Continuous Disclosure Policy
Babcock & Brown is committed to complying with its continuous disclosure obligations pursuant to the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules. Babcock & Brown’s Continuous Disclosure Policy is designed to ensure that all investors have equal and timely access to material information concerning the Company. Babcock & Brown has complied at all times with the ASX Listing Rules on continuous disclosure.
The policy is designed to ensure that material price sensitive information arising from any part of the Group is immediately notified to the ASX in a complete, balanced and timely manner, unless it falls within the scope of the limited exemptions contained in Listing Rule 3.1A.
A Disclosure Committee comprised of various Directors and senior executives operates pursuant to the Continuous Disclosure Policy. The Disclosure Committee is responsible for reviewing information which is or may be material, making disclosures to the ASX and issuing media releases and other written public statements on behalf of the Company. The Company has also designated certain senior executives as reporting officers for the purpose of ensuring that, within their respective areas of responsibility, material information is brought to the attention of the Disclosure Committee.
In addition, the Board is actively and regularly involved in discussing disclosure obligations in respect of all major matters that come before it.
The Company Secretary is primarily responsible for communications with the ASX and for overseeing and maintaining the Continuous Disclosure Policy.
Communication with Shareholders
Consistent with the our Continuous Disclosure Policy, Babcock & Brown is committed to communicating with its shareholders in an effective and timely manner so as to provide them with ready access to information relating to the Group. In this regard, the Company maintains an extensive website (www.babcockbrown.com) which provides access to the following information of interest to shareholders:
- detailed information regarding the Board, executive management and the business groups and activities of the Group.
- all Company announcements and media releases, which are posted to the website promptly following release.
- copies of full-year and interim financial reports.
- summaries of Board and Committee Charters and relevant corporate governance policies.
- copies of the annual reports of the Company.
- access to the website of the Company's Share Registry, including a facility for shareholders to amend their particulars.
The Company encourages shareholders to utilise its website as their primary tool to access shareholder information and disclosures. In addition, the Annual Report facilitates the provision to shareholders by the Company on a yearly basis of detailed information in respect of the major achievements, financial results and strategic direction of the Group.
The Company has a practice that all information to be given by the Company at analyst briefings is first released to the ASX to ensure that the market operates on an equal and fully informed basis.
Shareholders are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in general meetings of the Company, especially the Annual General Meeting. The Company will provide shareholders with details of any proposed meetings well in advance of the relevant dates.
The Group's external auditor attends the Annual General Meetings of the Company and is available to answer shareholder questions about the conduct of the audit and the preparation and content of the auditor's report. This allows shareholders an opportunity to ask questions of the auditor and reinforces the auditor's accountability to shareholders.