Chilwa Minerals Ltd
For the period ended Jun 30, 2026. Filed Oct 27, 2026.
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The yearly report of a company based outside the US. It covers much of what a 10-K does, and may follow accounting rules other than US ones.
FY2026 · Filed Oct 27, 2026
Contents
Additional Information
| Item 10. | Additional Information |
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| A. | Share Capital |
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| B. | Memorandum and Articles of Association |
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General
Our constituent document is a Constitution. The Constitution is subject to the terms of the ASX Listing Rules and the Australian Corporations Act. The Constitution may be amended or repealed and replaced by special resolution of shareholders, which is a resolution of which notice has been given and that has been passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution.
Purposes and Objects
As an Australian public company, we have all the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person. Our Constitution does not provide for or prescribe any specific objects or purposes.
The Powers of the Directors
Under the provision of our Constitution our directors may exercise all the powers of our company except any powers that the Corporations Act or the constitution attributes to Chilwa.
Interested Directors
According to our constitution, if a Director discloses his or her interest in accordance with the Corporations Act, the director may (i) contract or make an arrangement with the Company, or a related body corporate of the Company or a body corporate in which the Company is interested, in any matter in any capacity, (ii) be counted in a quorum for a meeting of Directors considering the contract or arrangement, (iii) vote on whether the Company enters into the contract or arrangement, and on any matter that relates to the contract or arrangement, (iv) sign on behalf of the Company, or witness the affixing of the common seal of the Company to, any document in respect of the contract or arrangement, (v) retain the benefits under the contract or arrangement.
Unless a relevant exception applies, the Corporations Act requires our directors to provide disclosure of certain interests or conflicts of interests and prohibits directors from voting on matters in which they have a material personal interest and from being present at the meeting while the matter is being considered. In addition, the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules require shareholder approval of any provision of related party benefits to our directors.
Directors’ compensation
Our non-executive directors are paid remuneration for their services as directors which is determined, in aggregate, in a general meeting of shareholders. The aggregate, fixed sum for directors’ remuneration is to be divided among the directors in such proportion as the directors themselves agree and in accordance with our Constitution. Our executive directors are paid remuneration for their services as directors which is determined by all directors.
Fees payable to our non-executive directors must be by way of a fixed sum and not by way of a commission on or a percentage of profits or operating revenue. Remuneration paid to our executive directors must also not include a commission or percentage of operating revenue.
Pursuant to our Constitution, any director who performs services that in the opinion of our board of directors, are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a director may be paid extra remuneration, which is determined by our board of directors.
In addition to other remuneration provided in our Constitution, all our directors are entitled to be paid by us for reasonable travel accommodation and other expenses incurred by the directors in attending general meetings, board meetings, committee meetings or otherwise in connection with our business.
In addition, in accordance with our Constitution, a director may be paid a retirement benefit as determined by our board of directors subject to the limits set out in the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules which broadly restrict our ability to pay our officers a termination benefit in the event of a change of control of the Company or our subsidiaries as well as impose requirements for shareholder approval to be obtained to pay certain retirement benefits to our officers.
Borrowing powers exercisable by Directors
Pursuant to our Constitution, the management and control of our business affairs are vested in our board of directors. Thus, our board of directors has the power to raise or borrow money, and charge any of our property or business or any uncalled capital, and may issue debentures or give any other security for any of our debts, liabilities or obligations or of any other person, in each case, in the manner and on terms it deems fit.
Retirement of Directors
Pursuant to our Constitution and the ASX Listing Rules, each director, other than the managing director, must not hold office for more than three years or beyond the third annual general meeting following his or her appointment (whichever is longer). Further, at least one director is required to retire by rotation at each annual general meeting (such director being the director who has been longest in office since their last election). Directors who retire by rotation are eligible for a re-election to the board of directors unless disqualified from acting as a director under the Corporations Act or our Constitution.
Rights Attached to Our Ordinary Shares
The concept of authorized share capital does not exist in Australia and as a result, our authorized share capital is unlimited. All our outstanding ordinary shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The rights attached to our ordinary shares are as follows:
Dividend Rights.
The directors may declare that a dividend be paid to the members according to the shareholders’ pro rata shareholdings and the directors may fix the amount, the time for payment and the method of payment. No dividend is payable except in accordance with the Corporations Act as amended from time to time and no dividend carries interest as against the Company.
Voting Rights.
Holders of ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Such voting rights may be affected by the grant of any special voting rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.
The quorum required for an ordinary meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present in person, or by proxy, attorney or representative appointed pursuant to our Constitution. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum generally is adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place. At the reconvened meeting, the required quorum consists of any two members present in person, or by proxy, attorney or representative appointed pursuant to our Constitution. The meeting is dissolved if a quorum is not present within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting.
An ordinary resolution, such as a resolution for the declaration of dividends, requires approval by the holders of a majority of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person, by proxy, or by written ballot and voting thereon. Under our Constitution, the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules, certain matters must be passed by way of a special resolution. A special resolution must be passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution and who vote at the meeting in person or by proxy. Matters which are not required to be passed by special resolution are required to be passed by ordinary resolution.
Rights in Our Profits.
Our shareholders have the right to share in our profits distributed as a dividend and any other permitted distribution.
Rights in the Event of Liquidation.
In the event of our liquidation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of ordinary shares in proportion to the capital at the commencement of the liquidation paid up or which ought to have been paid up on the shares held by them respectively. This right may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights, such as the right in winding up to payment in cash of the amount then paid up on the share, and any arrears of dividend in respect of that share, in priority to any other class of shares.
Changing Rights Attached to Shares
According to our Constitution, the rights attached to any class of shares, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the class, may be varied with either the written consent of the holders of not less than 75% of the issued shares of that class or the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the shares of that class.
Exchange Controls
Australia has largely abolished exchange controls on investment transactions. The Australian dollar is freely convertible into U.S. dollars. In addition, there are currently no specific rules or limitations regarding the export from Australia of profits, dividends, capital or similar funds belonging to foreign investors, except that certain payments to non-residents must be reported to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), which monitors such transaction, and amounts on account of potential Australian tax liabilities may be required to be withheld unless a relevant taxation treaty can be shown to apply.
The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975
Under Australian law, in certain circumstances foreign persons are prohibited from acquiring more than a limited percentage of the shares in an Australian company without approval from the Australian Treasurer. These limitations are set forth in the AustralianForeign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (“FATA”), associated legislation and regulations. These limitations are in addition to the more general overarching Takeovers Prohibition of an acquisition of more than a 20% interest in a public company (in the absence of an applicable exception) under the takeover provisions of Australia’s Corporations Act by any person whether foreign or otherwise.
If an investment is subject to foreign investment approval, it may have compulsory prior notification requirements, being a “notifiable action” or “notifiable national security action” or voluntary prior notification requirements being a “significant action” or “reviewable national security action”. If an investment falls in this voluntary application category, the seeking of approval will extinguish certain future rights the Australian Treasurer has to review and approve the investment. Not applying for approval where the voluntary notification provisions apply will not be a breach of the FATA.
The Australian foreign investment regime applies differently to ‘foreign government investors’ and private foreign persons. Broadly, entities are considered as foreign persons if (i) a foreign holder (together with its associates) holds a direct or indirect interest of 20% or more in the entity or (ii) multiple foreign holders hold an aggregate interest (direct or indirect) of at least 40%. An entity will be a ‘foreign government investor’ if (i) a foreign government or foreign government owned entity, or a number of foreign government owned entities from the same country own a direct or indirect interest of 20% or (ii) or multiple foreign governments or foreign government owned entities from any country own a direct or indirect interest of 40% is held by foreign government investors from multiple countries.
Under the FATA, foreign persons are required to notify and obtain prior approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board for a range of acquisitions of an interest in an Australian entity on a mandatory basis, including:
| ● | acquisitions of a direct interest (generally 10% or more) by a foreign government investor in an Australian entity, irrespective of value; |
| ● | acquisitions by any foreign person of: |
| - | a ‘substantial interest’ (generally 20% or more) in an Australian entity valued above the relevant monetary threshold. This is generally A$347 million for 2026 (indexed annually) or A$1,498 million in case of U.S. investors, in each case calculated by the higher of the total asset value and the total value of the issued securities of the Australian entity; or |
| - | a direct interest in a ‘national security business’ or entity that carries on a national security business, or holds ‘national security land’, irrespective of value; and |
| ● | acquisitions of interests in Australian entities operating in sensitive industries (such as media, telecommunications, and encryption and security technologies), land-rich Australian entities or agribusiness Australian entities. |
Each foreign person seeking to acquire holdings in excess of the above caps (including their associates) would need to complete an application form setting out the proposal and relevant particulars of the acquisition/shareholding and pay the relevant application fees. The Australian Treasurer then has 30 days to consider the application and make a decision and a further 10 days to notify the applicant. However, the Australian Treasurer has broad powers to extend this time period, including extending the period by up to a further 90 days by publishing an interim order. Most commonly, the Australian Treasurer will request that an applicant agree to an extension to avoid needing to publish the interim order, such agreement is usually in the best interest of the applicant as interim orders are made public and by agreeing to an extension the application process is kept confidential. Otherwise applications are strictly confidential and not released to the public.
The Australian Foreign Investment Review Board, an Australian advisory board to the Australian Treasurer, has provided a guideline titledAustralia’s Foreign Investment Policy, which provides an outline of the policy. As for the risk associated with seeking approval, the policy provides, among other things, that the Treasurer will reject an application if it is contrary to the national interest.
If an application is made to the Australian Treasurer (whether voluntary or compulsory), the Australian Treasurer may either issue a non-objection notice, a non-objection notice with conditions or a rejection notice.
If the necessary approvals are not obtained, the Treasurer has a range of enforcement powers, including the power to make an order requiring the acquirer to dispose of the shares it has acquired within a specified period of time. Once a foreign person (together with any associate) holds a direct interest or a substantial interest in an entity, any further acquisition of interests, including in the course of trading in the secondary market, would require a new FIRB approval unless an exemption applies.
Once granted, a FIRB approval is valid for a 12-month period, meaning the proposed acquisition which was the subject of an application can occur any time during that 12-month period.
Annual and Extraordinary Meetings
Our directors must convene an annual meeting of shareholders at least once every calendar year. Notice of at least 28 days prior to the date of the meeting is required. A general meeting may be convened by any director, or shareholders in compliance with the Corporations Act.
Limitations on the Rights to Own Securities in Our Company
Subject to certain limitations on the percentage of shares a person may hold in our company, neither our Constitution nor the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia restrict in any way the ownership or voting of shares in our company.
Changes in Our Capital
Pursuant to the ASX Listing Rule 7.1, our directors may in their discretion issue securities to persons who are not related parties of our company, without the approval of shareholders, if such issue, when aggregated with securities issued by our company during the previous 12-month period would be an amount that would not exceed 15% of our issued capital at the commencement of the 12 month period. There is no restriction on the issue price under this ASX rule.
In addition, ASX Listing Rule 7.1A allows “eligible entities” (small to mid-cap companies) to have an additional 10% placement capacity over a 12-month period. It requires a specific approval by shareholders at every year’s annual shareholders meeting. This element of placement capacity has an issue price limit, being a maximum 25% discount to market price.
If issuances of shares in a private placement exceed the 15% or 25% placement capacity (as applicable), then shareholder approval is required with respect to any issuance of shares that exceeds such placement capacity at a special shareholders meeting. Such shareholder approval is valid for 3 months from the date of approval.
| C. | Material Contracts |
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Other than the agreements described below, we have not entered into any material contract, other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, during the two years immediately preceding the date of this annual report.
Warrants and Warrant Agent Agreement
On October 2, 2026, we issued Warrants to purchase 717,000 ADSs, comprising 625,000 Warrants sold with the ADSs in our initial public offering and 92,000 Warrants sold to the underwriter at US$0.01 per Warrant on its partial exercise of its over-allotment option at the closing.
The following summary of certain terms of the Warrants is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Form of Warrant to Purchase ADSs, which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
| ● | Exercisability. The Warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and at any time up to the date that is five years from the date of issuance. The Warrants are exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of ADSs purchased upon such exercise. The Company will pay any ADS issuance fee of up to US$0.10 per ADS and any other applicable charges and taxes in connection with any such exercise. |
| ● | Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may not exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates and certain other persons), would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, up to 9.99%) (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. Subject to certain exceptions, “beneficial ownership” for purposes of determining the Maximum Percentage is calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the regulations of the SEC thereunder. |
| ● | Exercise Price. The initial exercise price per ADS purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants is equal to US$5.60. The Warrants may be exercised on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis. |
| ● | Anti-Dilution Provisions. The exercise price per Warrant and the numbers of Warrants are subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules upon the occurrence of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock subdivisions and combinations, reclassifications, rights issues, or similar events affecting our ADSs or ordinary shares, or upon the occurrence of a change in ADS ratio. |
| ● | Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the Warrants may be transferred at the option of the holders upon surrender of the Warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer. |
| ● | Rights as a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided by virtue of such holder’s ownership of ADSs or ordinary shares, the holder of Warrants does not have rights or privileges of a holder of ADSs or ordinary shares, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the Warrant. |
| ● | No Exchange Listing. The Warrants are not listed on any securities exchange or other trading market. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of these securities will be limited. |
| ● | Governing Law. The Warrants are governed by New York law. |
| ● | Warrant Agent; Global Certificate. The Warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agency agreement between Computershare Inc., as warrant agent, and us. The Warrants are initially represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the warrant agent, as custodian on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co, a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC. |
For more information, see Exhibits 2.5 and 2.6 to this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Representative’s Warrants
On October 2, 2026, we issued to Maxim Partners LLC, an affiliate of the underwriter, a Representative’s Warrant to purchase 31,250 ADSs, being 5.0% of the ADSs sold in our initial public offering, and on October 16, 2026, on the closing of the sale of additional ADSs under the over-allotment option, a further Representative’s Warrant to purchase 2,841 ADSs. Each Representative’s Warrant has an exercise price of US$7.00 per ADS and is exercisable until 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on September 30, 2031. The Representative’s Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis, provide for customary anti-dilution adjustments, and may not be sold, transferred or hedged for 180 days after the commencement of sales in the offering under FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1). For more information, see Exhibit 2.4 to this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
| D. | Exchange Controls |
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Exchange Controls
Australia has largely abolished exchange controls on investment transactions. The Australian dollar is freely convertible into U.S. dollars. In addition, there are currently no specific rules or limitations regarding the export from Australia of profits, dividends, capital or similar funds belonging to foreign investors, except that certain payments to non-residents must be reported to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, which monitors such transaction, and amounts on account of potential Australian tax liabilities may be required to be withheld unless a relevant taxation treaty can be shown to apply.
The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975
Under Australian law, in certain circumstances foreign persons are prohibited from acquiring more than a limited percentage of the shares in an Australian company without approval from the Australian Treasurer. These limitations are set forth in the AustralianForeign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (“FATA”), associated legislation and regulations. These limitations are in addition to the more general overarching Takeovers Prohibition of an acquisition of more than a 20% interest in a public company (in the absence of an applicable exception) under the takeover provisions of Australia’s Corporations Act by any person whether foreign or otherwise.
If an investment is subject to foreign investment approval, it may have compulsory prior notification requirements, being a “notifiable action” or “notifiable national security action” or voluntary prior notification requirements being a “significant action” or “reviewable national security action”. If an investment falls in this voluntary application category, the seeking of approval will extinguish certain future rights the Australian Treasurer has to review and approve the investment. Not applying for approval where the voluntary notification provisions apply will not be a breach of the FATA.
The Australian foreign investment regime applies differently to ‘foreign government investors’ and private foreign persons. Broadly, entities are considered as foreign persons if (i) a foreign holder (together with its associates) holds a direct or indirect interest of 20% or more in the entity or (ii) multiple foreign holders hold an aggregate interest (direct or indirect) of at least 40%. An entity will be a ‘foreign government investor’ if (i) a foreign government or foreign government owned entity, or a number of foreign government owned entities from the same country own a direct or indirect interest of 20% or (ii) or multiple foreign governments or foreign government owned entities from any country own a direct or indirect interest of 40% is held by foreign government investors from multiple countries.
Under the FATA, foreign persons are required to notify and obtain prior approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board for a range of acquisitions of an interest in an Australian entity on a mandatory basis, including:
| ● | acquisitions of a direct interest (generally 10% or more) by a foreign government investor in an Australian entity, irrespective of value; |
| ● | acquisitions by any foreign person of: |
| - | a ‘substantial interest’ (generally 20% or more) in an Australian entity valued above the relevant monetary threshold. This is generally A$347 million for 2026 (indexed annually) or A$1,498 million in case of U.S. investors, in each case calculated by the higher of the total asset value and the total value of the issued securities of the Australian entity; or |
| - | a direct interest in a ‘national security business’ or entity that carries on a national security business, or holds ‘national security land’, irrespective of value; and |
| ● | acquisitions of interests in Australian entities operating in sensitive industries (such as media, telecommunications, and encryption and security technologies), land-rich Australian entities or agribusiness Australian entities. |
Each foreign person seeking to acquire holdings in excess of the above caps (including their associates) would need to complete an application form setting out the proposal and relevant particulars of the acquisition/shareholding and pay the relevant application fees. The Australian Treasurer then has 30 days to consider the application and make a decision and a further 10 days to notify the applicant. However, the Australian Treasurer has broad powers to extend this time period, including extending the period by up to a further 90 days by publishing an interim order. Most commonly, the Australian Treasurer will request that an applicant agree to an extension to avoid needing to publish the interim order, such agreement is usually in the best interest of the applicant as interim orders are made public and by agreeing to an extension the application process is kept confidential. Otherwise applications are strictly confidential and not released to the public.
The Australian Foreign Investment Review Board, an Australian advisory board to the Australian Treasurer, has provided a guideline titledAustralia’s Foreign Investment Policy, which provides an outline of the policy. As for the risk associated with seeking approval, the policy provides, among other things, that the Treasurer will reject an application if it is contrary to the national interest.
If an application is made to the Australian Treasurer (whether voluntary or compulsory), the Australian Treasurer may either issue a non-objection notice, a non-objection notice with conditions or a rejection notice.
If the necessary approvals are not obtained, the Treasurer has a range of enforcement powers, including the power to make an order requiring the acquirer to dispose of the shares it has acquired within a specified period of time. Once a foreign person (together with any associate) holds a direct interest or a substantial interest in an entity, any further acquisition of interests, including in the course of trading in the secondary market, would require a new FIRB approval unless an exemption applies.
Once granted, a FIRB approval is valid for a 12-month period, meaning the proposed acquisition which was the subject of an application can occur any time during that 12-month period.
Annual and Extraordinary Meetings
Our directors must convene an annual meeting of shareholders at least once every calendar year. Notice of at least 28 days prior to the date of the meeting is required. A general meeting may be convened by any director, or shareholders in compliance with the Corporations Act.
Limitations on the Rights to Own Securities in Our Company
Subject to certain limitations on the percentage of shares a person may hold in our company, neither our Constitution nor the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia restrict in any way the ownership or voting of shares in our company.
Changes in Our Capital
Pursuant to the ASX Listing Rule 7.1, our directors may in their discretion issue securities to persons who are not related parties of our company, without the approval of shareholders, if such issue, when aggregated with securities issued by our company during the previous 12-month period would be an amount that would not exceed 15% of our issued capital at the commencement of the 12 month period. There is no restriction on the issue price under this ASX rule.
In addition, ASX Listing Rule 7.1A allows “eligible entities” (small to mid-cap companies) to have an additional 10% placement capacity over a 12-month period. It requires a specific approval by shareholders at every year’s annual shareholders meeting. This element of placement capacity has an issue price limit, being a maximum 25% discount to market price.
If issuances of shares in a private placement exceed the 15% or 25% placement capacity (as applicable), then shareholder approval is required with respect to any issuance of shares that exceeds such placement capacity at a special shareholders meeting. Such shareholder approval is valid for 3 months from the date of approval.
| E. | Taxation |
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The following summary of the material Australian and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the ADSs or Warrants is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the ADSs or Warrants, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state, local and other tax laws other than U.S. federal income tax laws and certain Australian tax laws.
Holders of the ADSs and Warrants should consult their own tax advisors as to the United States, Australian or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs and Warrants, including, in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local taxes.
Australian Taxation
In this section we discuss the material Australian tax considerations that apply to non-Australian tax residents with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposal of the absolute beneficial ownership of ADSs or Warrants, which are evidenced by ADSs and Warrants. This discussion is based upon existing Australian tax law as of the date of this annual report and is subject to change, possibly retrospectively. This discussion does not address all aspects of Australian income tax law which may be important to particular investors in light of their individual investment circumstances, such as ADSs or Warrants held by investors subject to special tax rules (for example, financial institutions, insurance companies or tax exempt organizations). In addition, this summary does not discuss any foreign or state tax considerations, other than stamp duty. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the Australian and foreign income and other tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs or Warrants.
Nature of ADSs and Warrants for Australian Taxation Purposes
Holders of the ADSs and Warrants are treated as the owners of the underlying ordinary shares for Australian income tax and capital gains tax purposes. Therefore, dividends paid on the underlying ordinary shares will be treated for Australian tax purposes as if they were paid directly to the owners of ADSs and Warrants, and the disposal of ADSs and Warrants will be treated for Australian tax purposes as the disposal of the underlying ordinary shares. In the following analysis we discuss the application of the Australian income tax and capital gains tax rules to non-Australian resident holders of ADSs and Warrants.
Taxation of Dividends
Australia operates a dividend imputation system under which dividends may be declared to be “franked” to the extent they are paid out of company profits that have been subject to income tax. Fully franked dividends are not subject to dividend withholding tax. Dividends that are not franked or are partly franked and are paid to non-Australian resident shareholders are subject to dividend withholding tax, but only to the extent the dividends are not franked.
Dividends paid to a non-resident shareholder are subject to withholding tax (a) except to the extent they have been franked and (b) at 30%, unless the shareholder is a resident of a country with which Australia has a double taxation agreement.
In accordance with the provisions of the Double Taxation Convention between Australia and the United States, the maximum rate of Australian tax on any unfranked portion of a dividend to which a resident of the United States is beneficially entitled is 15%, where the U.S. resident holds less than 10% of the voting rights in our company, or 5% where the U.S. resident holds 10% or more of the voting rights in our company. Special rules apply to Regulated Investment Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts that hold shares and receive dividends. The Double Taxation Convention between Australia and the United States does not apply to limit the tax rate on dividends where the ADSs are effectively connected to a permanent establishment or a fixed base carried on by the owner of the ADSs in Australia through which the shareholder carries on business or provides independent personal services, respectively.
Exercise, Expiration and Disposition of Warrants
A U.S. holder will not recognize gain or loss upon exercise of a Warrant (except with respect to any cash received in lieu of a fractional ordinary share or ADS). A U.S. holder will have a tax basis in the ADSs received upon the exercise of a Warrant equal to the sum of its tax basis in the Warrant and the aggregate cash exercise price paid in respect of such exercise, less any amount attributable to any fractional ordinary share or ADS. The holding period of the ordinary shares or ADSs received upon the exercise of a Warrant will commence on the day after the Warrant is exercised. If a Warrant expires without being exercised, a U.S. holder will recognize a capital loss in an amount equal to its tax basis in the Warrant.
Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, upon the sale, exchange or redemption of a Warrant, a U.S. holder will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of the Warrant and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in such Warrant. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such sale, exchange, or redemption, the Warrant has been held for more than one year. Long term capital gains of individuals (as well as certain trusts and estates) are subject to U.S. federal income tax at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations. A U.S. holder’s gain or loss on the sale, exchange, or redemption of a Warrant will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
In the event we are a passive foreign investment company, a U.S. holder will be taxed upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Warrant in the same manner that such U.S. holder would be taxed upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of shares in a passive foreign investment company, except that the Warrants will not be eligible for the mark-to-market election. See the discussion under “—Passive Foreign Investment Companies” below.
Tax on Sales or other Dispositions of Shares — Capital Gains Tax
Australian capital gains derived by non-Australian residents in respect of the disposal of capital assets that are not taxable Australian property will be disregarded. Non-Australian resident shareholders will not be subject to Australian capital gains tax on the capital gain made on a disposal of our shares, unless they, together with associates, hold 10% or more of our issued capital, tested either at the time of disposal or over any continuous 12 month period in the 24 months prior to disposal, and the value of our shares at the time of disposal is principally attributable to Australian real property assets.
Australian capital gains tax applies to net capital gains at a taxpayer’s marginal tax rate but for certain shareholders a discount capital gain may apply if the shares have been held for 12 months or more. For individuals, this discount is 50%. Net capital gains are calculated after reduction for capital losses (including certain prior year capital losses), which may only be offset against capital gains.
Tax on Sales or other Dispositions of Shares — Shareholders Holding Shares on Revenue Account
Some non-Australian resident shareholders may hold shares on revenue rather than on capital account, for example, share traders. These shareholders may have the gains made on the sale or other disposal of the shares included in their assessable income under the ordinary income provisions of the income tax law, if the gains are sourced in Australia.
Non-Australian resident shareholders assessable under these ordinary income provisions in respect of gains made on shares held on revenue account would be assessed for such gains at the Australian tax rates for non-Australian residents, which start at a marginal rate of 30% for non-Australian resident individuals. Some relief from the Australian income tax may be available to such non-Australian resident shareholders under the Double Taxation Convention between the United States and Australia, for example, because the shareholder does not have a permanent establishment in Australia.
To the extent an amount would be included in a non-Australian resident shareholder’s assessable income under both the capital gains tax provisions and the ordinary income provisions, the capital gain amount would generally be reduced, so that the shareholder would not be subject to double tax on any part of the income gain or capital gain.
Dual Residency
If a shareholder were a resident of both Australia and the United States under those countries’ domestic taxation laws, that shareholder may be subject to tax as an Australian resident. If, however, the shareholder is determined to be a U.S. resident for the purposes of the Double Taxation Convention between the United States and Australia, the Australian tax applicable would be limited by the Double Taxation Convention. Shareholders should obtain specialist taxation advice in these circumstances.
Stamp Duty
A transfer of shares of a company listed on the ASX is not subject to Australian stamp duty.
Australian Death Duty
Australia does not have estate or death duties. No capital gains tax liability is realized upon the inheritance of a deceased person’s shares. The disposal of inherited shares by beneficiaries, may, however, give rise to a capital gains tax liability.
Goods and Services Tax
The issue or transfer of shares will not incur Australian goods and services tax.
U.S. Taxation
The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences that generally apply to U.S. Holders (as defined below) who hold ADSs as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This summary is based on the Code, its legislative history, final, temporary and proposed United States Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, and the bilateral income tax convention between Australia and the United States (the “Treaty”), all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, or changes in interpretation, either prospectively or retroactively. This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership, and disposition of ADSs and does not take into account U.S. Holders who may be subject to special rules, including: financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, grantor trusts, non-resident aliens of the United States or taxpayers whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, persons who hold the ADSs through partnerships or other pass-through entities, persons who acquired their ADSs through the exercise or cancellation of any employee share options or otherwise as compensation for their services, investors that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our shares, dealers or traders in securities or currencies, certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States, dual resident corporations, persons that generally mark their securities to market for United States federal income tax purposes, persons who are residents of Australia for Australian income tax purposes, and investors holding ADSs as part of a straddle or appreciated financial position or as part of a hedging or conversion transaction. This summary does not address the Medicare tax imposed on certain investment income, any state, local and foreign tax considerations or any U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs. In addition, this discussion is based in part upon the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreements will be performed according to its terms.
If a partnership or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes owns ADSs, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of its partners will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partnership should consult its tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to it and its partners of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs.
For purposes of this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of ADSs that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof; an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over administration of the trust, and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
Distributions
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder of ADSs will be treated as owning the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs. Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, the gross amount of any distribution received by a U.S. Holder with respect to our ordinary shares or ADSs, including the amount of any Australian taxes withheld therefrom, will be included in gross income as a dividend to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ADSs and thereafter will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the ADSs. We have not maintained and do not plan to maintain calculations of earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. Holder may need to include the entire amount of any such distribution in income as a dividend. Dividends will not, however, be eligible for the “dividends received deduction” generally allowed to corporate shareholders with respect to dividends received from U.S. corporations.
The U.S. dollar value of any distribution on the ADSs made in Australian dollars generally should be calculated by reference to the spot exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Australian dollar in effect on the date the distribution is actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder regardless of whether the Australian dollars so received are in fact converted into U.S. dollars. A U.S. Holder who receives payment in Australian dollars and converts those Australian dollars into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate other than the rate in effect on such day may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss, which would generally be treated as ordinary income or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.
Subject to complex limitations and certain holding period requirements, a U.S. Holder may elect to claim a credit for Australian tax withheld from distributions against its U.S. federal income tax liability. The limitations set out in the Code include computational rules under which foreign tax credits allowable with respect to specific classes of income cannot exceed the U.S. federal income taxes otherwise payable with respect to each such class of income. Dividends generally will be treated as foreign-source passive category income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes or in the case of certain U.S. Holders as foreign source “general category” income. A U.S. Holder that does not elect to claim a U.S. foreign tax credit may instead claim a deduction for Australian tax withheld.
Subject to certain limitations, dividends received by a non-corporate U.S. Holder are subject to tax at a reduced maximum tax rate of 20 percent if the dividends are “qualified dividends”. Dividends are qualified dividends if: (a)(i) the issuer is entitled to benefits under the Treaty or (ii) the shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States and (b) certain other requirements are met. We believe that we are entitled to benefits under the Treaty and that the ADSs currently are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. However, no assurance can be given that the ADSs will remain readily tradable. Further, the reduced rate does not apply to dividends if we are a PFIC in the year prior to or the year in which the dividend is paid.
The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and the issuer of the security underlying the ADS may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits for U.S. Holders of ADSs. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax, described above, applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate holders. Accordingly, the analysis of the creditability of Australian taxes and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate holders, each described above, could be affected by actions taken by intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and our Company.
Disposition of ADSs
If you sell or otherwise dispose of ADSs, you will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and your adjusted tax basis in the ADSs. Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the ADSs for more than one year at the time of the sale or other disposition. In general, any gain that you recognize on the sale or other disposition of ADSs will be gain from U.S. sources for purposes of the foreign tax credit limitation; losses will generally be allocated against U.S. source income. The deduction of capital losses is subject to certain limitations under the Code.
In the case of a cash-basis U.S. Holder who receives Australian dollars in connection with the sale or other disposition of ADSs, the amount realized will be calculated based on the U.S. dollar value of the Australian dollars received as determined by reference to the spot rate in effect on the settlement date of such exchange. A U.S. Holder who receives payment in Australian dollars and converts Australian dollars into U.S. dollars at a conversion rate other than the rate in effect on the settlement date may have foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.
An accrual-basis U.S. Holder may elect the same treatment required of cash-basis taxpayers with respect to a sale or disposition of ADSs, provided that the election is applied consistently from year to year. Such election may not be changed without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). In the event that an accrual-basis U.S. Holder does not elect to be treated as a cash-basis taxpayer (pursuant to the Treasury regulations applicable to foreign currency transactions), such U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of differences between the U.S. dollar value of the currency received prevailing on the trade date and the settlement date. Any such currency gain or loss would be treated as ordinary income or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. However, if foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date received by the U.S. Holder, a cash-basis or electing accrual-basis U.S. Holder should not recognize any gain or loss on such conversion.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
There is a risk that we may be a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our treatment as a PFIC could result in a reduction in the after-tax return to the U.S. Holders of the ADSs and may cause a reduction in the value of such securities.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which (i) 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of the average value of all of our assets for the taxable year produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, cash is considered to be an asset which produces passive income. Passive income for these purposes generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents, annuities and the excess of gains over losses from the disposition of assets which produce passive income. In making a PFIC determination, we will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the share capital. Based on the composition of our assets and income, we believe that we should not be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to fiscal year 2026. However, the determination of PFIC status is a factual determination that must be made annually at the close of each taxable year and, therefore, there can be no certainty as to our status in this regard until the close of the current or any future taxable year. Changes in the nature of our income or assets or a decrease in the trading price of the ADSs may cause us to be considered a PFIC in the current or any subsequent year. If we were a PFIC in any year during a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs, we would ordinarily continue to be treated as a PFIC for each subsequent year during which the U.S. Holder owned the ADSs.
Under the default PFIC “excess distribution” regime, if we are a PFIC in any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owns ADSs, such U.S. Holder could be liable for additional taxes and interest charges upon (i) certain distributions by us (generally any distribution paid during a taxable year that is greater than 125 percent of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs), and (ii) any gain realized on a sale, exchange or other disposition, including a pledge, of the ADSs, whether or not we continue to be a PFIC for the year of the disposition. In these circumstances, the tax will generally be determined by allocating such distributions or gain ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs. The amount allocated to the current taxable year and any year prior to the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income (rather than capital gain) earned in the current taxable year. The amount allocated to other taxable years will be taxed at the highest applicable marginal rates for the year and an interest charge at the rate applicable to underpayments of tax will also be imposed on the amount of taxes allocated to such other taxable years.
An indirect shareholder may be taxed on a distribution paid to the direct owner of a PFIC and on a disposition of the share indirectly owned. Indirect shareholders are strongly urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.
If we are a PFIC and subsequently cease to be a PFIC in a future year, a U.S. Holder may avoid the continued application of the tax treatment described above by electing to be treated as if it sold its ADSs on the last day of the last taxable year in which we were a PFIC. Any gain would generally be recognized and subject to tax under the excess distribution regime described above. Loss would not be recognized. A U.S. Holder’s basis in its ADSs would be increased by the amount of gain, if any, recognized on the deemed sale. A U.S. Holder would be required to treat its holding period for its ADSs as beginning on the day following the last day of the last taxable year in which we were a PFIC.
If the ADSs are considered “marketable stock” and if a U.S. Holder properly elects to “mark-to-market” its ADSs in a timely fashion, the U.S. Holder would not be subject to tax under the excess distribution regime described above. Instead, the U.S. Holder would generally include in income any excess of the fair market value of the ADSs at the close of each tax year over the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs. If the fair market value of the ADSs had depreciated below the adjusted basis at the close of the tax year, the U.S. Holder would be entitled to deduct the excess of the adjusted basis of the ADSs over their fair market value at that time. However, such deductions generally would be limited to the net mark-to-market gains, if any, the U.S. Holder included in income with respect to such ADSs in prior years. Income recognized and deductions allowed under the mark-to-market provisions, as well as any gain or loss on the disposition of ADSs with respect to which the mark-to-market election is made, is treated as ordinary income or loss (except that loss is treated as capital loss to the extent the loss exceeds the net mark-to-market gains, if any, that a U.S. Holder included in income with respect to such ordinary shares in prior years). However, gain or loss from the disposition of ADSs (as to which a “mark-to-market” election was properly made) in a year in which we are no longer a PFIC, will be capital gain or loss. Our ordinary shares or ADSs will be “marketable” stock as long as they remain regularly traded on a national securities exchange, such as the Nasdaq, or a foreign securities exchange regulated by a governmental authority of the country in which the market is located and which meets certain requirements, including that the rules of the exchange effectively promote active trading of listed stocks. If such stock is traded on such a qualified exchange or other market, such stock generally will be “regularly traded” for any calendar year during which such stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter, but no assurances can be given in this regard. Our ordinary shares are traded on the ASX, which may qualify as an eligible foreign securities exchange for this purpose. Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including shares in any of our subsidiaries that are treated as PFICs.
A U.S. Holder of ADSs should not be able to avoid the tax consequences described above by electing to treat us as a qualified electing fund. In general, a qualified electing fund is, with respect to a U.S. person, a PFIC if the U.S. person has elected to include its proportionate share of a company’s ordinary earnings and net capital gains in U.S. income on an annual basis. A qualified electing fund election can only be made with respect to us if we provide U.S. Holders with certain information on an annual basis and we do not intend to prepare the information that U.S. Holders would need to make the qualified electing fund election.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Payments in respect of ADSs may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and to U.S. backup withholding tax (at a rate of 24% under current law). Backup withholding will not apply, however, if a U.S. Holder (i) is a corporation, (ii) satisfies an applicable exemption, or (iii) furnishes correct taxpayer identification.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. tax liability, and a U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.
| F. | Dividends and Paying Agents |
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| G. | Statement by Experts |
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| H. | Documents on Display |
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We are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as applicable to “foreign private issuers” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, our proxy solicitations are not subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, transactions in our equity securities by our officers and directors are exempt from the “short-swing” profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission an annual report on Form 20-F containing financial statements that have been examined and reported on, with an opinion expressed by an independent registered public accounting firm, and we submit reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K containing (among other things) press releases and unaudited financial information for the first six months of each fiscal year. We post our annual and half-year reports on our website promptly following their filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained on our website or available through our website is not incorporated by reference into and should not be considered a part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F, and the reference to our website in this Annual Report on Form 20-F is an inactive textual reference only.
This document and the exhibits thereto and any other document we file pursuant to the Exchange Act may be inspected without charge and copied at prescribed rates at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. by calling the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website atwww.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission using its EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) system.
The documents concerning Chilwa that are referred to in this document may also be inspected at our office located at Level 28, 140 St George’s Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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See Item 4.C.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.