This research report is part of a project, funded by the Australian Research Council, which will contribute to a broader understanding of the role of financial literacy and consumer behaviour in Australia. The research report explores the causes of financial behaviour and considers whether...

The fees charged by financial institutions are coming under increasing scrutiny. In this paper exit fees, or the fees charged by financial institutions for early termination of a variable rate mortgage, are analysed. The authors discuss why these fees are a concern, including the potential...

Through employee share schemes, employees have the opportunity to take up equity in the company for which they work. There are two distinct types of employee share schemes: ‘broad-based' schemes that are open to the majority of employees within a company, and ‘narrow-based' schemes that are...

This paper presents the results of a study that measures the costs associated with litigation for plaintiff and defendant companies for a sample of companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The study uses event study methodology to examine the effects of litigation initiation...

An important debate concerns the meaning of the duty imposed on company directors to act in the best interests of the company. Are shareholders' interests paramount when directors act in accordance with this duty? To what extent can the interests of stakeholders other than shareholders be...

Employee share ownership in Australia has, until recently, been largely unchartered, despite considerable public policy interest in the area. Although empirical research has recently been undertaken into the current incidence and forms of broad-based employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) in...

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has several enforcement options available to it where a company breaches its continuous disclosure obligations by not promptly disclosing price sensitive information. The most recent enforcement option made available to ASIC is the use...

In Australia, plaintiffs in civil corporate law matters are generally free to choose between the Federal Court and a state or territory Supreme Court when commencing litigation.This research note outlines the results of research undertaken by the authors indicating which courts deliver most...

Non-executive employees are increasingly being offered the opportunity to participate in employee share ownership plans. In many cases, companies provide their employees with shares or options as a 'gift', either on a one-off or regular basis. Many plans, however, are structured so as to require...