Corporate Finance Update – Issue 28 - April 2026
Issue 28 of the Corporate Finance Update covers regulatory developments and issues affecting corporate finance activity.
Enhanced Beneficial Ownership Reforms consultation
ASIC recently consulted on updates to legislative instruments, forms, and regulatory guidance to support the enhanced beneficial ownership reforms for listed entities in Schedule 1 of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025. We received 20 submissions from a range of stakeholders, and we thank all respondents for the time and detail provided in their feedback.
We are currently reviewing submissions and considering the feedback raised. Subject to this work, we intend to publish ASIC’s response and next steps around July 2026, including updates to legislative instruments, forms, and regulatory guidance. Further information will be communicated through our usual channels.
ASIC remakes sunsetting fundraising and M&A relief
Following consultation in 2025 (CS 36) and this year (CS 45), ASIC has remade several legislative instruments that were due to expire and repealed the ASIC Corporations (Offer Information Statements) Instrument 2016/76.
The legislative instruments that commenced operation on 1 include:
- ASIC Corporations (Minimum Subscription and Quotation Conditions) Instrument 2026/87
- ASIC Corporations (Regulatory Capital Securities) Instrument 2026/88
- ASIC Corporations (Consents to Statements) Instrument 2026/89
- ASIC Corporations (Exposure Period) Instrument 2026/90
- ASIC Corporations (Debenture Prospectuses) Instrument 2026/91
- ASIC Corporations (Substituted Supplementary Disclosure Documents) Instrument 2026/92
- ASIC Corporations (Market Research and Roadshows) Instrument 2026/93
- ASIC Corporations (Sale Offers That Do Not Need Disclosure) Instrument 2026/94
- ASIC Corporations (Sale Offers by Controllers) Instrument 2026/95
- ASIC Corporations (Sale Offers: Securities Issued on Conversion of Convertible Notes) Instrument 2026/96
- ASIC Corporations (Offers of Convertibles) Instrument 2026/97
- ASIC Corporations (Non-Traditional Rights Issues) Instrument 2026/98
- ASIC Corporations (Real Estate Companies) Instrument 2026/99
- ASIC Corporations (IDPS—Relevant Interests) Instrument 2026/100
- ASIC Corporations (Minimum Bid Price) Instrument 2026/101
- ASIC Corporations (Takeovers—Accelerated Rights Issues) Instrument 2026/102
- ASIC Corporations (Unsolicited Offers—Foreign Bids) Instrument 2026/103
- ASIC Corporations (Approved Foreign Markets—Buy-backs and Takeovers) Instrument 2026/104
- ASIC Corporations (Disregarding Technical Relief) Instrument 2026/180.
The instruments largely replicate the predecessor instruments that were scheduled to sunset on 1 April 2026 with the changes which were outlined in the consultations.
ASIC has re-issued Regulatory Guide 254 Offering securities under a disclosure document (RG 254) and updated Regulatory Guide 173 Disclosure for on-sale of securities and other financial products (RG 173) and Regulatory Guide 189 Disclosure relief for rights issues (RG 189).
ASIC is in the process of updating its remaining regulatory guidance with reference to the remade legislative instruments.
Mandatory sustainability reporting: upcoming workshops
ASIC and the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) will run a series of free in‑person workshops in May focused on preparing companies for the new mandatory sustainability reporting requirements.
The workshops are intended as a practical entry point for smaller and mid‑size companies, and their advisers, particularly those that will be required to commence sustainability reporting for financial years beginning on or after 1 July 2026.
They build on the release of ASIC’s educational modules, which outline the key concepts that underpin the new sustainability reporting framework.
Participants will learn about:
- the basics of climate science
- climate-related physical risks
- climate-related transition risks and
- climate-related opportunities.
Workshops will be held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, and will be delivered by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Registrations are now open and can be accessed via the links below.
Event details:
| City | Date and time | Registration link |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Tuesday 12 May, 9am to 12:45pm | Register here |
| Brisbane | Wednesday 13 May, 9am to 12:45pm | Register here |
| Sydney | Tuesday 19 May, 9am to 12:45pm | Register here |
| Perth | Tuesday 26 May, 9am to 12:45pm | Register here |
Further information on the workshops and educational modules is available on ASIC’s website: