COVID-19 continues to impact ASX-listed entities across all sectors. Among others, market volatility and uncertain business conditions have made M&A challenging in the immediate term.  ...

Rapid legal and regulatory responses to COVID-19; ASIC consults on pre-IPO relief for voluntary escrow and pre-disclosure communications; ASX compliance update; FIRB flags potential fee refunds for COVID-19 application withdrawals; and ACCC outlines enforcement priorities for 2020 and permits coordination to respond to COVID-19. ...

In its latest compliance update, ASX reiterated that entities in financial difficulty (including with respect to their debt arrangements) will receive no special treatment. On earnings guidance, it was acknowledged that many listed entities have taken the opportunity to withdraw guidance issued before the outbreak of COVID-19. ASX also strongly encouraged entities to review their published guidance in light of COVID-19 and to either update it if it was not current or withdraw it in this highly uncertain climate. ...

VetPartners is a Sydney-based owner and operator of more than 140 veterinary clinics in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The acquisition of more than 100 NVC veterinary clinics will increase ...

It is critical that listed entities understand how COVID-19 is likely to impact their businesses and are prepared to make necessary disclosures to the ASX. To date, the majority of ASX-listed entities have not made any disclosure in relation to COVID-19. In this update we have set out a number of scenarios that should be considered by listed clients as part of the proper and ongoing assessment of the need for disclosure under the ASX Listing Rules. ...

Nucleus corporate law developments: ASIC to sample whistleblower policies; indexation of FIRB screening thresholds; Vodafone/TPG merger cleared in Federal Court; ACCC to commence home loan pricing inquiry; and other corporate law developments ...

Headquartered in Toronto, CPPIB is a global investment manager with a diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets, public equities, private equities, real estate and fixed income instruments. ...

Data remains one of the most undervalued assets, with most companies still failing to even include it as an asset on their balance sheet. Buyers and sellers who can recognise data assets and properly demonstrate how value can be extracted from them will be best placed for future M&A transactions. ...

The Australian Law Reform Commission released for consultation today a set of proposals aimed at overhauling the federal corporate criminal responsibility regime. This comes in the wake of criticisms that the current system is ineffective in preventing, deterring and prosecuting serious corporate crime. Whilst the reforms offer a clearer, consistent and more rational framework for addressing corporate misconduct in Australia, some elements (such as the adoption of a general 'associate' model for criminal attribution) will no doubt raise concern given their capacity to significantly extend corporate liability. We examine some of the key proposals and their likely impact. Partner Christopher Kerrigan and Senior Overseas Practitioner Cindy McNair report. ...

The Federal Court has handed down the first judgment in a shareholder class action. There is plenty in the decision for board members and senior executives to consider in the application of the continuous disclosure laws. ...