Important information for ASX Listed Entities

Profit warnings and other announcements of expected material differences in financial results
ASX in its Companies Update 01/09 released on 22 January 2009 reminded listed entities of the importance of releasing to the market immediately in accordance with their obligations under listing rule 3.1 (PDF 163 KB) any expected material variations to their financial results for the period ended 31 December 2008. ASX would like to take this opportunity to reiterate this message to listed entities in the lead-up to the deadline for lodging periodic reports for annual or half-year reporting periods ended 30 June 2009. 

Entities are required to make an appropriate announcement immediately they become aware that there is expected to be a material difference in the financial results for that period from the results that were recorded in the previous corresponding period, or from forecasts for that period that have been provided to the market by the entity, or (in some cases) from analysts' consensus forecasts. It is not acceptable for the release of such information to be delayed until the release of the periodic financial report (the Appendix 4D, Appendix 4E, or statutory financial report).

Listing rule 3.1 (PDF 163 KB) states:

"Once an entity is or becomes aware of any information concerning it that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of the entity's securities, the entity must tell ASX that information."

Guidance Note 8 (PDF 221 KB) to the ASX Listing Rules is on the subject of Continuous Disclosure and has been issued to assist listed entities to comply with their disclosure obligations. The Guidance Note outlines ASX's expectations in relation to best disclosure practice. Paragraphs 93 to 95 of Guidance Note 8 (PDF 221 KB) are particularly relevant to continuous disclosure obligations in the context of periodic financial reporting.  These paragraphs are reproduced below.

93.  Listing rule 3.1 provides examples of information that, if material, would require disclosure. One of those examples is a change in the entity's previously released financial forecast or expectation. As a general policy, a variation in excess of 10% to 15% may be considered material, and should be announced by the entity as soon as the entity becomes aware of the variation. If the entity has not made a forecast, a similar variation from the previous corresponding period will need to be disclosed. In certain circumstances a smaller variation will be disclosable.

94.  In making such disclosure, the entity must provide some details, however qualified, of the extent of the variation. For example a statement by an entity may indicate that, based on internal management accounts, its expected net profit or EBIT will be an approximate amount (e.g. approximately $6m) or alternatively within a stated range (e.g. between $5m and $7m). Alternatively, the entity may indicate an approximate percentage movement (e.g. "up [or down] by 25 %"). ASX accepts that this information may not be precise and may be changed or amended on completion of the final accounts. ASX discourages entities from using terms such as "single digit" and "double digit" when disclosing financial forecasts or profit variations as they are considered to be insufficiently precise and potentially misleading to investors in assessing the impact of information and making investment decisions.

95.  In some cases, it may be appropriate for a listed entity to disclose material variations from analysts' consensus forecasts and expectations. This may occur where previous results do not provide the most relevant reference point or the market is moving in such a way as to indicate that there is a false market in an entity's securities. Officers of listed entities should refrain from publicly commenting they are "happy" or "comfortable" with analysts' consensus forecasts or a range of analysts' forecasts. If an entity makes comments of this nature, ASX will be likely to ask the entity to immediately release to the Company Announcements Office an expected profit of an approximate amount or an amount within a stated range.

An example relevant to paragraphs 93 to 95 is set out at Example B on page 23 of Guidance Note 8. 

Listed entities are asked to take note that where an entity reports results that have varied by greater than 10% to 15%, ASX will undertake a review of previous announcements made by that entity in the financial reporting period to determine if continuous disclosure obligations have been met. This approach will be adopted in respect of entities whose periodic financial report discloses variations of approximately that size from the results in the previous corresponding reporting period or from forecasts or earnings guidance previously released by the entity itself, and (in appropriate cases) from analysts' consensus forecasts. Where it does not appear from that review that an announcement indicating the likelihood of a material variation in the results had been released prior to the release of the periodic financial report, ASX may write to an entity asking it to state when it first became aware that there would be such a variation. If ASX decides to write to an entity in order to confirm that the entity has met its continuous disclosure obligations, copies of correspondence between ASX and the entity may be released to the market. 

If listed entities have any queries about their reporting obligations in relation to any of the above, ASX encourages them to contact their Issuers Adviser.

Appendix 4D and appendix 4E - presentation of documents
ASX would also like to take this opportunity to draw listed entities' attention to listing rules 4.2C.3 and 4.3C.2 (PDF 191 KB), which state that in relation to information or documents given to ASX under listing rules 4.2A and 4.3A:

The information identified as "Results for announcement to the market" must be set out at the beginning of the document.

The "Results for announcement to the market" section of the announcement forms the basis for the voiceline broadcast which is made for all profit results by the Company Announcements Office (CAO). Profit results also trigger a brief halt in trading while the announcement is prepared by CAO for release and voiceline to the market. 

If the relevant section is not prominently displayed at the front of the document, delays will occur in processing and release, particularly during CAO's busy periods. The full name of the reporting entity should also be included on this front page for inclusion in the voiceline broadcast.

Please note that if you are preparing supplementary documentation to be lodged separately but at the same time as the periodic financial reports (such as media releases and/or presentations), these should be sent to ASX after the Appendix 4D or 4E. The 'sensitive' document which triggers the halt in trading is the relevant Appendix containing the voiceline details described above, and it should therefore always be sent to ASX and released ahead of any supplementary documentation.

ASX would also request that correct user name and telephone number for contact purposes are attached to each e-lodgement so that any issues may be promptly resolved by CAO. 

It would be appreciated if you could take note of these important steps in preparing your half-yearly and preliminary final profit reports in order to avoid unnecessary confusion and delay.

Dividend and distribution information 
To assist ASX to process more efficiently information announced by listed entities about their dividends and distributions, ASX requests that listed entities include the following information in such announcements (including the Appendix 4D or 4E).

Conduit foreign income
Where an entity announces dividends or distributions that are unfranked or partially franked, ASX requests that the announcement make clear the conduit foreign income (CFI) component of that dividend or distribution, even if this component is nil CFIs. 

Dividend/distribution reinvestment plans
Where an entity has a DRP in place, ASX requests that entities make it clear in the announcement whether the DRP will operate or will be suspended for that particular dividend or distribution. The following information should also be given:

• the last election date for the DRP
• the discount rate, if applicable
• ranking of the securities to be issued pursuant to the DRP
• the pricing methodology, and pricing period for determining the issue price under the DRP

If at the time that the dividend or distribution is announced the entity has not decided whether the DRP will operate, or does not know the above details, ASX requests that the entity give an indication of when it expects to confirm details of the DRP's operation. 

Forthcoming non-business days - timetabling issues
Listed entities are reminded that timetables for corporate actions - including dividends, distributions, and entitlements issues - must take into account non-Business days that fall during the period when the corporate action will be running. It is not possible to have the Ex date or the Record date for a corporate action on a non-business day. 

The next 3 non-business days are the Bank Holiday (NSW) (Monday 3 August 2009), Labour Day (NSW) (Monday 5 October 2009), and Melbourne Cup Day (Victoria) (Tuesday 3 November 2009).

The full list of non-business days for 2009 is available on the ASX website.

ASX encourages listed entities to consult with their Issuers Adviser about the timetable for corporate actions. 

Entity details - updating on ASX Online
ASX reminds entities that they are able to update their contact details and other information via their account on ASX Online. ASX requests that entities update this information promptly after any changes, so that our records are accurate.

Updated fees guidance note
Guidance Note 15 (PDF 150KB) to the Listing Rules on ASX Listing Fees has been updated.

ASX Online members with access to the Listing Rules via their ASX Online account will also be able to access the Guidance Note there.