Australian Shareholders Association
The Australian Shareholders’ Association (ASA) educates investors and stands up for shareholder rights.
| Founded | 1960 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-Profit Organization |
| Focus | Protect - Learn - Connect - Shareholder rights, advocacy and education |
| Location |
|
Key people | Allan Goldin (Chair)
John Cowling (Acting CEO) Silvana Eccles (National Operations & Education Manager) Fiona Balzer (Policy & Advocacy Manager) |
| Website | australianshareholders |
It is Australia's largest, independent, not-for-profit individual investor association. ASA is passionate about keeping the market fair for the everyday, independent investor, and has been doing just that since 1960.
ASA provides members with a community of experienced investors and shareholders. Members are able to further their investment knowledge through the annual conference, monthly meetings and discussion groups (including in regional areas), as well as one-off seminars and workshops.
ASA’s mission is to:
- protect shareholders’ rights
- make individual shareholders’ vote count
- help individual investors on their investment journey
- connect people to a community of investors.
Current activities
Protecting shareholders’ rights ASA regularly reviews the performance and corporate governance of ASX200 companies and advocates for the equitable treatment of retail shareholders. Its volunteer company monitors actively engage with company directors, attend AGMs and write voting intentions in line with ASA policy, based on independent analysis of annual reports and financial statements. Company monitors also represent ASA at AGMs, where issues such as executive remuneration, company performance, shareholder rights and director qualifications/workloads are discussed, and proxies voted. AGM Reports are prepared by the company monitors and are available online to members, so they can see how Australia's leading companies are performing and how effectively they're managed.
Making investors’ vote count As a retail investor, it’s important to have a place to ask questions, influence change, and challenge company decisions. ASA does just that, championing individual investors’ rights and amplifying their voice on shareholder matters. ASA votes on $4 billion worth of proxies each year and, through the shared voice of members, influences boards and company directors. ASA is also the only organisation to engage with regulators, government bodies and ASX listed companies on behalf of retail shareholders. All shareholders are welcome to nominate ASA as their proxy.
Helping individual investors on their investment journey ASA offers members regular learning and education opportunities, so they can hone their financial knowledge and investment skills with information that’s relevant for retail shareholders. Investors can choose from a range of learning formats in line with their needs, including face-to-face and online, with everything from workshops to webinars and expert speakers on offer. ASA also publishes a monthly magazine, EQUITY and organises an annual national conference.
Connecting to a community of investors ASA has a thriving investment community where members can build relationships, engage new ideas and learn with like-minded investors. ASA provides a diverse range of forums and events across online and face-to-face channels, including member meetings across Australia where investors can share ideas, strategies and approaches.
Industry Groups and Committees
The ASA represents shareholder and member interests on the following industry groups and committees:[1]
- AASB Disclosure Initiative Project Advisory Panel
- ASIC Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP)
- ASIC Regional Liaison Committee
- ASX Corporate Governance Council
- ASX CHESS Replacement project
- ATO Individual Stewardship Group
- Business Reporting Leaders Forum (BRLF)
- Corporate Reporting Users Forum
- Security Registrars Association of Australia
Achievements
ASA has proactively promoted good corporate governance and advanced shareholders’ interests by:[2]
- consistently advocating for regulatory reform (i.e. two strikes rule) regarding remuneration excesses in Australian companies and voting against poorly structured remuneration structures
- arguing for companies to move to longer-term incentive schemes
- being the world's largest retail shareholder group voting the greatest number of proxies
- successfully negotiating with Australian companies to increase the capped share purchase plan offered to retail shareholders
- successfully persuading companies to send reminder emails to shareholders in the final week of a capital raising offer, substantially increasing participation
- being the dominant voice at AGMs and, along with the $4 billion+ in undirected proxies received each year, being in a unique position to influence boards and companies on behalf of retail shareholders. A majority of ASX200 Chairs meet with ASA representatives prior to their AGM, enabling influence over a company's governance and board performance
- by introducing a workload policy of 5 equivalent directorships for directors and no external directorships for CEOs.
Membership
ASA represents 15,000 individual investors.[3]
Leadership
ASA is overseen by an experienced Board of Directors comprising a Chair and five directors.[4] All Board members work on a pro bono basis.
- Allan Goldin (2016—present; appointed Chair 2019)
- Alison Buxton (2017—present)
- David Fletcher (2016—present)
- Carol Limmer (2019-present)
- Peter Rae (2019-present)
- Mike Robey (2019-present)
Chair
- Allan Goldin (2019-present)
- Diana D'Ambra (2015–2019)
- Ian Curry (2012–2015)
- Helen Dent (2009-2012)
- Ian Curry (2007–08)
- Stephen Matthews (2005–07)
- John Curry (2003–05)