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MURRAY COD AUSTRALIA LIMITED Governance Information 2020

Aug 30, 2020

65302_rns_2020-08-30_bed18d59-0d10-4ee9-910f-abc96ae73ecc.pdf

Governance Information

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ABN 74 143 928 625

MURRAY COD AUSTRALIA LIMITED

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

Murray Cod Australia Limited (“the Company”) and the Board are committed to achieving and demonstrating the highest standards of corporate governance. The Board continues to review the framework and practices to ensure they meet the interests of shareholders. The Company has adopted systems of control and accountability as the basis for the administration of corporate governance.

The Board is committed to administering the policies and procedures with openness and integrity, pursuing the true spirit of corporate governance commensurate with the Company’s needs. The Corporate Governance Statement has been structured with reference to the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations with 2019 Amendments 4th edition to the extent that they are applicable to the Company.

Information about the Company’s corporate governance practices are set out below.

The Board confirms that this corporate governance statement is current as at 28 August 2020.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board is ultimately accountable for the performance of the company and provides leadership and sets the strategic objectives of the company. It appoints all senior executives and assesses their performance on at least an annual basis. It is responsible for overseeing all corporate reporting systems, remuneration frameworks, governance issues, and stakeholder communications. Decisions reserved for the Board relate to those that have a fundamental impact on the company, such as material acquisitions and takeovers, dividends and buybacks, material profits upgrades and downgrades, and significant closures. All members of the Board are required to report any material breach of the Company’s code of conduct, material incidents under the whistle blower policy and material breaches of the anti-bribery and anti corruption policy to the Board or a committee of the Board.

Management is responsible for implementing Board strategy, day-to-day operational aspects, and ensuring that all risks and performance issues are brought the Boards attention. They must operate within the risk and authorisation parameters set by the Board.

The Company’s Constitution provides that the number of Directors shall not be less than three. There is no requirement for any shareholding qualification.

If the Company’s activities increase in size, nature and scope, the size of the Board will be reviewed periodically and the optimum number of Directors required to adequately supervise the Company’s activities will be determined within the limitations imposed by the Constitution and as circumstances demand.

Mr Ross Anderson is Chair of the Board and is not considered to be an independent director given he is an executive of the Company.

The Board reviews its performance annually, as well as the performance of individual Committees and individual directors (including the performance of the Chairman as Chairman of the Board). The criteria for determining the identification and application of a suitable candidate for the Board shall include quality of the individual, background of experience and achievement, compatibility with other Board members, credibility within the Company’s scope of activities, intellectual ability to contribute to Board duties and physical ability to undertake Board duties and responsibilities.

The use of an external facilitator may be utilised periodically to assist in the review process. The review for the current financial year will occur in June, to be led by the Chairman. The process will include collective Board discussions and individual interviews conducted by the Chairman. The review of the Chairman’s role will be conducted by the rest of the Board.

Directors are initially appointed by the full Board, subject to election by shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting. Under the Company’s Constitution the tenure of a Director (other than Managing Director, and only one Managing Director where the position is jointly held) is subject to reappointment by shareholders not later than the third anniversary following his or her last appointment. Subject to the requirements of the Corporations Act, the Board does not subscribe to the principle of retirement age and there is no maximum period of service as a Director. A Managing Director may be appointed for the year and on any terms the Directors think fit and, subject to the terms of any agreement entered into, the appointment may be revoked on notice.

All directors, both executive and non-executive, receive written notifications of their appointment and a new director induction pack which details the terms and conditions of their appointment, remuneration (including superannuation contributions), continuous disclosure requirements (including interests in the company), ongoing confidentiality obligations, company policies on when to seek independent professional advice, the company’s indemnity and insurance measures.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

In view of the size and resources available to the Company, it is not considered that separate committees would add any substance to the control process, as such the board as a whole acts in regards to the responsibilities of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. For further information regarding the Remuneration Policy and Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committee Charters visit the website https://aquna.com/.

The role of the Audit Committee is to:

  • Monitor the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, reviewing significant financial reporting judgements;

  • Review the Company’s internal financial control systems and, unless expressly addressed by a separate risk committee or by the Board itself, risk management systems;

  • Monitor and review the external audit function including matters concerning appointment and remuneration, independence and non-audit services; and

  • Perform such other functions as assigned by law, the Company’s constitution, or the Board.

The Nomination and Remuneration Committee may obtain independent advice on the appropriateness of remuneration packages.

The Company does not have an internal audit function, however the Board has established a framework for the management of the Group including a system of internal controls, a business risk management process and the establishment of appropriate ethical standards. The board encourages the external auditor to attend the Annual General Meeting to address any shareholder questions that may arise.

INDEPENDENCE

Given the Company’s present size and scope, it is currently not Company policy to have a majority of independent Directors. Directors have been selected to bring specific skills and industry experience to the Company. For this reason the Board does not maintain a skills matrix, however the Board is considered to have an expansive range of relevant industry experience, financial and other skills and expertise to meet its objectives. Currently three board members are independent Directors and one Director is deemed to not be Independent due to being deemed a substantial shareholder.

Independent Directors Non-Independent Directors Roger Commins – Non-Executive Director Ross Anderson – Executive Chairman Martin Priestley – Non-Executive Director Mathew Ryan – Managing Director

When determining the independent status of each Director the board has considered whether the Director:

  • Is a substantial shareholder of the Company or an officer of, or otherwise associated directly with, a substantial shareholder of the Company.

  • Is employed, or has previously been employed in an executive capacity by the Company, and there has not been a period of at least three years between ceasing such an employment and serving on the board.

  • Has within the last three years been a principal of a material professional adviser or a material consultant to the Company, or an employee materially associated with the services provided.

  • Is a material supplier or customer of the Company, or an officer of or otherwise associated directly or indirectly with a material supplier or customer.

  • Has a material contractual relationship with the Company other than as a Director.

  • During the financial year both Mr Ross Anderson and Mr Mathew Ryan have had executive service agreements with the Company, which are considered to impair their respective independence.

APPOINTMENTS TO OTHER BOARDS

Directors are required to take into consideration any potential conflicts of interest when accepting appointments to other boards.

INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

The Board has determined that individual Directors have the right in connection with their duties and responsibilities as Directors, to seek independent professional advice at the Company’s expense. With the exception of expenses for legal advice in relation to Directors’ rights and duties, the engagement of an outside adviser is subject to prior approval of the Chairman and this will not be withheld unreasonably.

GENDER DIVERSITY

The Company has not adopted an express policy specifically addressing the achievement of gender diversity. Due to the current limited size of the Board, the Board does not consider it necessary to have a gender diversity policy, but will consider adopting a policy in the future. Furthermore, the Company has not set any objectives for achieving gender diversity. Should a gender diversity policy be considered appropriate for the Company in the future due to increases in size of the organisation, the policy will specifically deal with the objectives for achieving diversity.

The Company’s corporate code of conduct provides a framework for undertaking ethical conduct in employment. Under the corporate code of conduct, the Company will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace. The Group currently has no female board members or senior executives.

CONTINUOUS REVIEW OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors consider, on an ongoing basis, how management information is presented to them and whether such information is sufficient to enable them to discharge their duties as Directors of the Company. Such information must be sufficient to enable the Directors to determine appropriate operating and financial strategies from time to time in light of changing circumstances and economic conditions. The Directors recognise that as a business that there are inherent risks and that operational strategies adopted should, notwithstanding, be directed towards improving or maintaining the net worth of the Company.

CODE OF CONDUCT

The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct for Company executives that promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity in carrying out their duties to the Company.

The Code of Conduct can be found on the Company’s website at https://aquna.com/.

ANTI BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

The Company has a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and is committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all business dealings. Accordingly the Company has adopted an anti-bribery and corruption policy which applies to all employees, executive management, suppliers, consultants, customers,

COMPANY SECRETARY

The Company has a Company Secretary (including a joint Company Secretary from time to time) that is appointed by the board by resolution. The Company Secretary is accountable directly to the Board, through the Chairman.

The role of the Company Secretary is as follows:

  • Advising the Board and Committees on governance matters.

  • Monitoring adherence of Board and Committees to policies and procedures.

  • Coordinating timely completion and despatch of Board and Committee papers.

  • Ensuring business at Board and Committee meeting is accurately captured in the minutes.

  • Helping to organise and facilitate induction and professional development of Directors

CONTINUOUS DISCLOSURE

The Company Secretary, working closely with the Chairman, have been delegated responsibility for the continuous disclosure of information to the market, to ensure:

  • All investors have equal and timely access to material information concerning the Company, including its financial position, performance, ownership and governance.

  • Company announcements are factual and presented in clear and a balanced way, requiring the disclosure of both positive and negative information.

  • When analysts are briefed on aspects of the Company’s operations, the market is forewarned, and the materials used in such presentations are also released to the ASX and posted on the Company’s website.

  • Any information that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of the Company’s share price (as per Listing Rule 3.1) is immediately notified to the ASX.

The Company has established a documented procedure to handle continuous disclosure requirements

RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

The identification and management of risk, including calculated risk-taking activity is viewed by management as an essential component in creating shareholder value. Whilst there is currently no risk committee in accordance with recommendation 7.1 (a) the board as a whole is employed to oversee the Company’s risk management framework as explained below.

Management is responsible for developing, maintaining and improving the Company’s risk management and internal control system. A register of material business risks has been established, risks have been analysed and evaluated, risk management processes and controls are in place and reporting schedules developed. Management provides the board with periodic reports identifying areas of potential risks and the safeguards in place to efficiently manage material business risks. These risk management and internal control systems are in place to protect the financial statements of the entity from potential misstatement, and the Board is responsible for satisfying itself annually, or more frequently as required, that management has developed a sound system of risk management and internal control. A review has taken place during this reporting period.

Strategic and operational risks are reviewed at least annually as part of the forecasting and budgeting process. The Company has identified and actively monitors risks inherent in the industry in which the Company operates.

The Board also receives a written assurance from the Chairman and Company Secretary that to the best of their knowledge and belief, the declaration provided to the Board in accordance with section 295A of the Corporations Act is founded on a sound system of risk management and internal control, and that the system is operating effectively in relation to financial reporting risks. The Board notes that due to its nature, internal control assurance from the Chairman and Company Secretary can only be reasonable rather than absolute. This is due to such factors as the need for judgement, the use of testing on a sample basis, the inherent limitations in internal control and because much of the evidence is persuasive rather than conclusive and therefore is not and cannot be designed to detect all weaknesses in internal control procedures.

SECURITY HOLDERS

Investors may inspect the company’s governance and Shareholder Communications policies via the website https://aquna.com which lay out the options to receive communications from, and send communications to, the entity and its security registry electronically.

The Board of Directors aims to ensure that shareholders are informed of all major developments affecting the company’s state of affairs. The information is communicated to shareholders, and forms part of the company’s two-way investor relations program:

  • By ensuring that all shareholders can elect to receive information and communications from the

    • company’s share registry either physically or electronically, and can update their preferences through the share registry.
  • By the Annual Report being distributed to all shareholders. The Board ensures the Annual Report contains all relevant information about the operations of the company during the financial year, together with details of future developments and other disclosures required under the Corporations Act 2001.

  • By publishing its Notice of Meetings and Explanatory Memorandum for each Annual General Meeting or other such meetings as required from time to time;

  • By encouraging shareholders to attend and participate in the company’s Annual General Meeting;

  • By encouraging shareholders to participate in proxy voting should they be unable to attend the

  • company’s Annual General Meeting;

  • By the Half Year results report distributed to all shareholders;

  • By disclosures forwarded to the ASX under the company’s continuous disclosure obligations;

All information communicated by the company is in accordance with its continuous disclosure requirements under ASX Listing Rule 3.1.

ASX PRINCIPLES OF GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Board has reviewed its current practices in light of the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations with 2019 Amendments 4th edition with a view to making amendments where applicable after considering the Company's size and the resources it has available.

As the Company's activities develop in size, nature and scope, the size of the Board and the implementation of any additional formal corporate governance committees will be given further consideration.

The following table sets out the ASX Corporate Governance Guidelines with which the Company does not comply:

ASX Principle Reference/comment
Principle 2: Structure of the board to add value
2.1
The Board should establish a

The Board has no formal nomination committee. Acting in its ordinary
nomination committee. capacity from time to time as required, the Board carries out the
process of determining the need for, screening of and appointing of
new Directors under a specific charter. In view of the size and
resources available to the Company, it is not considered that a
ASX Principle Reference/comment
separate nomination committee would add any substance to this
process.
2.2
A listed entity should have and
Directors have been selected to bring specific skills and industry
disclose a board skills matrix
setting out the mix of skills and
experience to the Company. The Board does not currently maintain
a skills matrix, however the Board is considered to have an expansive
diversity that the board currently range of relevant industry experience, financial and other skills and
has or is looking to achieve in its expertise to meet its objectives and a skills matrix will be developed
membership. as the Company grows in size and operations.
2.4
A majority of the board of a listed
The Board is currently made up of two Independent and two non-
entity should be independent
directors.
Independent Directors. The Board believes the alignment of the
interests of Directors with those of shareholders as being the most
efficient way to ensure shareholders’ interests are protected. The
Board believes that this is both appropriate and acceptable at this
stage of the Company’s development.
2.5
The chair of the board of a listed
The Chairman, Mr Ross Anderson, does not meet the definition of an
entity should be an independent independent Director under the definition in the ASX Corporate
director and, in particular, should Governance Guidelines. The Board believes the alignment of the
not be the same person as the interests of Directors with those of shareholders as being the most
CEO of the entity. efficient way to ensure shareholders’ interests are protected. The
Board believes that this is both appropriate and acceptable at this
stage of the Company’s development.
Principle 4: Safeguard integrity in corporate reporting
4.1
The Board should establish an
The Board has no formal audit committee. Acting in its ordinary
audit committee capacity from time to time as required, and under a specific charter
the Board carries out the process for ensuring the safeguard the
integrity of its corporate reporting, including the process of appointing
and removing and external auditor and the rotation of the audit
engagement partner. In view of the size and resources available to
the Company, it is not considered that a separate audit committee
would add any substance to this process.
Principle 7: Recognise and manage risk
7.1
The Board should establish a risk
The Board has no formal risk committee. Acting in its ordinary
committee capacity from time to time as required, and under a specific charter
the Board oversees an ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of
risk management and internal compliance. Due to the size of the
Company and the resources available, it is not considered that a
separate risk committee is appropriate.
Principle 8: Structure of the board to add value
8.1
The Board should establish a
The Board has no formal remuneration committee. Acting in its
remuneration committee ordinary capacity from time to time as required, and under a specific
charter the Board carries out the process for setting the level and
composition of remuneration for directors and senior executives and
ensuring that such remuneration is appropriate and not excessive In
view of the size and resources available to the Company, it is not
considered that a separate remuneration committee would add any
substance to this process.