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
