News & Media

NOTICE TO INVESTORS IN THE TRUSTS OF PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTIONS

This notice is given by Aurora Funds Management Limited ACN 092 626 885 (the RE) under Section 601GCA (3) and (4) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) as modified by ASIC Corporations (Attribution Managed Investment Trusts) Instrument 2016/489 (the Instrument).

The RE is the responsible entity of the registered trusts listed below (each a “Trust” and together the “Trusts”) and gives notice to the unit holders in the Trusts that it proposes to modify the Trusts’ constitutions (“Constitutions”) to facilitate their operation under the new Attribution Managed Investment Trust regime (“AMIT regime”).

Read more here.

Aurora Funds Management Limited (Aurora) announces that Mr Jeffrey E. Schwarz has retired as Nonexecutive Director of Aurora, effective 31 May 2018. Mr Schwarz, who resides in the US, has retired due to other commitments. The Board would like to thank Mr Schwarz for his valuable contribution to the Board during his tenure and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.

Appointment of Mr Anthony Hartnell AM to Molopo Energy Limited (MPO) Board

Aurora also notes Mr Anthony Hartnell AM appointment to the Board of Molopo Energy Limited, as approved by shareholders at the Molopo AGM today.

Aurora Funds Management Limited (“Aurora”) is an Australian-based alternative asset manager specialising in absolute-return investment strategies.

Aurora’s current ownership group purchased the business on 30 June 2016. At the time of purchase, Aurora’s business was in distress, primarily due to a significant investment made by the former managers in an ASX-listed convertible note that had run into financial difficulty, which had ultimately caused it to freeze certain fund liquidity. Having inherited this illiquid position, the incoming Group worked diligently to restore liquidity for the funds, allowing circa $50 million of redemptions to be processed shortly after its purchase.

The incoming Group was led by John Patton. John had been a partner with Ernst and Young and prior to that, was Chief Financial Officer of a gas transmission business owned by the Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund.

The Group has sought to keep Aurora’s business independent. However, an impression has apparently been formed in some parts of the market that the business is associated with, in particular, its former owner Keybridge. Despite Keybridge retaining the management rights of one of Aurora’s funds (HHY Fund), and Aurora complying with its obligations under that arrangement, that impression is not correct.

This unfortunate impression was entrenched by recent findings in the Takeovers Panel where share acquisitions in an ASX company, Molopo Energy Limited, by each of Aurora and Keybridge had to be unwound. That position has been vigorously denied by Aurora, with the legality of the decision currently subject to judicial review in the Federal Court (NSW).

The Group has also had to deal with challenges associated with a financial theft, that resulted in the immediate termination of its long standing Chief Financial Officer (Ms Betty Poon), replacement of its auditor (Deloitte) and a review of its share registry service provider (Registry Direct).

The Group has continued its focus on rebuilding Aurora and becoming a sustainable funds management business. The key areas of focus for the Group include improving investor returns and correcting public perception, particularly around corporate governance. Aurora management recognises that it needs increased focus in these areas if it is to be seen by investors and the wider market, as what it believes it is – a truly independent, professional and proficient funds management business.

An important step in this direction is to appoint a new independent director to the Aurora Board. Mr Tony Hartnell AM has accepted our invitation to join the Board and to participate in working on the development of transparency, professionalism and independence.

Mr Tony Hartnell AM, who was previously the inaugural Chairman of what is today known as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), is a very welcome addition to the Aurora Board.

The directors of Aurora Funds Management Limited (Responsible Entity) have resolved to appoint Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd as auditor.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu have applied for, and received, ASIC consent to resign as the auditor.

Aurora Funds Management Limited (Aurora) is pleased to announce the following Director and Management changes.

Executive Director – Mr Victor Siciliano

Mr Victor Siciliano has joined the Aurora Board as an Executive Director. Mr Siciliano is currently the Portfolio Manager of the various Aurora funds and is responsible for undertaking detailed company analysis on Australian and International listed companies, implementing investment strategies and making investment decisions. Mr Siciliano has in excess of 10 years investment experience, having previously worked at boutique fund manager Sterling Equity as well as for Macquarie Group. Mr Siciliano holds a Masters of Applied Finance (Investment Management) as well as a Bachelor of Business (B Bus, Banking & Finance) and is RG146 compliant.

Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary – Mr Adrian Martin

Mr Adrian Martin has been appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. Mr Martin has worked in the financial services and funds management industry for over 15 years with recent roles at Marshall Investments and Keybridge Capital Limited, where he was the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. Mr Martin is a Certified Practising Accountant and holds an MBA as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting).

Mr Ben Norman has resigned as Aurora’s Chief Operating Officer. Mr Norman has made a valuable contribution to the Aurora business during his tenure and we wish him well in his future endeavours.

NOTICE

Aurora Funds Management Limited (AFML) announces that over the weekend it became aware that approximately $1 million of funds belonging to the Aurora Property Buy-Write Income Trust (AUP) appear to have been taken from its bank account without proper authority.

The matter has been reported to the Victoria Police and it is currently under investigation.

AFML will also notify this incident to ASIC as required under the conditions of its Australian financial services licence and the insurer under its investment management insurance policy. Aurora confirms that it has appropriate insurance cover in place and also expects to take recovery action against the alleged perpetrator as soon as practicable.

Although AFML’s investigation is continuing, at this stage the board has no reason to believe that there has been any other unauthorised withdrawal of money from any other fund managed by AFML. Further, AFML believes the perpetrator acted alone.

This incident is not expected to affect completion of AUP’s takeover of the RNY Property Trust (RNY). Although payment to some RNY unit holders has been delayed, outstanding cheques should be received this week.

The Chief Financial Officer of AFML, Ms Betty Poon, has been terminated effective immediately. AFML will appoint a replacement as soon as possible.

Aurora Funds Management Limited as responsible entity for Aurora Property Buy-Write Income Trust’s (“AUP”), takeover bid for RNY Property Trust (“RNY”) closed at 7:00pm (Melbourne Time) on Thursday 2 November 2017.

AUP will now complete the purchase of all RNY units for which it received acceptances.

Each RNY unitholder who accepted the offer will be paid their offer consideration of 1.7 cents cash for each RNY unit included within their acceptance, in accordance with the timetable outlined in the Bidder’s Statement.

In accordance with step 5 in the table in section 633(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), please find attached a copy of the bidder’s statement made by Aurora Funds Management Limited as responsible entity of the Aurora Fortitude Absolute Return Fund in relation to its off-market takeover bid for all of the ordinary shares in Molopo Energy Limited (Molopo) which are not owned by or on behalf of the bidder. A copy of the bidder’s statement has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and sent to Molopo today.

For the purposes of sections 633(2) and 633(4) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the bidder has set 27 October 2017 (at 9:00 am (Melbourne time)) as the date for determining holders of shares in Molopo to whom takeover offers will be made.

Read more here.

Aurora Funds Management Limited (ACN 092 626 885) in its capacity as responsible entity of the Aurora Property Buy-Write Income Trust (ARSN 125 153 648) (“Bidder”) refers to its takeover offers for all of the units in the RNY Property Trust (ARSN 115 585 709) (“Offer”).

• In accordance with sections 643, 650B and 624(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the Bidder hereby attaches a copy of its second supplementary bidder’s statement (“Second Supplementary Bidder’s Statement”) enclosing notices confirming:
• the Bidder has increased the offer consideration to 1.7 cents per RNY unit; and the automatic extension of the offer period by 14 days from 19 October 2017 so that the offer period is now scheduled to close at 7:00pm (Melbourne Time) on Thursday, 2 November 2017 (unless extended or withdrawn).

Unitholders of the RNY Property Trust are encouraged to read the Second Supplementary Bidder’s Statement in its entirety.  The Second Supplementary Bidder’s Statement is dated 19 October 2017 and was lodged with ASIC on that date.

Read more here.

AURORA GLOBAL INCOME TRUST (ASX: AIB) – BID FOR UNITS IN THE HHY FUND (ASX:HHY) (“OFFER”)

As detailed in the Notice of extension of Offer Period announcement dated 22 September 2017, please be advised that the Offer closed at 7:00pm (Melbourne Time) Friday 13 October 2017.

We will write to HHY Unitholders who accepted the bid with details of the AIB units that will be issued to them in due course.