AGMs
2008 IOOF AGM audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 IOOF AGM.
Nov. 19, 2008
2008 AED Oil AGM audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 AED Oil AGM.
Nov. 19, 2008
ABC Learning 2008 credit committee audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 ABC Learning creditors committee
Nov. 19, 2008
Tatts Group AGM 2008 audio
Here are links to the edited audio highlights from the 2008 Tattersalls Group AGM held at Moone Valley Race Course on November 19.
Nov. 19, 2008
Slater & Gordon 2008 AGM audio links
Here are the edited audio highlights from the Slater & Gordon AGM held on November 14 in Melbourne.
Nov. 17, 2008
2008 CBA AGM audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 Commonwealth Bank AGM.
Nov. 14, 2008
2008 Housewares AGM audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 Credit Corp AGM.
Nov. 11, 2008
2008 Credit Corp AGM audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 Credit Corp AGM held in Sydney on November 10.
Nov. 11, 2008
2008 Computershare AGM audio
Here are the links to the audio highlights from the 2008 Computershare AGM.
Nov. 11, 2008
SEEK 2008 AGM audio links
Here are the audio highlights from the 2008 Seek AGM held in Melbourne on November 6.
Nov. 11, 2008
The AGMs we've attended in 2008
Here is a list of the AGMs that we've asked questions at so far in 2008.
By Stephen Mayne, Nov. 14, 2008
Babcock & Brown Power 2008 AGM audio links
Here are the edited audio highlights from the 2008 Babcock & Brown Power AGM held on November 7 in Sydney.
Nov. 7, 2008
2008 Platinum Asset Management AGM
Here are the edited audio highlights from the 2008 Platinum Asset Management AGM held on November 4 in Sydney.
Nov. 10, 2008
ConnectEast 2008 AGM audio links
Here are the audio links for the 2008 ConnectEast AGM held on October 31, 2008 in Melbourne
Nov. 10, 2008
Allco Equity Partners 2008 AGM
Here are the edited highlights from the 2008 Allco Equity Partners AGM held in Sydney on November 5.
Nov. 9, 2008
2008 BBI AGM audio links
Here are the audio links for the 2008 Babcock & Brown Infrastructure AGM held on November 5 in Sydney.
Nov. 5, 2008
Toll Holdings AGM audio links
Here are the audio highlights from the dramatic Toll Holdings AGM held on October 30 at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne when the remuneration report was almost voted down and we exposed what can only be described as highway robbery by the executive directors and negligent complicity by the independent directors.
Oct. 31, 2008
Tackling Hellicar at Amalgamated Holdings
Listen to the exchanges from the 2008 Amalgamated Holdings AGM held in Sydney's State Theatre on October 24.
not published
Macquarie Media 2008 AGM audio links
Here are the edited audio highlights from the Macquarie Media AGM held on October 29 at Sydney's Sheraton on the Park hotel.
Oct. 29, 2008
CMH 2008 AGM audio links
Here are all the audio links to the various exchanges with James Packer and John Alexander at the Consolidated Media Holdings AGM on October 28 in Melbourne.
Oct. 29, 2008
Crown 2008 AGM audio links
Here are the edited audio files of the various exchanges with James Packer at the 2008 Crown AGM in Melbourne on October 28.
Oct. 30, 2008
Costello Press Room audio link
Oct. 28, 2008
Meeting the Wilsons at 2008 Reece AGM
Reece Australia is one of the great Australian success stories but just because the billionaire Wilson family owns 77%, doesn't mean that it is okay to treat shareholder question with contempt at the AGM on October 22 in Melbourne.
Oct. 27, 2008
Taking on Ken Moss at Boral in 2008
The 2008 AGM where we were amazed that the chairman said no to the question of retiring considering his record regarding the capital destruction when he was on boards of NAB and GPT.
Oct. 27, 2008
AWB EGM approving new constitution
AWB finally adopted a new constitution ending its farmer gerrymander on October 22 and we were there praising the reformist board and asking a few questions just in case a board tilt is necessary at next year's AGM.
Oct. 27, 2008
2008 AFIC AGM
I couldn't make it so sent along a proxy to ask Chairman Bruce Teele again about removing Stan Wallis from the board. Listen to the undemocratic response of the chairman shutting down my proxy's question.
Oct. 20, 2008
ASX AGM
Another failed board tilt but managed a large abstain protest vote. Plenty of media coverage and plenty of questions.
not published
AMCIL AGM
Again asked chairman Bruce Teele why Stan Wallis is allowed safe harbour on the AMCIL.
Oct. 17, 2008
Incitec Pivot EGM
I turned up today was to ask why the 72-year-old former Centro chairman Brian Healey was still hanging around like a bad smell on the Incitec Pivot board.
Oct. 17, 2008
Drama at the AWB EGM
The AWB EGM on August 21 was a dramatic event.
Sep. 1, 2008
Near punch-up at James Hardie AGM
The James Hardie AGM in Sydney on August 20 almost produced a punch-up.
Sep. 1, 2008
Macquarie Group's 2008 AGM
The Macquarie Group AGM produced plenty of action in Melbourne on July 23, 2008.
Sep. 1, 2008
Everest Babcock & Brown AGM 2008
The Everest Babcock & Brown AGM in Sydney on May 30, 2008, produced some interesting debate about its troubled performance and the relationship with Babcock.
Jun. 25, 2008
Full list of AGMs attended
Here are the lists of the 288 AGMs we've attended since 1998.
Nov. 14, 2008
Babcock implosion - all our coverage
Babcock & Brown shares have plunged and the financial engineers are now at the mercy of their bankers. Below is a multi-media package containing all our interactions and commentary about the teetering specialist fund manager.
Jun. 25, 2008
Great AGM quotes
Here are a few of our favourite sledges from AGMs over the past decade.
Jun. 25, 2008
Another fascinating round with Frank Lowy
May. 23, 2008
Aggression and obfuscation from Macquarie Airports
May. 23, 2008
Farewell to Owen Hegarty at Oxiana
The Oxiana Resources AGM was held on April 17, 2008, in Melbourne. We launched our campaign to have CEO Owen Hegarty installed as CEO of the combined entity with Zinifex after the $10 billion merger goes through.
Jun. 25, 2008
Campaigning against broken webcast links
In chasing down all this old records from AGMs we've been reviewing plenty of websites and discovering that quite a number of companies trumpet the fact they have archived webcasts available but then don't actually deliver the goods.
Jul. 9, 2008
Progress report on getting AGM records
We're getting towards the end of our exercise in writing to companies asking for transcripts or audio files from old AGMs, so that this book project will accurately tell the tale of what happened at some 300-plus AGMs over the years. Here's a progress report thus far:
Jul. 9, 2008
Time for some retirements at Axa
The Axa Asia Pacific AGM was held on April 16, 2008, in Melbourne. We had several cracking exchanges and landed a few hits on some of the time-serving has beens on the board. Check out the special edition that was sent to Mayne Report subscribers.
Apr. 24, 2008
The 2008 mini AGM season
Here is a list of the shareholder meeting for companies with a December 31 balance date.
Jun. 5, 2008
Timbercorp one of the best AGMs ever
This is the report sent to Mayne Report subscribers hours after the Timbercorp AGM finished on February 21, 2008.
Mar. 12, 2008
MFS EGM 2008
Apr. 18, 2008
AGM transcripts provided so far
We've been slowly emailing companies asking them to send through transcripts from past AGMs for a book project. The likes of Rio Tinto and Macquarie Bank have obstinately declared they are "not available" and Fortescue Metals claims to have no records. However, some companies are obliging and what follows are the edited down versions of the transcripts that we've got so far.
Jul. 21, 2008
AWB takes a major step forward
We're now well on the way to fixing up AWB's notorious governance structure as open competition for wheat exports beckons.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 14, 2008
The documents behind Rupert's pay-TV piracy battle
Charlie Ergen's Echostar recently sued News Corp affiliate NDS for $US1 billion alleging an incredible piracy conspiracy, but a jury recently awarded a paultry $US1500. Here are all the key documents which must have caused Rupert some sleepless nights, given the remarkable claims of espionage, deceit, theft and double-dealing.
By Stephen Mayne, May. 29, 2008
Our favourite AGM audio exchanges
Below is a well-edited package of favourite AGM highlights from the past 12 months. They are all snappy 2-3 minute affairs and well worth a listen.
Nov. 7, 2008
How we saved IAG $300 million
Shareholder activism, and journalism for that matter, is all about trying to change outcomes for the better and this tale is one of the Mayne Report's proudest boasts, because it really does seem that we helped save the shareholders of Insurance Australia Group $300 million.
By Jason Groves, Jul. 9, 2008
2007: a record 53 AGMs attended
We've been raising debate at AGMs for 10 years now but 2007 was our busiest ever year with 52 companies hit with questions and comments about their operations. This is how the year progressed, starting with the most recent encounters.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 30, 2008
Audio files from recent AGMs
Here are some audio files of interesting Mayne Report exchanges at recent shareholder meetings.
Feb. 22, 2008
2006: cranking it up again with 22 AGMs
A modest work rate of 23 shareholder meetings in 2006 still produced some memorable encounters, especially PBL and Macquarie Bank.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 8, 2008
2005: back in the activism game with 13 AGMs
After attending only one AGM in 15 months, Crikey was sold in March 2005 in part to free up time to get back into shareholder activism. The result was a modestly improved turn-up rate of 13 AGMs for 2005, but it included a trip to New York to maintain relations with Rupert Murdoch.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 8, 2008
2004: a pathetic year for activism with just Rupert
So much for being a shareholder activist. Running Crikey, the federal election, the birth of our third child and the move into Melbourne's eastern suburbs all conspired to leave 2004 with just one AGM appearance - Rupert Murdoch in Adelaide.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 8, 2008
2003: attendance rate falls again to 16
The pressures of children and running Crikey, combined with the move from South Melbourne to Camberwell saw the 2003 AGM attendance rate reach 16, which wasn't too bad given all that was going on but still far too low.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 8, 2008
2002: huge year for Crikey, but only 21 AGMs
The board tilts continued in 2002 but the attendance record was starting to drop off as a huge year at Crikey unfolded. The highlight was definitely almost cracking the News Corp board.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 9, 2008
2001: busy times but still 30 AGMs
Steve Price was suing us, Crikey went daily and daughter Laura arrived, but we still managed to ask questions at 30 shareholder meetings in 2001.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 8, 2008
2000: a big year with 46 AGMs and 10 board tilts
Apart from 2007, the year 2000 remains our biggest yet for AGMs with questions asked at 46 meetings, including 10 board tilts, some which generated strong support. The highlight was almost cracking Woolies board.
Jul. 18, 2008
1999: 17 AGMs post-Tele and pre-Crikey
The Daily Telegraph series ended in November 1998, but by September 1999 I was out of journalism and taking on Jeff Kennett through jeffed.com so we managed a few AGMs late in the year before launching Crikey in February 2000.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 9, 2008
1998: attended 24 AGMs as Tele business editor
Our shareholder activism started way back in 1998 when we produced a 14-part series for The Daily Telegraph on life as an active shareholder.
By Stephen Mayne, Jul. 9, 2008
AGMs we've asked questions at since 1998
Here is a list of AGMs where Stephen Mayne has asked questions as a shareholder or proxy since it all began way back in October 1998, complete with links to stories written at the time and any relevent media coverage.
Nov. 10, 2008
The AGMs I really regret missing
Here is a list of some AGMs that I really regret missing over the years, with links to press reports that explain why.
By Stephen Mayne, Jan. 28, 2008
AGMs attended but said nothing at
With the world's biggest small portfolio and the luxury of our own publication, there is no problem speaking at AGMs these days. However, as a regular reporter for mainstream newspapers and someone who was almost financially ruined there were plenty of meetings over the years which I attended but didn't ask questions at. Here is a list of them, along with any relevent reports from the day.
By Stephen Mayne, Feb. 7, 2008
Is the AGM dead?
This article appeared in the Chartered Secretaries Australia magazine in 2006.
By Stephen Mayne, Jan. 14, 2008
Jousting with the colourful HFA and MFS boys
Listed Australian asset manager HFA Holdings has agreed to pay $730 million for a US hedge fund called Lighthouse Partners such that the combined operation will look after $9 billion globally.
Jan. 8, 2008
Robert Reeves vs ANZ - the slugfest continues
The ding dong struggle between Robert Reeves and his former colleagues at the ANZ bank continues.
Jan. 9, 2008
Cynically timed AGM scheduling
Ever since HIH Insurance scheduled its last AGM for Friday, December 15, 2000, starting at 4pm in Redfern, we've been campaigning hard against cynically timed AGMs. Unfortunately, the phenomenon seems to be getting worse, especially the Friday club.
By Stephen Mayne, Jan. 9, 2008
How an AGM should be run
This was first published by Crikey in 2000, but has resonance today as we strive to improve public company AGMs.
By Stephen Mayne, Dec. 26, 2007
2007 websites assessment
Our multimedia guys have reviewed the websites of all companies whose annual meetings we attended last year and here's their assessment of what is a pretty disappointing offering.
