Continuous disclosure obligations of Court proceedings: how far it goes, and how regulators could assist

Changes made to the Federal Court Rules in early January 2023 with respect to the access to court documents have provoked continued media commentary concerning the effect that the changes will have on the adequate disclosure of court proceedings, particularly proceedings brought by regulatory authorities.

This ongoing debate has prompted us to focus on the extent of disclosure that an ASX listed company subject to material Court or Takeover Panel proceedings should provide under its continuous disclosure obligations in accordance with Listing Rule 3.1 and sections 674 and 674A of the Corporations Act.

What the Federal Court Rules now say about non-party access, and why it matters for continuous disclosure

On 13 January 2023, the Federal Court Legislation Amendment Rules 2022 took effect, limiting the ability of a non-party to a court proceeding to inspect certain court documents, including a statement of claim and defence, until “after the first directions hearing or the hearing itself (whichever is earlier)” unless the non-party obtains leave from the Court. Previously, a non-party was entitled to inspect court documents of this kind as soon as they were filed and without obtaining leave of the Court.

The amendment is less restrictive than the equivalent position in the NSW Supreme Court. In that Court, the general position is that non-parties may access Court documents once i) all parties have filed pleadings with the Court and ii) the matter has had its first hearing. Comparatively, in the Victoria Supreme Court and ACT Supreme Court, a non-party may inspect certain documents (including a statement of claim and defence) without leave of the Court. In the WA Supreme Court, leave of the Court is required to inspect court documents.

The question is whether, if information relating to Court proceedings may not be readily available, an ASX-listed entity subject to material court proceedings has a higher onus to comply with its continuous disclosure obligations, and must disclose not only the existence of those court proceedings but also:

• the potential impact which the court proceedings might have on the listed entity;
• the value of its securities where that is material; and
• the amount of potential fines or penalties that might become payable.

While a listed entity may disclose that court proceedings have been commenced, and no doubt "will be vigorously defended", it may not provide an adequate picture of the court proceedings which enable the market to fully assess the potential impact of the proceeding. The continuous disclosure obligation may therefore create a "disclosure dilemma" for the listed entity, as the announcement may need to contain information that would negatively affect the share price and reduce investor confidence in the listed entity, which it may prefer not to do.

Any failure by the listed entity to make the requisite disclosure will undoubtedly increase the class action risk which that the listed entity faces. Further, when a listed entity approaches its D&O insurers to renew cover, the listed entity will likely be required to satisfy the insurers that it continues to have robust policies and procedures to promptly make fulsome disclosure in this new environment.

The environment may encourage regulators including ASIC, ASX and AUSTRAC to provide a greater level of detail when they announce that court proceedings have been commenced which concern an entity whose securities are traded on the ASX.

Therefore, although the changes to the Federal Court Rules and the rules which are applicable in other States and Territories, are fully understandable, the consequential impact on the need for an ASX listed entity to ensure that trading in its securities on the ASX takes place in a fully informed market, must be recognised.