GetSwift made numerous misleading statements in its announcements on ASX
The Federal Court has handed down the largest ever penalty against a company for breaching continuous disclosure laws, ordering GetSwift Limited pay a penalty of $US15 million.
The Court described Getswift as a company that ‘became a market darling because it adopted an unlawful public-relations-driven approach to corporate disclosure instigated and driven by those wielding power within the company.’
GetSwift’s former director, CEO and executive chairman, Bane Hunter, was ordered to pay a penalty of $US2 million and disqualified from managing corporations for 15 years. Former director Joel Macdonald was ordered to pay a penalty of $US1 million and disqualified for 12 years. These are two of the highest penalties ordered against directors for corporate misconduct.
Brett Eagle, also a former director of GetSwift, has been ordered to pay a penalty of $US75,000 and was disqualified from managing corporations for two years.
ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said ‘Disclosure is critical to market integrity and consumer protection. The penalties imposed by the Court demonstrate the extent and seriousness of the misconduct in this matter and the importance placed by the Court on deterring others from engaging in similar behaviour. ASIC will continue to take action to hold companies and individuals to account for corporate misconduct of this kind.’
Justice Lee found Hunter ‘had a laser-like focus on making money for himself and Macdonald and if that involved breaking the law regulating financial markets, or exposing GetSwift to third party liability, that was of little concern to him.’
Justice Lee found Macdonald was focussed on making money and had ‘little understanding or regard for his legal obligations as a director.’
In November 2021, the Court found that GetSwift made numerous misleading statements in its announcements on ASX and breached its continuous disclosure obligations on 22 occasions between February and December 2017.
Hunter, Macdonald, and Eagle were found to have misled the market and were knowingly concerned in GetSwift’s continuous disclosure breaches. Therefore, they breached their duties as directors.
GetSwift, Hunter, Macdonald and Eagle have also been ordered to pay ASIC’s costs.
