Activism ReviewActivism the Shareholder Rights and and Rights Shareholder Shareholder Rights and Activism Review Second Edition Editor Francis J Aquila Second Edition lawreviews the Shareholder rights and activism Review The Shareholder Rights and Activism Review Reproduced with permission from Law Business Research Ltd. This article was first published in The Shareholder Rights and Activism Review, - Edition 2 (published in September 2017 – editor Francis J Aquila) For further information please email [email protected] Shareholder Rights and Activism Review Second Edition Editor Francis J Aquila lawreviews PUBLISHER Gideon Roberton SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Nick Barette BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS Thomas Lee, Joel Woods ACCOUNT MANAGERS Pere Aspinall, Sophie Emberson, Laura Lynas, Jack Bagnall PRODUCT MARKETING EXECUTIVE Rebecca Mogridge RESEARCHER Arthur Hunter EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Gavin Jordan HEAD OF PRODUCTION Adam Myers PRODUCTION EDITOR Anna Andreoli SUBEDITOR Robbie Kelly CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Paul Howarth Published in the United Kingdom by Law Business Research Ltd, London 87 Lancaster Road, London, W11 1QQ, UK © 2017 Law Business Research Ltd www.TheLawReviews.co.uk No photocopying: copyright licences do not apply. The information provided in this publication is general and may not apply in a specific situation, nor does it necessarily represent the views of authors’ firms or their clients. Legal advice should always be sought before taking any legal action based on the information provided. The publishers accept no responsibility for any acts or omissions contained herein. Although the information provided is accurate as of August 2017, be advised that this is a developing area. Enquiries concerning reproduction should be sent to Law Business Research, at the address above. Enquiries concerning editorial content should be directed to the Publisher – [email protected] ISBN 978-1-910813-84-3 Printed in Great Britain by Encompass Print Solutions, Derbyshire Tel: 0844 2480 112 lawreviews THE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS REVIEW THE RESTRUCTURING REVIEW THE PRIVATE COMPETITION ENFORCEMENT REVIEW THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION REVIEW THE EMPLOYMENT LAW REVIEW THE PUBLIC COMPETITION ENFORCEMENT REVIEW THE BANKING REGULATION REVIEW THE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION REVIEW THE MERGER CONTROL REVIEW THE TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS REVIEW THE INWARD INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TAXATION REVIEW THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVIEW THE CORPORATE IMMIGRATION REVIEW THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS REVIEW THE PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION REVIEW THE INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS REVIEW THE REAL ESTATE LAW REVIEW THE PRIVATE EQUITY REVIEW THE ENERGY REGULATION AND MARKETS REVIEW THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REVIEW THE ASSET MANAGEMENT REVIEW THE PRIVATE WEALTH AND PRIVATE CLIENT REVIEW THE MINING LAW REVIEW THE EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION REVIEW THE ANTI-BRIBERY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION REVIEW THE CARTELS AND LENIENCY REVIEW THE TAX DISPUTES AND LITIGATION REVIEW THE LIFE SCIENCES LAW REVIEW THE INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE LAW REVIEW THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT REVIEW THE DOMINANCE AND MONOPOLIES REVIEW THE AVIATION LAW REVIEW THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT REGULATION REVIEW THE ASSET TRACING AND RECOVERY REVIEW THE INSOLVENCY REVIEW THE OIL AND GAS LAW REVIEW THE FRANCHISE LAW REVIEW THE PRODUCT REGULATION AND LIABILITY REVIEW THE SHIPPING LAW REVIEW THE ACQUISITION AND LEVERAGED FINANCE REVIEW THE PRIVACY, DATA PROTECTION AND CYBERSECURITY LAW REVIEW THE PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP LAW REVIEW THE TRANSPORT FINANCE LAW REVIEW THE SECURITIES LITIGATION REVIEW THE LENDING AND SECURED FINANCE REVIEW THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW REVIEW THE SPORTS LAW REVIEW THE INVESTMENT TREATY ARBITRATION REVIEW THE GAMBLING LAW REVIEW THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND ANTITRUST REVIEW THE REAL ESTATE M&A AND PRIVATE EQUITY REVIEW THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AND ACTIVISM REVIEW THE ISLAMIC FINANCE AND MARKETS LAW REVIEW THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE LAW REVIEW THE CONSUMER FINANCE LAW REVIEW THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS REVIEW THE CLASS ACTIONS LAW REVIEW THE TRANSFER PRICING LAW REVIEW THE BANKING LITIGATION LAW REVIEW ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The publisher acknowledges and thanks the following law firms for their learned assistance throughout the preparation of this book: BAKER & MCKENZIE – CIS, LIMITED BOWMANS DARROIS VILLEY MAILLOT BROCHIER DE BRAUW BLACKSTONE WESTBROEK NV HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS HOMBURGER AG KHAITAN & CO MANNHEIMER SWARTLING MARVAL, O’FARRELL & MAIRAL MORGAN LEWIS STAMFORD LLC MORI HAMADA & MATSUMOTO NAUTADUTILH SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP i CONTENTS PREFACE ........................................................................................................................................................... v Francis J Aquila Chapter 1 ARGENTINA ........................................................................................................................1 Bárbara Ramperti, Diego Krischcautzky and Lorena Aimó Chapter 2 AUSTRALIA ........................................................................................................................12 Quentin Digby and Timothy Stutt Chapter 3 FRANCE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26 Jean-Michel Darrois, Bertrand Cardi and Forrest G Alogna Chapter 4 INDIA ..................................................................................................................................36 Nikhil Narayanan Chapter 5 JAPAN ..................................................................................................................................45 Akira Matsushita Chapter 6 LUXEMBOURG .................................................................................................................57 Margaretha Wilkenhuysen and Steven van Waas Chapter 7 NETHERLANDS ...............................................................................................................68 Paul Cronheim, Willem Bijveld and Frank Hamming Chapter 8 RUSSIA ................................................................................................................................85 Max Gutbrod Chapter 9 SINGAPORE .......................................................................................................................91 Lee Suet-Fern and Elizabeth Kong Sau-Wai Chapter 10 SOUTH AFRICA .............................................................................................................100 Ezra Davids and Xolani Ntamane iii Contents Chapter 11 SWEDEN...........................................................................................................................110 Eva Hägg and Patrik Marcelius Chapter 12 SWITZERLAND ..............................................................................................................120 David Oser and Karin Mattle Chapter 13 UNITED KINGDOM .....................................................................................................130 Gavin Davies and Mark Bardell Chapter 14 UNITED STATES ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������143 Francis J Aquila Appendix 1 ABOUT THE AUTHORS ...............................................................................................155 Appendix 2 CONTRIBUTING LAW FIRMS’ CONTACT DETAILS...........................................163 iv Chapter 2 AUSTRALIA Quentin Digby and Timothy Stutt1 I OVERVIEW Shareholder activism has long been a feature of the Australian corporate landscape. From corporate ‘raiders’ in the 1980s and 1990s to retail shareholder activists throughout the 2000s, Australia’s shareholder-friendly regulatory regime has supported a robust level of engagement between the country’s listed companies and their shareholders over economic, social and governance issues. However, even in the context of this long-standing tradition of activist engagement, 2017 was a standout year for shareholder activism in Australia. It was the year the nation saw the American hedge fund activist playbook in action, with Elliott Associates and Elliott International (the Elliott Funds) launching an activist campaign against ‘the Big Australian’, global miner BHP. Because of the prominence of the target – BHP is one of the country’s largest companies and its most recognisable brands – the ongoing campaign by the Elliott Funds has elevated the topic of hedge fund activism to become a mainstream area of focus for boardrooms across Australia. II LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK The Australian regulatory framework is conducive to activist campaigns with clear statutory rights afforded to shareholders in respect of accessing the company’s register of shareholders and contacting its shareholders, nominating and removing directors, and requisitioning resolutions and calling shareholders’ meetings. Further, Australian listed companies are not permitted to have ‘poison pills’ and almost universally have a single class of ordinary voting shares, as required by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). However, in spite of this, there are certain defences and structural advantages available to boards and management of listed companies in Australia when responding to activist campaigns. i Contacting shareholders Under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Corporations Act), companies are required to allow anyone to inspect their register of shareholders. The Corporations Act also provides a process for people to request copies of the register