Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 008 596 370) v Coopers Brewery Ltd (ACN 007 871 409) [2005] FCA 1531

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 008 596 370) v Coopers Brewery Ltd (ACN 007 871 409) [2005] FCA 1531

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION – Dismissal of proceedings - O 20 r 2 and O 11 r 16 – no reasonable cause of action – share buy-back scheme – Articles of Association – express restriction or prohibition – meaning of transfer – transfer to members – power to dismiss should be exercised with exceptional caution – insufficient factual material – inappropriate use of power to dismiss proceedings Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 125(1), s 140(1), s 257B, s 257H

Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 cited General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 cited Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598 cited Fancourt v Mercantile Credits Ltd (1983) 154 CLR 87 cited Coles Myer Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [1998] 4 VR 728 considered Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas (2004) 208 ALR 213 cited Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 211 ALR 342 cited Re Giga Investments Pty Ltd (in admin) (1995) 17 ACSR 472 cited Bateman v Newhaven Park Stud Ltd (2004) 29 ACSR 454 cited Re George Raymond Pty Ltd; Salter v Gilbertson (2000) 36 ACSR 381 cited LION NATHAN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ACN 008 596 370) v COOPERS BREWERY LTD (ACN 007 871 409) No SAD 140 of 2005 FINN J ADELAIDE 1 NOVEMBER 2005

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY SAD 140 OF 2005

BETWEEN: LION NATHAN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

ACN 008 596 370

APPLICANT

AND: COOPERS BREWERY LTD

ACN 007 871 409

RESPONDENT

JUDGE: FINN J

DATE OF ORDER: 1 NOVEMBER 2005

WHERE MADE: ADELAIDE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The respondent's Notice of Motion dated 30 September 2005 be dismissed. Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.