Important information for ASX Listed Entities

Non-Business and Non-Trading Days for 2006

1. ASX has previously published non-business days and non-trading days in a Guidance Note to the Listing Rules (GN 19), which is replaced every December. From now on, non-business and non-trading days will be advised by means of a Companies Update.

2. 'Business day' is defined in listing rule 19.12 as:
   
   Monday to Friday inclusive, except New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and any other day that ASX declares is not a business day.

3. The ASX Market Rules define 'trading day' as:
   
   a day determined by ASX to be a Trading Day and notified to Market Participants.

4. The Trading Calendar for the 2006 calendar year, identifying public holidays, both national and state, is available on the ASX website.  It indicates whether they are non-business days (no ASTC settlement) and/or non-trading days (equities market closed). Any weekday not included in the attached calendar is a 'business day' and 'trading day' as defined.

5. ASX reserves the right to declare other days as non-business days and non-trading days.

6. All home branches for Issuers and the Company Announcements Office will be open for business on all trading days, even though that day may be a non-business day or a public holiday in the State of that home branch.

7. The time limits set out in the timetables contained in the Appendices to the Listing Rules are by reference to business days. Listed companies are reminded that if they are preparing a timetable for an issue or offer to existing security holders, a dividend, a call, a capital reorganisation, or any similar corporate action, the draft timetable may be lodged with ASX on a confidential basis for discussion with their ASX Adviser.

Equity Market Reforms - changes to the Closing Single Price Auction

8. From 28 November 2005, Broker Identifiers have been removed from SEATS. In conjunction with this change, the timing of the Closing Single Price Auction (CSPA) each day on SEATS has changed from 4.05 pm EST to 4.15 pm EST, and late CSPA's are no longer available. This has an effect on what happens to a listed company's securities when a price sensitive announcement is received after 4.00 pm EST. For further information on this subject, please refer to the article 'ASX Reforms set to enhance equity market liquidity' which appeared in the November 2005 edition of the Listed@ASX newsletter.

Trading Hours and Company Announcement Office Hours over the Christmas and New Year holidays

9. The early closing times for SEATS and CAO on the trading days preceding Christmas Day and New Year's Day have been announced. Normal trading will cease at 2.00 pm EDST, and the CSPA will take place at 2.15 pm EDST, on each of Friday 23 December 2005 and Friday 30 December 2005. SEATS Market Control will be closed from 2.30 pm EDST on each of these days. CAO will be closed from 4.30 pm EDST on each of these days. 

Deadlines for Periodic Reports, 2006

10. The Reporting Calendar for the 2006 calendar year (PDF 25KB), identifying the deadlines for periodic reports of listed companies with balance dates of 31 December or 30 June, is now available on the ASX website.  Overseas-incorporated companies are reminded that the transitional extension to the reporting deadlines for Appendices 4D and 4E are applicable only to entities that report in accordance with AIFRS.  Listed companies are referred to Chapter 4 (PDF 190KB) and Chapter 5 (PDF 114KB) of the Listing Rules, and Listing Rule 17.5 (PDF 129KB), in relation to their periodic reporting obligations.