Hong Kong-based casino group Melco Resorts must hand over documents claimed to be privileged to a NSW public inquiry into James Packer’s Crown Resorts, with an appeals court ruling the inquiry had the power of a royal commission.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has scored a victory before the High Court, with the court unanimously finding that the term “officer” under the Corporations Act is not limited to those that hold official positions within a company.
Livestock exporter Wellard is facing a shareholder class action over a profit downgrade following its $300 million initial public offering in 2015.
Agricultural fund management firm Rural Funds Management is seeking over $625,000 in damages from US short seller Bonitas Research, which was found by the NSW Supreme Court to have engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in a report describing RFM’s equity as “ultimately worthless” that sent the firm’s share price plummeting.
A former financial advisor has pleaded guilty to charges that he falsified share applications to satisfy minimum spread requirements for four companies wanting to float on the Australian Stock Exchange, in the first criminal case of its kind.
A former executive of engineering giant Bechtel will be allowed to deduct over $11.8 million in share losses from his taxable income after successfully challenging a ruling to the Full Federal Court, in a decision that clarifies taxation law for income and capital regarding asset trades.
A judge has directed solicitors for deceased lawyer and funder Mark Elliott to search for his missing mobile phone, which is wanted for potential evidence by a court-appointed contradictor investigating alleged professional misconduct on the part of the legal team behind a settled class action against failed Banksia Securities.
The Australian Stock Exchange has denied claims by ISignthis that it suspended the fintech company’s shares without warning and at the direction of ASIC, but has admitted that it told the company it would consult with the securities regulator before lifting the ongoing suspension.
ASIC has notched up a win against derivative issuer AGM Markets and two of its authorised representatives, with a court finding they engaged in misleading, deceptive and unconscionable conduct that caused investor losses of over $30 million.
Deloitte has lost its appeal of a ruling in a shareholder class action over the collapse of Hastie Group that compelled the production of audit files taken by a partner from the accounting giant’s litigation room, in a ruling that described the actions of the partner as “bordering on contempt” and slammed Deloitte for “cynically” exploiting the situation.