Act 2003
|
42,
2003
|
24
June 2003
|
Schedules
1-3: 1 July 2003 (see Gazette 2003, No. S230) Remainder: Royal
Assent
|
Sch.
3
|
(a)
Back to Top
The Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998 was amended by
Schedule 7 (item 45) only of the Financial Sector Reform
(Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999, subsections
3(1), (2)(e) and (16) of which provide as follows:
(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it
receives the Royal Assent.
(2) The following provisions commence on the transfer date:
- (e)
- subject to subsection (12), Schedule 7, other than items 43, 44, 118,
205 and 207 (the commencement of those items is covered by subsections (10),
- (11)
- and (13)).
(16) The Governor-General may, by Proclamation published in the
Gazette, specify the date that is to be the transfer date for the
purposes of this Act.
(b) The Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998 was amended
by Schedule 1 (items 1-4) only of the Treasury Legislation
Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act (No. 1) 2001, subsection
2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Sections 1, 2 and 3 and items 1 to 4 (inclusive) of
Schedule 1, and Schedule 2, to this Act commence on the day on which
this Act receives the Royal Assent.
(c) The Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998 was amended
by Schedule 3 (items 1-4) only of the Treasury Legislation
Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act (No. 3) 2001, subsection
2(5) of which provides as follows:
(5) Part 1 of Schedule 3 commences on the day after the day on
which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
Table of Amendments
ad.
= added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed
and substituted
|
Provision
affected
|
How
affected
|
S.
24
|
am.
Nos. 31 and 117, 2001
|
S.
26
|
am.
Nos. 31 and 117, 2001
|
S.
37
|
rep.
No. 137, 2000
|
S.
44
|
am.
No. 42, 2003
|
Ss.
48, 49
|
ad.
No. 44, 1999
|
Back to Top
Table A
Table A
Applications, saving or transitional provisions
Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act
(No. 1) 1999 (No. 44, 1999)
Schedule 8
22 Regulations may deal with transitional, saving or application
matters
(1) The regulations may deal with matters of a transitional, saving or
application nature relating to:
- (a)
- the transition from the application of provisions of the replaced
legislation to the application of provisions of the Banking Act 1959,
the Life Insurance Act 1995, the Financial Sector (Transfers of
Business) Act 1999, the Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998 or
the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998; or
- (b)
- the transition, for The Cairns Cooperative Weekly Penny Savings Bank
Limited, from the application of provisions of the Financial Intermediaries
Act 1996 of Queensland to the application of provisions of any of the Acts
referred to in paragraph (a); or
- (c)
- the amendments and repeals made by the Schedules to this Act.
(2) Without limiting subitem (1), the regulations may provide for a
matter to be dealt with, wholly or partly, in any of the following ways:
- (a)
- by applying (with or without modifications) to the matter:
- (i)
- provisions of a law of the Commonwealth, or of a State or Territory; or
- (ii)
- provisions of a repealed or amended law of the Commonwealth, or of a
State or Territory, in the form that those provisions took before the repeal or
amendment; or
- (iii)
- a combination of provisions referred to in subparagraphs (i) and
(ii);
- (b)
- by otherwise specifying rules for dealing with the matter;
- (c)
- by specifying a particular consequence of the matter, or of an outcome of
the matter, for the purposes of a law of the Commonwealth.
(3) Without limiting subitems (1) and (2), the regulations may provide
for the continued effect, for the purposes of a provision of a law of the
Commonwealth, of a thing done or instrument made, or a class of things done or
instruments made, before the transfer date under or for the purposes of a
provision of a law of a State or Territory. In the case of an instrument or
class of instruments, the regulations may provide for the instrument or
instruments to continue to have effect subject to modifications.
(4) Without limiting subitem (3), regulations providing for the continued
effect of things done or instruments made may permit all or any of the
following matters to be determined in writing by a specified person, or by a
person included in a specified class of persons:
- (a)
- the identification of a thing done or instrument made, or a class of
things done or instruments made, that is to continue to have effect;
- (b)
- the purpose for which a thing done or instrument made, or a class of
things done or instruments made, is to continue to have effect;
- (c)
- any modifications subject to which an instrument made, or a class of
instruments made, is to continue to have effect.
(5) Despite subsection 48(2) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901,
regulations for the purposes of this item:
- (a)
- may be expressed to take effect from a date before the regulations are
notified in the Gazette; and
- (b)
- may provide for a determination of a kind referred to in subitem (4)
to take effect from a date before the determination is made (including a date
before the regulations are notified in the Gazette).
(6) In this item, a reference to a law, whether
of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, includes a reference to an
instrument made under such a law.
(7) In this item:
Back to Top
replaced legislation means:
- (a)
- the AFIC Codes; and
- (b)
- the Financial Institutions Codes; and
- (c)
- the Friendly Societies Codes; and
- (d)
- the Australian Financial Institutions Commission Act 1992 of
Queensland, and any Act of another State or of a Territory that provides for
the application, as a law of the State or Territory, of the Code set out in
section 21 of the Australian Financial Institutions Commission Act 1992
of Queensland; and
- (e)
- the Financial Institutions (Queensland) Act 1992 of Queensland, and
any Act of another State or of a Territory that provides for the application,
as a law of the State or Territory, of the Code set out in section 30 of
the Financial Institutions (Queensland) Act 1992 of Queensland; and
- (f)
- the Friendly Societies (Victoria) Act 1996 of Victoria, and any Act
of another State or of a Territory that provides for the application, as a law
of the State or Territory, of the Code set out in the Schedule to the
Friendly Societies (Victoria) Act 1996 of Victoria; and
- (g)
- the Friendly Societies (Western Australia) Act 1999; and
- (h)
- any other law of a State or Territory prescribed by the regulations for
the purposes of this definition.
23 Power to make regulations
The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act,
prescribing matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed.
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences)
Act 2000 (No. 137, 2000)
Schedule 2
418 Transitionalpre-commencement offences
(1) Despite the amendment or repeal of a provision by this Schedule, that
provision continues to apply, after the commencement of this item, in relation
to:
- (a)
- an offence committed before the commencement of this item; or
- (b)
- proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed before the
commencement of this item; or
- (c)
- any matter connected with, or arising out of, such proceedings;
as if the amendment or repeal had not been made.
(2) Subitem (1) does not limit the operation of section 8 of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901.
419 Transitionalpre-commencement notices
If:
- (a)
- a provision in force immediately before the commencement of this item
required that a notice set out the effect of one or more other provisions;
and
- (b)
- any or all of those other provisions are repealed by this Schedule; and
- (c)
- the first-mentioned provision is amended by this Schedule;
the amendment of the first-mentioned provision by this Schedule does not
affect the validity of such a notice that was given before the commencement of
this item.
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act (No. 3)
2001 (No. 117, 2001)
4 Application of amendments
- (1)
- Each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take
place after the amendment commences.
- (2)
- For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have
taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a
particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken
place before the amendment commences.
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Amendment Act 2003 (No.
42, 2003)
Schedule 3
1 Definitions
In this Schedule:
amended Act means the Australian Prudential Regulation
Back to Top
Authority Act 1998 as in force after the commencement of the amendments.
commencement of the amendments means the commencement of the
amendments made by Schedule 1.
old Act means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
Act 1998 as in force immediately before the commencement of the
amendments.
2 APRA's corporate existence is continued
(1) The body corporate that was, immediately before the commencement of the
amendments, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
continues in existence after that commencement by force of this item under the
corporate structure provided for by the amended Act.
Note: Rights, liabilities and obligations as between APRA and other people,
and things done by or on behalf of APRA, or in relation to APRA, are therefore
not affected by the restructure of APRA.
(2) However, this does not imply that any person who, immediately before the
commencement of the amendments, was a member of APRA's Board, or was APRA's
Chief Executive Officer, continues to hold office after that commencement.
Note: These people cease to hold office on the commencement of the
amendments because of the repeal of the provisions under which they were
appointed.
3 Continued protection from liability
Section 58 of the old Act continues to apply in relation to conduct,
before the commencement of the amendments, of APRA's Board, a member of APRA's
Board or an agent of a member of APRA's Board.
Note: The reference to a member of APRA's Board covers APRA's Chief
Executive Officer.
4 Continued effect of certain delegations
(1) A delegation in force, immediately before the commencement of the
amendments, under subsection 15(1) or (2) of the old Act continues to have
effect after that commencement as if it were a delegation under APRA's seal
under that subsection of the amended Act. If the delegation was to one or more
members of APRA's Board, it continues to have effect as if it were a delegation
to any APRA member.
(2) A direction in force, immediately before the commencement of the
amendments, under subsection 15(3) of the old Act continues to have effect
after that commencement, in relation to a delegation to which subitem (1)
applies, as if it were a direction given by APRA under that subsection of the
amended Act.
(3) A delegation to one or more members of APRA's Board in force, immediately
before the commencement of the amendments, under a provision amended by
Schedule 2 continues to have effect after that commencement as if it were
a delegation under the amended provision to any APRA member.
Note: Delegations in favour of APRA, or APRA staff members, are not affected
by the Schedule 2 amendments.
5 Continued effect of determinations of terms and conditions for staff
and consultants
A determination of terms and conditions in force, immediately before the
commencement of the amendments, under subsection 45(2) or 47(2) of the old Act
continues to have effect after that commencement as if it were a determination
by APRA under that subsection of the amended Act.
6 Continued effect of approvals under paragraph 56(5)(b)
An approval in force, immediately before the commencement of the amendments,
under paragraph 56(5)(b) of the old Act continues to have effect after that
commencement as if it were an approval by APRA under that paragraph of the
amended Act.
7 Continued or extended effect of certain regulations
(1) Regulations in force, immediately before the commencement of the
amendments, under paragraph (k) of the definition of Act covered by
this section in subsection 56(1) of the old Act continue to have effect
after that commencement as if they were made under paragraph (o) of the
definition of prudential regulation framework law in subsection
3(1) of the amended Act, but only as that paragraph applies for the purposes of
section 56 of the amended Act.
(2) Regulations in force, immediately before the commencement of the
amendments, under paragraph 56(5)(a) of the old Act have effect after that
commencement (in addition to the effect they continue to have for that
paragraph of the amended Act) as if they were also made under subsection 10A(1)
of the amended Act.
8 Delegations by ASIC to APRA staff members
(1) Subsection 102(2A) of the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission Act 2001 has effect after the commencement of the amendments as
if the reference in that subsection to the Chief Executive Officer of APRA were
instead a reference to APRA.
(2) For the purposes of that subsection as it continues to have effect, an
agreement to a delegation, in force under that subsection immediately before
the commencement of the amendments, continues to have effect after that
commencement as if it were given by APRA.
|