AGMs

Top 12 2009 AGMs

We only attended 43 AGMs in 2009 including five board tilts without success. Below is a chronological list of the best 12 AGMs of 2009 based on the quality or mood of the debate.

Jan. 11, 2010

Full list of AGMs attended

Here are the lists of the AGMs we've attended since 1998.

Jan. 15, 2010

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 relevant media coverage.

Jan. 12, 2010

Multiple AGM battles

We've put together this package of companies where we have had more than three encounters over the years. News Corp and Macquarie are equal favorites with eight AGMs attended.

Jan. 18, 2010

Major AGMs in 2010 mini-season

Here is a diary of AGMs we're interested in for companies with December 31 balance date who will be meeting with shareholders in April and May of 2010.

Jan. 29, 2010

Questions on capital raising fairness at AGMs

Amidst the biggest deluge of capital raisings in Australian corporate history, we have been raising serious questions about the fairness of the system at AGMs as follows. Click on the links below.

Jan. 12, 2010

Audio of campaign speeches

Jan. 12, 2010

Getting auditors to speak at AGMs

Below is a compilation of audio files from various AGMs over the years where auditors have been asked to comment on the accounts.

Jan. 12, 2010

Our favourite AGM audio exchanges

Below is a package of favourite AGM highlights since we launched The Mayne Report in 2007. They are largely snappy 2-3 minute affairs and well worth a listen.

Jan. 12, 2010

Great AGM sledges and response to our questions

Here are a few of our favourite sledges from AGMs over the past decade.

Jan. 15, 2010

Ranking the top 50 on webcasting archives

Here is an attempt to rank the 50 largest Australian companies for the quality and completeness of their AGM webcasting and archiving. They are ranked from best to worst.

Jan. 12, 2010

2009: 43 AGMs attended

Here is a list of the 43 AGMs we attended in 2009, plus links to the reports and audio where available.

Jan. 12, 2010

2008: a record 66 AGMs attended

Here is a list of the record 66 AGMs we attended in 2008, plus links to the reports and audio where available.

By Stephen Mayne, Jan. 12, 2010

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, Jan. 12, 2010

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, Jan. 12, 2010

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, Jan. 12, 2010

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, Jan. 12, 2010

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, Jan. 12, 2010

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, Jan. 12, 2010

2001: busy times but still 31 AGMs

Steve Price was suing us, Crikey went daily and daughter Laura arrived, but we still managed to ask questions at 31 shareholder meetings in 2001.

By Stephen Mayne, Jan. 12, 2010

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.

Jan. 12, 2010

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, Mar. 25, 2009

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

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

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.

Dec. 16, 2008

Is the AGM dead?

This article appeared in the Chartered Secretaries Australia magazine in 2006.

By Stephen Mayne, Mar. 25, 2009

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

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, Dec. 4, 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

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

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.

Dec. 4, 2008

2001 Channel Ten AGM account

This account of the Channel Ten AGM was sent to Crikey subscribers on December 5, 2001.

Dec. 11, 2009

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