A judge has refused a bid by two former Murray Goulburn executives to throw out a disqualification case brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, despite admonishing the corporate regulator for its delay in bringing the case and establishing a protocol for regulators filing cases in his docket.
IOOF says it expects to challenge a $80.6 million judgment against subsidiary Australian Executor Trustees over the sale of a timber plantation by the collapsed Gunns Group that left its law firm, Sparke Helmore, off the hook despite a finding that the firm’s advice “fell short”.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Committee has flagged preliminary competition concerns and called for public submissions on a proposed sale by US-based timberland investment manager Resource Management Service of its Tasmanian assets.
IOOF subsidiary Australian Executor Trustees has been hit with an $80.6 million judgment after breaching its duty as trustee in the sale of a 42,000 hectare timber plantation by collapsed forestry giant Gunns Group, and it can’t pass the liability on to Spark Helmore, despite the law firm’s inadequate advice.
The competition watchdog has given Canadian dairy producer Saputo the green light to acquire Australian competitor Lion Dairy’s cheese processing plants, but has warned any further consolidation in the Tasmanian dairy sector would cause significant concern.
Activist US short seller Bonitas Research has welcomed legal action filed against it by agricultural fund manager Rural Funds Group as a chance for “investors to know the truth”, while also doubling down on the accusations of fraud at the centre of the case that sent the group’s share price plummeting.
The competition regulator has given rural retailer company Elders the greenlight to proceed with its proposed $187 million acquisition of wholesale group Australian Independent Rural Retailers, but has warned it will be paying close attention to any future consolidation in the rural sector.
Live cattle exporter Wellard Ltd has been hit with an unlawful dismissal claim for more than $400,000 by its ex-CEO, who claims he was sacked for asking about the company’s troubling financial position and complaining about the chairman’s “hostile”, “demeaning” and “threatening” behaviour towards him.
Agricultural fund manager Rural Funds Group has briefed a top-tier law firm to bring “unprecedented” legal action against US company Bonitas Research, after the activist short seller accused the group of fraud and sent its share price plummeting.
Six individuals interviewed by ASIC in relation to the collapse of sandalwood producer Quintis have sought leave to intervene in the regulator’s case against the company’s founder, Frank Wilson, after he sought discovery from ASIC of interview transcripts.