AGMs

6 questions submitted at 2024 Region Group hybrid AGM


October 16, 2024

Below is the text of the 6 written questions submitted at the 1 hour and 45 minute 2024 Region Group hybrid AGM held on October 15, plus a summary of the answers and some video grabs via Twitter. There were no material protest votes.

Q1. Did any of the 5 main proxy advisers - ACSI, Ownership Matters, Glass Lewis, ISS and ASA - recommend a vote against any of today's resolutions, including on this rem report item? If so, what reasons did they give & will you disclose the proxy votes before the debate so shareholders can ask questions if there have been any protests? Best practice is now to disclose the proxies to the ASX along with the formal addresses to offer more timely disclosure to the market? Will you adopt this practice at next year's AGM?

Answer: The chair said they would look at proxy disclosure request and there were no against recommendations. Watch video of exchange via Twitter.

Q2. The Victorian Government is trying to manage surging debt and has introduced the highest property taxes in Australia, particularly land tax and stamp duty. Is this environment impact the investment environment in Victoria, relative to other states. Also, is there upside for us from the current Federal-State moves to speed up the planning process for new housing supply. Are we likely to see more dense housing development near our centres nationally and is that good for our business?

Answer: The chair and CEO shared this answer with the CEO saying the tax hikes led to the recent sale of its Warrnambool shopping centre. Also, listen to these additional interesting comments about the challenges of developing supermarkets.

Q3.
Australia is currently in the midst of an unprecedented deluge of takeovers that has contributed to listed entities on the ASX falling by 170 or 7.4% to a 15 year low of 2,124 since June 2022, including 20 straight months of declines. There have already been 27 major takeovers above $200m completed so far this calendar year. There is a clear mis-pricing between public markets and private markets. Why are public markets not valuing ASX listed companies like ours more highly and what are we doing to avoid being gobbled up?

Answer: The chair Steve Crane said private markets offered higher levels of gearing and all they could do was perform well. Watch video of exchange via Twitter.

Q4. Could the CEO summarise his past LTI grants as to whether they have vested or lapsed. Also, has he ever sold any ordinary shares in the company or bought any on market without relying on an incentive scheme to build his equity position in the company? Please don't say look it up in the annual report and through ASX announcements. It's complicated and the CEO could factually summarise the situation in 60 seconds.

Answer:
Watch video of exchange via Twitter.

Q5.
Thank you for offering a hybrid AGM this year & will you commit to keep doing this in future years to maximise shareholder participation? What was the experience like from your end? Also, when disclosing the outcome of voting on all resolutions today, could you please advise the ASX how many shareholders voted for & against each item, similar to what happens with a scheme of arrangement? This will provide a better gauge of retail shareholder sentiment & insight into the chronically low level of retail participation in voting.

Answer: The chair said he couldn't see an objection on the extra voting disclosure and then failed to deliver but at least he backed a hybrid in for next year. Watch video of exchange via Twitter.

Q6. After 12 years as a local govt Cr at City of Manningham & City of Manningham, I'm retiring on Oct 26 but want to see the sector do better. Could the CEO please comment on his views on the overall performance of local govts across Australia in terms of dealing with our company on issues like planning, trading hours & shopping centre management. Which states & systems are best for us to deal with? Were you attracted to the recent Canberra investment, because the ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction with no councils at all?

Answer: The CEO delivered another straight talking response. Watch video of exchange via Twitter.