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Opthea Ltd Major Shareholding Notification 2021

Nov 1, 2021

32698_rns_2021-11-01_26b57434-a189-4a8b-ba33-32815e5c5960.pdf

Major Shareholding Notification

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Form 604

Corporations Act Section 671B

Notice of change of interests of substantial holder

To: Company Name/Scheme OPTHEA LIMITED ACN/ ~~ARSN~~ 006 340 567

1. Details of substantial holder

Name

Bank of America Corporation and its related bodies corporate (See Appendix C)

ACN/ARSN (if applicable):

There was a change in the interests of the substantial holder on 29 October 2021 27 October 2021

The previous notice was given to the company on

2. Previous and present voting power

The total number of votes attached to all the voting shares in the company or voting interests in the scheme that the substantial holder or an associate (2) had a relevant interest (3) in when last required, and when now required, to give a substantial holding notice to the company or scheme, are as follows:

Class of
securities (4)
Previous Notice Previous Notice Present Notice Present Notice
Person’s Votes Voting Power (5) Person’s Votes Voting Power (5)
Ordinary 15,410,556 4.39% 14,824,921 4.22%
American
Depository Shares
(ADS)
6,620,336 1.88% 2,808,176 0.80%
TOTAL 22,030,892 6.27% 17,633,097 5.02%

3. Changes in relevant interests

Particulars of each change in, or change in the nature of, a relevant interest of the substantial holder or an associate in voting securities of the company or scheme, since the substantial holder was last required to give a substantial holding notice to the company or scheme are as follows:

Date of
change
Person whose relevant
interest changed
Nature of
Change (6)
Consideration given
in relation to
change (7)
Class and Number
of securities
affected
Person’s
votes
affected
Please see Appendix A

4. Present relevant interests

Particulars of each relevant interest of the substantial holder in voting securities after the change are as follows:

Holder of
relevant
interest
Registered
holder of
securities
Person entitled
to be registered
holder (8)
Nature of relevant interest
(6)
Class and
number of
securities
Person’s
votes
Merrill Lynch
(Australia)
Futures Limited
Merrill Lynch
(Australia)
Nominees Pty.
Ltd
Merrill Lynch
(Australia)
Futures Limited
Power to control voting
and/or disposal of securities
in its capacity as ultimate
beneficial owner having a
principal position.
Ordinary
5,541,986
5,541,986
Merrill Lynch
International
Merrill Lynch
(Australia)
Nominees Pty.
Ltd
Merrill Lynch
International
Power to control voting
and/or disposal of securities
in its capacity as ultimate
beneficial owner having a
principal position.
Ordinary
5,074
5,074
Merrill Lynch
Markets
(Australia) Pty.
Limited
Merrill Lynch
(Australia)
Nominees Pty.
Ltd
Merrill Lynch
Markets
(Australia) Pty.
Limited
Borrowing of securities
pursuant to a Prime
Brokerage Agreement (see
Appendix B), with power to
control the voting and/or
disposal of borrowed
securities.
Ordinary
9,277,861
9,277,861
Merrill Lynch
International
Merrill Lynch
International
Borrowing of securities
pursuant to a Prime
Brokerage Agreement (see
Appendix B), with power to
control the voting and/or
disposal of borrowed
securities.
349,422 ADS
representing
2,795,376
Ordinary Shares
2,795,376
BofA Securities,
Inc.
BofA Securities,
Inc.
Borrowing of securities
pursuant to a Stock Borrow
Loan Agreement (see
Appendix B), with power to
control the voting and/or
disposal of borrowed
securities.
1,600 ADS
representing
12,800
Ordinary Shares
12,800

5. Changes in association

The persons who have become associates (2) of, ceased to be associates of, or have changed the nature of their association (9) with, the substantial holder in relation to voting interests in the company or scheme are as follows:

Name and ACN/ ARSN (if applicable) Nature of association
N/A N/A

6. Addresses

The addresses of persons named in this form are as follows:

Name Addresses
Bank of America Corporation 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28255, USA
Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Limited Level 34, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW
2000, Australia
Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty. Limited Level 19, 120 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia
Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty. Limited Level 34, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW
2000,Australia
Merrill Lynch International 2 King Edward Street, London, England, EC1A 1HQ, United
Kingdom
BofA Securities, Inc. One Bryant Park, New York NY 10036, USA
SIGNATURE
Print Name:
Sign Here:
Kelvin Kwok
Capacity:
Authorised signatory
Date:
02 November 2021

Appendix A

Date of
change
Person whose relevant interest
changed
Nature of change
(4)
Consideration (5) Class (6) of
securities
Securities
affected
Person's votes
affected
Remark
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 6,902
Ordinary
5,460 5,460 N/A
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 10,339 Ordinary 8,162
8,162
N/A
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia)Pty. Limited Securitiesreturned N/A Ordinary (103,909) (103,909) RefertoApp. B
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia)Pty. Limited Securitiesreturned N/A Ordinary (491,339) (491,339) RefertoApp. B
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (464,922) (3,719,376) RefertoApp. B
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (11,098) (88,784) RefertoApp. B
10/26/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securities borrowed N/A ADS 476,020 3,808,160 RefertoApp. B
10/26/2021 BofASecurities,Inc. Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (100) (800) RefertoApp. B
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited SELL (16,636) Ordinary (13,203) (13,203) N/A
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited SELL (24,418) Ordinary (19,151) (19,151) N/A
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 13,758 Ordinary 10,862
10,862
N/A
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 11,747
Ordinary
9,187
9,187
N/A
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia)Pty. Limited Securities borrowed N/A Ordinary 404,232
404,232
RefertoApp. B
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia)Pty. Limited Securitiesreturned N/A Ordinary (305,166) (305,166) RefertoApp. B
10/27/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (80,410) (643,280) RefertoApp. B
10/27/2021 BofASecurities,Inc. Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (100) (800) RefertoApp. B
10/28/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited SELL (5,608) Ordinary (4,440) (4,440) N/A
10/28/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 1,281
Ordinary
1,017
1,017
N/A
10/28/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 14,368 Ordinary 11,348 11,348 N/A
10/28/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited SELL (18,833) Ordinary (14,771) (14,771) N/A
10/28/2021 Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia)Pty. Limited Securitiesreturned N/A Ordinary (82,497) (82,497) RefertoApp. B
10/28/2021
10/28/2021
Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty. Limited
Merrill Lynch International
Securities returned
Securities borrowed
N/A
N/A
Ordinary
ADS
(2,912)
254,849
(2,912)
2,038,792
Refer to App. B
RefertoApp. B
10/28/2021 BofASecurities,Inc. Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (100) (800) RefertoApp. B
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited SELL (21,844) Ordinary (17,066) (17,066) N/A
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 21,431
Ordinary
17,000 17,000 N/A
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited SELL (339) Ordinary (265) (265) N/A
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited BUY 2,270 Ordinary 1,816 1,816 N/A
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (254,849) (2,038,792) RefertoApp. B
Date of
**change **
Person whose relevant interest
changed
Nature of change
(4)
Consideration (5) Class (6) of
securities
Securities
affected
Person's votes
affected
Remark
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (395,610) (3,164,880) RefertoApp. B
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securities borrowed N/A ADS 650,459 5,203,672 RefertoApp. B
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (639,288) (5,114,304) RefertoApp. B
10/29/2021 Merrill Lynch International Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (11,171) (89,368) RefertoApp. B
10/29/2021 BofASecurities,Inc. Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (100) (800) RefertoApp. B
10/29/2021 BofASecurities,Inc. Securitiesreturned N/A ADS (100) (800) RefertoApp. B

Appendix B-1: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and Equity
Trustees Limited As Trustee And Responsible EntityOf Regal Investment Fund
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-2: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and Regal
Funds Management PtyLimited as Trustee of Atlantic Absolute Return Fund
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-3: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and Regal
Funds Management PtyLimited as Trustee of Regal Australian LongShort EquityFund
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-4: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and Regal
Funds Management PtyLimited as Trustee of Tasman Market Neutral Fund
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-5: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and
Susquehanna Pacific PtyLtd
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-6: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and SSW
MARKET MAKING GMBH(OJ7)
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-7: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and Amazon
Market Neutral Fund(GCM)
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-8: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement
Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty Limited and ZAMBEZI
ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND(GCM)
Holder of voting
rights
Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on
securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
If yes, detail N/A
Scheduled return
date (if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to
return early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
early?
Yes
If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-9: Prescribed information

Type of agreement Securities LendingAgreement
Parties to agreement BofA Securities, Inc. and THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
Holder of voting rights Securities borrower. Securities lender mayinstruct the registered holder to vote on securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
Ifyes, detail N/A
Scheduled return date
(if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to return
**early? **
Yes
Ifyes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at anytime.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
**early? **
Yes
Ifyes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at anytime.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix B-10: Prescribed information

Type of agreement Securities LendingAgreement
Parties to agreement BofA Securities, Inc. and GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST CO.
Holder of voting rights Securities borrower. Securities lender mayinstruct the registered holder to vote on securities.
Are there any
restrictions on voting
rights?
No
Ifyes, detail N/A
Scheduled return date
(if any)
On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.
Does the borrower
have the right to return
**early? **
Yes
Ifyes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at anytime.
Does the lender have
the right to recall
**early? **
Yes
Ifyes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at anytime.
Will the securities be
returned on
settlement?
Yes
If yes, detail any
exceptions
N/A

Appendix C

Related bodies corporate Incorporated **ACN/Registration/Incorporation Number **
Merrill Lynch International United Kingdom 2312079
ML UK Capital Holdings Limited United Kingdom 4971231
BofAML EMEA Holdings 2 Limited United States 119605
Merrill Lynch(Australia)FuturesLimited Australia 003639674
Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty. Limited Australia 075587816
Merrill Lynch (Australasia) Pty. Ltd Australia 075923894
Bank of America Global Holdings, LLC United States 5169939
BofAML Jersey Holdings Limited Jersey 115831
BofASecurities,Inc. United States 5793661
NB Holdings Corporation United States 2361372
Bankof America Corporation United States N/A628