Australian Shareholders' Association Explained

Australian Shareholders' Association
Type:	Non-profit organisation
Location City:	Sydney
Location Country:	Australia
Key People:	Allan Goldin (Chair)Rachel Waterhouse (CEO) Fiona Balzer (Policy & Advocacy Manager)Leigh Gant (Education and Events Manager)
Focus:	Shareholder rights, advocacy and education

Australian Shareholders' Association (ASA) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation which advocates for the rights of retail shareholders. Founded in 1960 in Sydney, ASA provides educational resources and professional learning opportunities for its members, who are largely independent small-scale investors.

ASA's most prominent public role, however, is in the research and publication of recommendations that members can use to inform their votes on such matters as executive pay and director re-elections. This role brought ASA under the scrutiny of an inquiry into the role of proxy advisors launched by Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in May 2021.^[1] ASA does not believe itself to be a proxy advisor, given its not-for-profit status, as well as the fact that its research is published as 'intentions' rather than recommendations.

Most recently, ASA has been one of the primary advocates against a Federal Government proposal to loosen disclosure requirements for directors of public companies, on the basis of their belief that the proposal "threatens the rights of investors".^[2]

ASA's funding comes from membership fees, as well as donations and sponsorships. Sponsors for its 2020 conference included controversial mining company BHP and investment fund provider Fidelity International.^[3]

Industry groups and committees

The ASA represents shareholder and member interests on the following industry groups and committees:^[4]

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 claims the following achievements, among others:^[5]

advocating for regulatory reform, including the introduction of the 'two strikes rule', which requires non-managing directors of public companies to be immediately re-elected if two consecutive AGMs vote down their remuneration package^[6]
being the dominant voice at AGMs as the voice of retail shareholders^[7]
encouraging directors of public companies to reduce their board workload to reasonable levels, allowing them to focus on the boards on which they remain^[8]

Membership

As of the end of 2020, ASA had 5,001 members, up slightly from the end of 2019.^[9] ^[10]

Leadership

ASA is led by CEO Rachel Waterhouse, and is overseen by a board of directors.

Board of directors

The board of directors is composed of:^[11]

Steven Mabb (2020- present; was appointed Chair 2022)
Michael Jackson
Carol Limmer
Richard Goldman
Julieanne Mills
Karl Schlobohm
Lelde Smits

Notes and References

Web site: Grieve . Charlotte . 'No way they could afford it': Fears retail investor group could be hit by proxy crackdown . The Sydney Morning Herald . 18 August 2021 . en . 10 May 2021.
Web site: The Australian . ALP slams 'diluted' disclosure legislation . . . 18 August 2021 . en-AU.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . Sponsors - ASA Investor Conference 2020 . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021 . en.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . Advocacy & Monitoring . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . Our Achievements . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021.
Web site: Walker . Julie . 'Two strikes' law for shareholders, but will it curb executive pay? . The Conversation . 18 August 2021 . en.
Web site: Featherstone . Tony . Listening to the voice of small stakeholders . Australian Institute of Company Directors . 18 August 2021.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . ASA Voting and Engagement Guidelines for ASX 200 Companies . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . 2020 Annual Report . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . 2019 Annual Report . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021.
Web site: Australian Shareholders' Association . Board of Directors . Australian Shareholders' Association . 18 August 2021.