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BENTLEY CAPITAL LIMITED — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2011
Aug 31, 2011
64510_rns_2011-08-31_8f66a57e-9835-4368-83ac-6483e31d7fa4.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING
and
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
TO SHAREHOLDERS
Time and: 11:00 am Date of Meeting on Monday, 3 October 2011 Place of Meeting: The Boardroom FSP Group Level 39, Australia Square 264-278 George Street Sydney, New South Wales
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This document is important and requires your immediate attention. If you are unsure what to do or have any questions in relation to the General Meeting, you should contact your legal, financial or other professional adviser as soon as possible. If you have already sold all of your Bentley shares, please ignore this document.
All of the Directors recommend that Shareholders approve the Return of Capital the subject of the Resolution.
This Notice of Meeting and Explanatory Statement is dated 26 August 2011.
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
Notice of General Meeting
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING
Notice is given that a General Meeting of shareholders of Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218 ( BEL or Company ) will be held in The Boardroom, FSP Group, Level 39 Australia Square, 264-278 George Street , Sydney, New South Wales at 11:00am on Monday, 3 October 2011.
AGENDA
RESOLUTION
Approve Return of Capital
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
“That, for the purposes of Part 2J.1 of the Corporations Act (Cth) 2001 and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the Company reducing its share capital by returning 5 cents per Share to Shareholders registered as at the Record Date , and otherwise on the terms outlined in the Explanatory Statement to this Notice of Meeting”
Dated: 26[th] day of August 2011
By order of the Board,
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Victor Ho Company Secretary
NOTES:
-
Attached to and forming part of this Notice of General Meeting is an Explanatory Statement that provides Shareholders with background information and further details of the Resolution to be considered at the meeting. The information provided is intended to assist Shareholders in understanding the reasons for and effect of the Resolution, if passed.
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Capitalised terms used in this Notice of Meeting have the meaning defined in the Glossary section of the Explanatory Statement.
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A copy of this Meeting Document has been lodged with ASIC and ASX. Neither ASIC nor ASX nor any of their respective officers takes any responsibility for the contents of the Meeting Document.
MEETING DOCUMENT 1 |
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
-
This Explanatory Statement is provided to Bentley Shareholders pursuant to and in satisfaction of the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules.
-
This Explanatory Statement is intended to be read in conjunction with the Notice of General Meeting.
-
Shareholders should read this Meeting Document in full to make an informed decision regarding the resolution considered at this General Meeting.
-
Capitalised terms and abbreviations in this Explanatory Statement have the meaning defined in the Glossary section.
-
The purpose of this Explanatory Statement is to:
-
(a) explain the effect of:
-
(i) the Resolution; and
-
(ii) the Return of Capital which would be made to Shareholders if the Resolution is approved; and
-
-
(b) provide such information as prescribed in:
-
(i) the Corporations Act (including under section 256C of the Corporations Act); and
-
(ii) the Listing Rules (including Listing Rule 7.20),
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or as is otherwise, in the opinion of the Directors, material to the decision of Shareholders in deciding whether to approve the Resolution.
1. BACKGROUND
On 25 August 2011, the Company announced its intention to undertake a 5 cent per Share Return of Capital. The Return of Capital is to be effected by the Company seeking shareholder approval for a reduction in the share capital of the Company by returning 5 cents per share to shareholders – this equates to an aggregate reduction of share capital by approximately $3.63 million based upon the Company’s 72,598,802 shares currently on issue.
The Resolution seeks Shareholder approval for the Company to effect the Return of Capital as required under the Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rules.
2. TERMS OF PROPOSED RETURN OF CAPITAL
(a) Return of Capital
The Company proposes to make a cash payment to Shareholders of 5 cents per Share as a return of capital. This equates to a reduction of share capital by approximately $3,629,940 based upon the Company’s 72,598,802 Shares currently on issue.
The Record Date for determining entitlements to receive the Return of Capital is Tuesday, 11 October 2011.
(b) Payment details
If the Resolution/Return of Capital is approved by Shareholders, payments is expected to be made on Friday, 14 October 2011. Payments will be made by way of cheque or directly into a nominated bank account (for Shareholders who have elected to have payments made directly into a nominated account).
MEETING DOCUMENT 2 |
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
(c) Tax Treatment
Please refer to Section 6 below for information about the tax implications of the Return of Capital for Shareholders.
(d) Indicative Timetable
Set out below is an indicative timetable for the Return of Capital (if the Resolution is approved by Shareholders):
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Latest date for lodgement ofproxies | 11:00 am,1 October 2011 |
| Date of General Meeting of Shareholders to Approve Return of Capital |
11:00 am, Monday, 3 October 2011 |
| Tradingin Shares on an ‘ex Return of Capital basis’(Ex Date) | 6 October 2011 |
| Record Date for determining entitlement toparticipate in the Return of Capital |
7:00pm, 12 October 2011 |
| Implementation of the Return of Capital - anticipated date of distribution of funds and distribution statements to Shareholders |
14 October 2011 |
- All dates and times are indicative only. The Company reserves the right to vary these dates and times. All dates and times in this Meeting Document refer to Sydney time. The Company will make an announcement to ASX of any changes if they occur.
3. REASONS FOR THE RETURN OF CAPITAL
The Return of Capital is proposed by the Company as part of the ongoing capital management initiatives being conducted by the Company to provide value to Shareholders which include the payment of a 2.4 cent fully franked special dividend (in addition to a one cent fully franked final dividend) announced on 25 August 2011[1] and the intention to conduct an on-market share buy-back of up to 6,599,890 Shares announced on 17 August 2011[2] .
These initiatives have also been driven by a desire expressed by a number of Shareholders for the Company to return a portion of its capital to Shareholders.
The Company had considered declaring a special dividend greater than 2.4 cents per share. However, upon review of the ability of the Company to frank such special dividend, it was determined to seek shareholder approval to effect a 5 cent Return of Capital in place of a higher special dividend. This course was adopted upon receipt of advice that the proposed higher special dividend could not be franked to 100% based upon the utilisation of the franking credits currently available to the Company relative to its retained earnings. As such, the proposal to return capital to shareholders presents a potentially more effective manner in which to provide funds to shareholders.
The Company believes that a combination of these various initiatives will be of benefit to all Shareholders by providing a mix of cash via dividends and a Return of Capital in a effective manner whilst implementing mechanisms to potentially increase the NTA backing of the Company and reduce the discount to NTA backing at which the Shares of the Company currently trade.
In determining the amount of capital to be returned to Shareholders, the Directors have allowed for the Company’s planned capital commitments.
1 Refer 25 August 2011 ASX market announcement “Dividends and Proposed Capital Return”
2 Refer 17 August 2011 ASX market announcement “Intention to Conduct On-Market Share Buy-Back” and Appendix 3C – - Announcement of Buy Back dated 17 August 2011 5
MEETING DOCUMENT | 3
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
4. FINANCIAL EFFECTS AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE
4.1. Amount and Source of Return of Capital
The Return of Capital is to be effected by the Company reducing its share capital by returning 5 cents per Share to Shareholders – this equates to an aggregate reduction of share capital by approximately $3,629,940 based upon the Company’s 72,598,802 Shares currently on issue.
The funds required to effect the 5 cents per Share Return of Capital will be sourced from the Company’s existing cash reserves. The Company will redeem sufficient funds from its investment in the FSP Equities Leaders’ Fund (and or realise investments in listed securities) to fund the Return of Capital and the recently announced payment of a final and special fully franked dividend totalling 3.4 cents per Share (costing approximately $2.47 million) (referred to below).
The actual aggregate value of the Return of Capital will depend on the number of Shares on issue as at the Record Date - the Company’s 72,598,802 Shares currently on issue may change as at the Record Date for the following reasons:
-
(a) As a consequence of Shares bought-back and cancelled by the Company pursuant to an onmarket share buy-back announced by the Company on 17 August 2011; and
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(b) As a consequence of the issue of new Shares to participants under the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) in relation to the one cent per share final dividend and 2.4 cents per share special dividend (totalling 3.4 cents (fully franked)) announced by the Company on 25 August 2011.
Further details of these capital management initiatives are as follows:
(a) On-Market Share Buy-Back
On 17 August 2011[3] , the Company announced its intention to conduct an on-market share buyback of up to 6,599,890 shares ( Buy-Back ). This represents ~9.1% of the pre Buy-Back and 10% of the post Buy-Back issued share capital of the Company.
In accordance with ASX Listing Rule 7.33, the Company will not pay any more than 5% above the average of the market price for the Company's shares over the last 5 days on which sales in the shares were recorded prior to the Buy-Back occurring. Also, the Company intends not to acquire shares under the Buy-Back at a price higher than 65% of its post tax NTA backing per share as announced to the ASX from month to month.
In this regard, the NTA backing result for 31 August will include a provision for the 3.4 cent final and special dividend referred to above and the 30 September NTA backing result will be adjusted to reflect the proposed Return of Capital of 5 cents per Share (if Shareholders approve the Resolution) such that the Buy-Back price for the month of October (which is capped at 65% of the post tax NTA backing per Share for the previous month) is adjusted to reflect the 5 cents per Share Return of Capital.
The Buy-Back will continue until the earlier of the acquisition of the Buy-Back shares or 31 August 2012, subject to the Company exercising its right to suspend or terminate the Buy-Back, or amend its terms, at any time.
Further, the Company only intends to buy back shares each month between the trading day after the Company announces its monthly updated NTA backing (usually on or about the 14th of the month) and the last trading day of that calendar month.
3 Refer 17 August 2011 ASX market announcement “Intention to Conduct On-Market Share Buy-Back” and Appendix 3C – - Announcement of Buy Back dated 17 August 2011
MEETING DOCUMENT 4 |
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
The Company intends the Buy-Back to commence on the first trading day following the release of its NTA backing result for the month ending 31 August 2011, expected to be released on 14 September and hence the Buy-Back is intended to commence on 15 September 2011.
The Return of Capital is not anticipated to impact the Company’s ability to undertake the BuyBack.
(b) Dividend Reinvestment Plan
On 25 August 2011[4] , the Company announced details of payment of a one cent final dividend and a 2.4 cent special dividend (totalling 3.4 cents (fully franked)). The record date will be 5 September 2011 with payment to be effected on or about 26 September 2011.
The Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan ( DRP ) will apply to these dividends. The Directors have determined that the DRP issue price will be at a 2.5% discount to the Company’s volume weighted average price on ASX in the 5 day period up to and including the dividend record date. The Company will lodge a market announcement advising the final DRP issue price after the dividend record date.
4.2. Effect on Capital Structure
The Company has 72,598,802 fully paid ordinary shares on issue as at the date of this Meeting Document. The Company does not have any other securities on issue.
No Shares will be cancelled as a result of the Return of Capital. Accordingly, the number of Shares held by each Shareholder will not change as a consequence of the Return of Capital. The Return of Capital will have no effect on the number of Shares on issue.
4.3. Effect on Shareholders
If the Resolution is approved, the Return of Capital will:
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(a) result in an equal return of capital being made on a pro rata basis to all Shareholders - all Shareholders will participate equally in the Return of Capital in proportion with their Shareholding in the Company as at the Record Date;
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(b) enable a cash amount equal to 5 cents per Share to be paid to Shareholders holding Shares on the Record Date, with payment expected to be made in accordance with the Indicative Timetable set out above; and
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(c) not affect the number of Shares held by each Shareholder.
4.4. Effect on Creditors
Having regard to the Company’s current, anticipated and contingent financial requirements, the Directors have assessed that the Return of Capital will not adversely impact the rights of the Company’s creditors or the ability of the Company to pay its debts as and when they fall due.
4 Refer 25 August 2011 ASX market announcement “Dividends and Proposed Capital Return”
MEETING DOCUMENT | 5
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
4.5. Impact On Company’s Investment Activities, Business and Growth Opportunities
In light of the Company’s current financial position and the outflow of funds under the Return of Capital, Buy-Back and recently announced dividend payment, in the opinion of the Board, notwithstanding the reduction in its capital base, the Return of Capital is not likely to have a material impact on the Company’s ability to undertake its investment activities and fund investment opportunities.
4.6. Share Price Impact
If the Return of Capital is approved by Shareholders and implemented, Bentley Shares may trade at a lower Share price than they would have done had the Return of Capital not been implemented, reflecting the outflow of funds (represented by the Return of Capital amount per Share) from the Company. This is likely to occur from the “ex” date, being the day that Shares trade without an entitlement to participate in the Return of Capital.
Bentley’s recent reported NTA backings (post tax), VWAP and high and low trading prices on ASX are as follows:
| For Month Ending | High | Low | VWAP | NTA Backing (post tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (cents) | (cents) | (cents) | (cents) | |
| 24-Aug-2011 | 24.5 | 17.5 | 20.99 | N/A |
| 31-Jul-2011 | 23 | 22 | 22.82 | 39.4 |
| 30-Jun-2011 | 24 | 22 | 23.07 | 39.7 |
| 31-May-2011 | 25 | 23 | 24.06 | 42.0 |
| 30-Apr-2011 | 25 | 22 | 22.17 | 43.1 |
| 31-Mar-2011 | 26 | 26 | 25.19 | 43.9 |
4.7. Impact on Consolidated Financial Position
A post–Return of Capital Pro Forma Abridged Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is set out below to demonstrate the financial position of the Company after payment of the Return of Capital.
The Pro Forma Abridged Consolidated Statement of Financial Position has been prepared on the following basis:
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(a) The starting position is derived from the audited accounts of the Company for the financial year to 30 June 2011 (as reported in the Company’s 30 June 2011 Full Year Report released on ASX on 25 August 2011);
-
(b) Reflecting the position if the Return of Capital had been completed on 30 June 2011 – that is, $3,629,940 will be returned to Shareholders based on the current 72,598,802 Shares on issue;
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(c) Reflecting the payment of $2,468,359 in respect of the 3.4 cents per share fully franked final and special dividend recently announced by the Company (referred to above);
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(d) Reflecting a redemption of $6,000,000 from the Company’s investment in the FSP Equities Leaders Fund to realise cash to fund the Return of Capital and dividend payments;
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(e) On the assumption that no new Shares have been issued under the DRP in relation to the dividends;
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(f) On the assumption that none of the existing 72,598,802 Shares on issue have been bought-back under the recently announced Buy-Back (referred to above); and
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(g) In accordance with the measurement and recognition requirements of applicable Australian Accounting Standards and the Company’s accounting policies (as reported in the Company’s 30 June 2011 Full Year Report).
MEETING DOCUMENT | 6
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
PRO FORMA ABRIDGED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
| CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Financial assets held at fair value through profit and loss Trade and other receivables Other current assets TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON CURRENT ASSETS Resource project Property, plant and equipment Deferred tax assets TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES NON CURRENT LIABILITIES Provisions Deferred tax liabilities TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS EQUITY Issued capital Retained earnings TOTAL EQUITY |
Audited Pro-Forma 30 June 2011 30 June 2011 $ $ 155,948 (98,299) 57,649 28,467,511 (6,000,000) 22,467,511 157,378 157,378 24,887 24,887 Dividend and Return of Capital Adjustments |
|---|---|
| 28,805,724 22,707,425 |
|
| 63,871 63,871 12,501 12,501 - |
|
| 76,372 76,372 |
|
| 28,882,096 22,783,797 |
|
| 58,811 58,811 |
|
| 58,811 58,811 |
|
| 16,813 16,813 - - |
|
| 16,813 16,813 |
|
| 75,624 75,624 |
|
| 28,806,472 22,708,173 |
|
| 26,308,733 (3,629,940) 22,678,793 2,497,739 (2,468,359) 29,380 |
|
| 28,806,472 22,708,173 |
The Pro Forma Abridged Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is presented in abbreviated form as a guide and does not contain all the disclosures that are usually provided in an annual report prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act. The Pro Forma Abridged Consolidated Statement of Financial Position does not constitute a representation of the future financial position or prospects of the Bentley group.
Further information about the Company’s business, financial position and prospects is contained in the 30 June 2011 Full Year Report (released on ASX on 25 August 2011) and other Company announcements and reports which can be accessed on the website at www.bel.com.au.
MEETING DOCUMENT 7 |
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
4.8. Impact on Dividend Policy
It is the intention of the Board to maintain its current dividend policy (as reported in the Company’s 30 June 2011 Full Year Report) post-Return of Capital.
4.9. Tax Implications for the Company
No taxation consequences are expected to arise for the Company as a result of effecting the Return of Capital.
5. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RETURN OF CAPITAL
5.1. Section 256 of the Corporations Act
(a) An Equal Reduction of Capital
Section 256B(2) of the Corporations Act provides that a capital reduction is an ‘equal reduction’ under the Corporations Act if:
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(i) it relates only to ordinary shares; and
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(ii) applies to each holder of ordinary shares in proportion to the number of ordinary shares they hold; and
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(iii) the terms of the reduction are the same for each holder of ordinary shares.
The proposed Return of Capital satisfies the criteria in section 256B(2) and, as such, is treated as an equal reduction of capital for the purposes of the Corporations Act.
(b) Statutory requirements
Under section 256B(1) of the Corporations Act, a company can reduce its share capital if the reduction satisfies three key requirements.
The three requirements and how they are being met by the Company are:
- (i) The reduction must be fair and reasonable to the Company’s shareholders as a whole
The Directors of the Company consider that the Return of Capital is fair and reasonable to all Shareholders of the Company, as it applies to all Shareholders equally having regard to the number of shares in the Company held by each of them.
(ii) The reduction does not prejudice the Company’s ability to pay its creditors
The Directors have reviewed the financial position of the Company, including its assets, liabilities, expected cashflow and capital requirements, and believe the proposed Return of Capital will not prejudice the Company’s ability to pay creditors and to continue with the current on-market Buy-Back. The Directors have also satisfied themselves as to the solvency of the Company following the implementation of the Return of Capital. Refer also to the ProForma Abridged Consolidated Statement of Financial Position in Section 4.7 above.
MEETING DOCUMENT | 8
6
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
- (iii) The reduction is approved by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of shareholders under section 256C of the Corporations Act
This requirement is being met through the holding of this General Meeting in which the Company is seeking Shareholder approval for the Return of Capital. As an ordinary resolution, the Resolution will be passed if at least 50% of the votes cast in person or by proxy by Shareholders at the meeting who are entitled to vote on the Resolution are cast in favour of the Resolution.
The Directors are of the view that, subject to Shareholders approving the Resolution, the Return of Capital meets the requirements of section 256B(1) of the Corporations Act and, as such, that the Company is permitted to undertake the Return of Capital for the purposes of that section.
5.2. ASX Listing Rule 7.20
The Return of Capital does not require approval of Shareholders under the Listing Rules.
The following information is provided for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.20:
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(a) The proposed Return of Capital will not change the number of Shares held by each Shareholder in the Company (or the amount, if any, unpaid on their Shares).
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(b) There are no options or other convertible securities on issue by the Company as at the date of this Meeting Document.
6. TAXATION CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general description of the Australian capital gains tax ( CGT ) consequences of Shareholders receiving the Return of Capital. The information applies only to Shareholders who hold their Shares on capital account and therefore may be assessed for tax under the CGT provisions in respect of all or a portion of the amount received under the Return of Capital. It does not apply to Shareholders who hold their Shares as trading stock in the course of carrying on a business of trading in shares (eg. in general, Shareholders who are professional share traders) or who hold their Shares for the purpose of sale at a profit. The tax consequences for those Shareholders may differ significantly from those discussed below. Such Shareholders should obtain their own tax advice.
The information below is based on current income tax legislation and administrative practices, but it is not intended to be an authoritative or complete statement of the law applicable to the particular circumstances of all Shareholders. These laws, the interpretation of them by the courts, and administrative practice may change at any time, and sometimes with retrospective effect. Bentley has not received a class ruling from the ATO for shareholders who participate in the Return of Capital, nor does it intend to seek such a ruling.
The information in this document is not intended to be advice and should not be relied upon on that basis. Shareholders should seek independent professional advice in relation to their own particular circumstances.
MEETING DOCUMENT | 9
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
(a) Tax considerations for Australian resident Shareholders
Reduction in Cost Base of a Share if Cost Base is More Than Return of Capital Amount
The Shareholder’s cost base (and reduced cost base) in each Share held by them will be reduced by the amount of the Return of Capital per Share (ie. 5 cents). This is likely to have the effect of increasing any capital gain the Shareholder later makes when it later disposes of its Shares, as the cost base of the Shares will be reduced pursuant to the Return of Capital.
Capital Gain if Return of Capital Amount Exceeds Cost Base of a Share
If the amount of the Return of Capital per Share exceeds the Shareholder’s cost base in a Share, a capital gain will arise to the extent to which the Return of Capital amount exceeds the cost base and the cost base will be reduced to nil.
Discounted Capital Gain
If a capital gain arises in the hands of a Shareholder, the Shareholder may qualify for the general CGT discount.
The CGT discount may apply if the Shareholder is an individual, a trust, a complying superannuation fund or a life insurance company to reduce the capital gain, by 50% for individuals and trusts and by 33[1] /3% for complying superannuation funds and life insurance companies, where a Shareholder has held the Shares for a period of more than 12 months prior to receiving the Return of Capital amount.
CGT cost base of a Share
The CGT cost base of a Share will include the money the Shareholder paid to purchase the Share plus any incidental costs of purchase and sale of the Share. The CGT cost base of a share acquired before 1 July 1999 may be indexed for inflation up to 30 September 1999 unless the CGT discount is applied (see above). The CGT cost base of a Share acquired on or after 1 July 1999 cannot be indexed for inflation.
Shareholders who acquired their Shares pursuant to the scheme of arrangement with Scarborough Equities Limited in March 2009 should refer to section 12 of the scheme booklet to Scarborough shareholders (that was provided to ASX on 22 January 2009) for information in relation to the CGT cost base of their Shares. A copy of this scheme booklet may be provided upon request to the Company Secretary ([email protected]).
(c)
Tax considerations for Foreign (non-Australian resident) Shareholders
A foreign resident Shareholder can disregard a capital gain from a CGT event if the CGT asset is not ‘taxable Australian property’. Shares in Bentley should not be considered to be ‘taxable Australian property’ as Bentley does not hold (directly or indirectly) any interests in real property located in Australia. Consequently, any capital gain made directly by a non-resident shareholder (described above) should be disregarded.
(d)
Dividend substitution tax provisions
Shareholders should also be aware that there are a number of tax anti-avoidance provisions which can apply where a company distributes share capital in preference to dividends. Bentley considers that the Return of Capital should not attract the application of any of those provisions. However, if those provisions applied to the Return of Capital then some or all of the amount returned may be taken to be an unfranked dividend (instead of the treatment outlined above) and the relevant part of the Return of Capital payment may be included in the Shareholder's assessable income or be liable to withholding tax.
MEETING DOCUMENT | 10
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
(e) TFN Notification
The Company advises Shareholders to complete the Tax File Number ( TFN ) Notification Form enclosed with the Meeting Documentation to ensure that no TFN withholding tax is required to be deducted from their share of the Return of Capital (if such withholding is required under the taxation laws).
7. DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS
The number of Shares in which each Director has a relevant interest (as defined under the Corporations Act) as at 25 August 2011 is set out in the table below.
| Director | Directors’ Relevant Interest held by Registered | Number of Shares | Total Relevant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shareholder | held | Interest | |
| Farooq Khan | Queste Communications Ltd (QUE) | 1,740,625 | |
| Orion Equities Limited (OEQ) | 20,513,783 | 49.14%5 | |
| Data Base Systems Limited(DBS) | 13,421,544 | ||
| Christopher Ryan | - | - | - |
| WilliamJohnson | - | - |
8. DIRECTORS’ RECOMMENDATIONS
The Board believes that the Return of Capital is in the Company’s best interests for the reasons set out in this Explanatory Statement.
All of the Directors recommend that Shareholders approve the proposed Return of Capital/Resolution, for the reasons outlined in this Explanatory Statement.
Shareholders may wish to vote against the Resolution for various reasons, for example if they believe that the Company should retain these surplus funds or use them in a different way.
9. NO OTHER MATERIAL INFORMATION
This Explanatory Statement provides Shareholders with all information known to the Company which has not previously been disclosed to Shareholders that is material to the decision whether or not to vote in favour of the Resolution.
Other than as set out in this Meeting Document, the Directors are not aware of any other information which may reasonably be expected to be material to the making of a decision by Shareholders whether or not to vote in favour of the Resolution.
10. LODGEMENT
In accordance with section 256C(5) of the Corporations Act, copies of the Meeting Document have been lodged with ASIC.
A copy of the Meeting Document has also been provided to ASX in accordance with Listing Rule 3.17.
Neither ASIC nor ASX nor any of their respective officers takes any responsibility for the contents of the Meeting Document.
5 Based on the substantial shareholding notice filed by Farooq Khan dated 11 July 2011
MEETING DOCUMENT 11 |
Explanatory Statement
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
11. GLOSSARY
| ASIC | Australian Securities and Investments Commission |
|---|---|
| ASX | ASX Limited |
| ASX Listing Rules | the Listing Rules of ASX |
| Bentley or BEL | Bentley Capital Limited ABN 87 008 108 218 |
| Board | the current Board of Directors of the Company |
| Business Day | 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 | |
| Buy-Back | An on-market Share buy-back of up to 6,599,890 Shares, being more |
| particularly described in the Company’s 17 August 2011 ASX market | |
| announcement entitled“Intention to Conduct On-Market Share Buy-Back” | |
| and ASXAppendix 3C–Announcement of Buy-Back dated 17 August 2011 | |
| Company | Bentley |
| Corporations Act | Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) |
| Directors | the current Directors of the Company |
| Ex Date | has the meaning given in Section 2(d) of this Explanatory Statement under |
| the heading ‘Indicative Timetable’ | |
| Explanatory Statement | the explanatory statement accompanying the Notice of Meeting |
| General Meeting | the meeting convened by the Notice of Meeting |
| Listing Rules | Listing Rules of the ASX |
| Meeting Document | the Notice of Meeting, Explanatory Statement, Proxy Form and any |
| accompanying documents despatched to Shareholders | |
| NTA | net tangible assets |
| Notice of Meeting | this Notice of General Meeting including the Explanatory Statement |
| Record Date | the date for determining entitlements to participate in the Return of Capital, |
| being 7:00pm on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 | |
| Resolution | the resolution proposed in the NoticeofMeeting |
| Return of Capital | the return of capital to be made pursuant to the Resolution, as further |
| described in the Explanatory Statement | |
| Share | a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company |
| Shareholder | a holder of a Share |
| VWAP | volume weighted average price |
Unless otherwise stated, all references to sums of money, $ and dollars are to Australian currency and all references to time are to Sydney time.
MEETING DOCUMENT 12 |
TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING AND HOW TO VOTE
Venue
The General Meeting of the shareholders of Bentley Capital Limited will be held at:
The Boardroom commencing FSP Group Level 39 Australia Square 264-278 George Street Sydney, New South Wales
11:00 am (Sydney time) Monday, 3 October 2011
Voting Rights
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At any meeting of the members, each member entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy or by power of attorney or, in the case of a member which is a corporation, by representative.
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Every person who is present in the capacity of member or the representative of a corporate member shall, on a show of hands, have one vote.
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Every member who is present in person, by proxy, by power of attorney or by corporate representative shall, on a poll, have one vote in respect of every fully paid share held by him.
Voting in Person
To vote in person, attend the General Meeting on the date and at the venue out above.
Voting by Proxy
To vote by proxy, please complete and sign the Proxy Form enclosed with this Notice of General Meeting as soon as possible and return it to the Company Secretarial office, either:
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by facsimile to (08) 9322 1515; or
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by mail to Bentley Capital Limited, Reply Paid 83399, Perth WA 6000; or
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by mail or delivery to Bentley Capital Limited, Level 14, The Forrest Centre, 221 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000,
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so that it is received not later than 11:00 am Sydney time on 1 October 2011 .
Bodies Corporate
A body corporate may appoint an individual as its authorised corporate representative to exercise any of the powers the body may exercise at meetings of a company's shareholders. A properly-executed original (or certified copy) of the appropriate “Certificate of Appointment of Corporate Representative” should be produced for admission to the General Meeting. Previously-lodged “Certificates of Appointment of Corporate Representative” will be disregarded by the Company.
Voting by Attorney
A Shareholder may appoint an attorney to vote on his or her behalf. For an appointment to be effective for the General Meeting, the instrument effecting the appointment (or a certified copy of it) must be received by the Company at its registered office or one of the addresses listed above for the receipt of proxy appointments at least 48 hours before the General Meeting. Previously-lodged Powers of Attorney will be disregarded by the Company.
Voting Entitlement
In accordance with section 1074E(2)(g)(i) of the Corporations Act and regulation 7.11.37 of the Corporations Regulations , the Company has determined that for the purposes of the Annual General Meeting all Shares in the Company will be taken to be held by the persons who held them as registered shareholders at 7:00pm Sydney time on 1 October 2011 ( Voting Entitlement Time ). Subject to the voting exclusions noted (if any), all holders of Shares in the Company as at the Voting Entitlement Time will be entitled to vote at the General Meeting.
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ASX Code: BEL
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
CORPORATE OFFICE:
Level 14, The Forrest Centre 221 St Georges Terrace Perth, Western Australia 6000 Local T | 1300 762 678 T | (08) 9214 9757 F | (08) 9322 1515 E | [email protected] W | www.bel.com.au
SHARE REGISTRY:
Advanced Share Registry Limited Suite 2, 150 Stirling Highway Level 6, 225 Clarence Street Nedlands, Western Australia 6009 Sydney, New South Wales 2000 PO Box 1156, Nedlands, WA 6909 PO Box Q1736, Queen Victoria Building, NSW 1230 T | (08) 9389 8033 T | (02) 8096 3502 F | (08) 9389 7871 E | [email protected] W | www.advancedshare.com.au
REGISTERED OFFICE:
Suite 202, Angela House 30-36 Bay Street Double Bay, New South Wales 2028
T | (02) 9363 5088 F | (02) 9363 5488
PROXY FORM
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
Website: www.bel.com.au Email: [email protected]
PLEASE RETURN TO: The Company Secretary Bentley Capital Limited Level 14, The Forrest Centre 221 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 Local Call: 1300 762 678 or Enquiries: (08) 9214 9757 Facsimile: (08) 9322 1515
{NA1} {NA2} {NA3} {NA4} {NA5} {NA6}
Our Reference: BEL/{ REGISTER } / {HIN_SRN} Shareholding as at 30 August 2011: {BAL} Tax File Number: {TFN} Nominated Payment Method: {PAYMENT_METHOD_ADJ} Annual Report Election: {ANN_REPX_ADJ}
A. Appointment of Proxy
I/We being a member/s of Bentley Capital Limited and entitled to attend and vote hereby appoint
The Chairman of the Meeting (mark with an “X”)
OR
(If you have appointed the Chairman of the Meeting to exercise your proxy, by marking this box, you acknowledge that the Chairman of the Meeting may exercise your proxy even if he has an interest in the outcome of a particular resolution and votes cast by him other than as proxy holder will be disregarded because of that interest. The Chairman intends to vote all open proxies in favour of the Resolution.
Write here the name of the person you are appointing if this person is someone other than the Chairman of the Meeting.
or failing the person named, or if no person is named, the Chairman of the General Meeting, as my/our proxy to act generally at the Meeting on my/our behalf and to vote in accordance with the following directions (or if no directions have been given, as the proxy sees fit) at the General Meeting of Bentley Capital Limited to be held at in The Boardroom , FSP Group, Level 39 Australia Square , 264-278 George Street , Sydney, New South Wales, at 11:00 am on Monday, 3 October 2011 and at any adjournment of such General Meeting.
B. Voting Directions to Your Proxy – Please Mark to Indicate Your Directions
RESOLUTION For Against Abstain* 1. Approve Return of Capital If two proxies are being appointed, the proportion of voting rights this proxy represents is: %
If two proxies are being appointed, the proportion of voting rights this proxy represents is:
* If you mark the Abstain box for a particular item, you are directing your proxy not to vote on your behalf on a show of hands or on a poll and your votes will not be counted in computing the required majority on a poll.
C. Change of Address (see note 1 overleaf)
mark if you want to make any changes to your address details
D. Please Sign Here
This section must be signed in accordance with the instructions overleaf to enable your directions to be implemented.
Individual or Shareholder 1 Joint Shareholder 2 Joint Shareholder 3 Sole Director and Sole Company Secretary Director Director / Company Secretary
Sole Director and Sole Company Secretary
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Contact Name Contact Daytime Telephone
Date
Email:
General Meeting Proxy Form
Bentley Capital Limited A.B.N. 87 008 108 218
NOTES AND
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING PROXY FORM
1. Change of Address
Your pre-printed name and address is as it appears on the share register of Bentley Capital Limited. If this information is incorrect, please mark the box at Section C of the proxy form and make the correction at the top of the form. Shareholders sponsored by a broker should advise their broker of any changes. Please note that you cannot change ownership of your shares using this form.
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Completion of a proxy form will not prevent individual shareholders from attending the General Meeting in person if they wish. Where a shareholder completes and lodges a valid proxy form and attends the General Meeting in person, then the proxy’s authority to speak and vote for that shareholder is suspended while the shareholder is present at the General Meeting.
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A shareholder of the Company entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint not more than two proxies. Where more than one proxy is appointed, each proxy must be appointed to represent a specified proportion of the shareholder’s voting rights. If the shareholder appoints two proxies and the appointment do not specify this proportion, each proxy may exercise half of the votes.
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A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.
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If you mark the abstain box for a particular item, you are directing your proxy not to vote on that item on a poll and that your shares are not to be counted in computing the required majority on a poll.
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If a representative of a company shareholder is to attend the General Meeting, a properly executed original (or certified copy) of the appropriate “Certificate of Appointment of Corporate Representative” should be produced for admission to the General Meeting. Previously lodged “Certificates of Appointment of Corporate Representative” will be disregarded by the Company.
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Signing Instructions
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You must sign this form as follows in the spaces provided in Section D :
Individual: Where the holding is in one name, the holder must sign.
Joint Holding:
Power of Attorney:
Companies:
Where the holding is in more than one name, all of the shareholders should sign.
If you are signing under a Power of Attorney, you must lodge an original or certified copy of the appropriate Power of Attorney with your completed Proxy Form and produce a properly executed original (or certified copy) of that Power of Attorney at the General Meeting.
Where the company has a Sole Director who is also the Sole Company Secretary, this form must be signed by that person.
If the company (pursuant to section 204A of the Corporations Act 2001) does not have a Company Secretary, a Sole Director can also sign alone.
Otherwise this form must be signed by a Director jointly with either another Director or a Company Secretary. Please indicate the office held by signing in the appropriate place.
8. Lodgment of a Proxy
This Proxy Form (and any Power of Attorney under which it is signed) must be received at the address below not later than 11:00 am (Sydney time) on 1 October 2011 (48 hours before the commencement of the meeting). Any Proxy Form received after that time will not be valid for the scheduled meeting.
Proxy Forms may be lodged:
- by posting, delivery or facsimile to the Company’s Company Secretarial office below:
Bentley Capital Limited Bentley Capital Limited Facsimile: (08) 9322 1515 Level 14, The Forrest Centre Reply Paid 83399 221 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Perth WA 6000