Subject to some limited exceptions, you are a group member if you:

1. Entered into a contract to acquire an interest in fully paid ordinary shares in Brambles during the period between 18 August 2016 and 17 February 2017 (inclusive); and

2. Suffered loss or damage by reason of the conduct of Brambles, as alleged in the Applicants’ Amended Consolidated Statement of Claim.

If you are unsure about whether you are a group member, please contact Echo Law via email at enquiries@echolaw.com.au or by telephone on 1800 571 241 or +61 3 7046 3565.

Yes.

Previously, the Federal Court of Australia made orders that persons who wished to receive a share of any settlement reached in the class action (prior to 14 days after the conclusion of trial) were to register their claims by 4.00pm AEST on 26 July 2022.

However, as no settlement was reached within 14 days of the conclusion of the trial, it is possible for additional group members to register to participate in the class action.

Register via the Omni Bridgeway website here.

In order to register, group members will be asked to provide:

1. Their name and contact details;

2. Details of the owner of the securities (if the owner is different to the name of the person registering, for example you bought shares on behalf of another person or on behalf of a self-managed superannuation fund); and

3. Information about all shares they acquired and disposed of in Brambles between 18 August 2016 and 17 February 2017 (inclusive).

No. If you have already registered your claim then there is nothing further you need to do at this stage.

Yes. If you acquired Brambles shares between 18 August 2016 and 17 February 2017 (inclusive) you can register even if you no longer hold those shares.

No. Group members will never have to pay any costs out of their own pocket to participate in this class action – regardless of whether the class action is successful or unsuccessful.

The proceeding is being funded by litigation funders Omni Bridgeway and Harbour. This means you will not have to pay any money out of your own pocket for legal fees or related expenses, and you will not be responsible for paying any costs if the class action is unsuccessful.

In return for funding the proceeding, and if the class action is successful, a funding commission for the litigation funders will be deducted from the amount of compensation recovered for group members before distribution. In other words, the funders will receive a commission for covering the costs of the litigation but will receive that payment before any money is distributed to group members. These costs will be assessed by the Court to ensure any deductions from the amount of any compensation are fair and reasonable.

Importantly, these costs will never exceed the amount of compensation to which you may otherwise become entitled (meaning you will never have to ‘reimburse’ the funders).

Echo Law now act for the Joint Representative Applicant, Ms Holly Southernwood. On 5 July 2024, Justice Murphy made orders substituting Echo Law for Slater and Gordon Lawyers, as the solicitors for Ms Southernwood.

If you previously registered with Slater and Gordon, we confirm the change in solicitors does not affect your participation in the class action or your Funding Agreement with litigation funder Omni Bridgeway.

If you previously registered with Slater and Gordon, there is nothing further you need to do at this stage.

In August 2018, Slater and Gordon and Maurice Blackburn filed separate proceedings against Brambles in the Federal Court of Australia. On 8 May 2019, the Federal Court of Australia ordered that the two class actions be consolidated.

The consolidated proceeding is known as Holly Southernwood, and William Vincent Kidd & Mary Agnes Collum as Trustees for the Magness-Bennett Superannuation Fund v Brambles Limited (No VID 972/2018) (Brambles Class Action) and was being conducted jointly by Maurice Blackburn and Slater & Gordon on behalf of group members and the lead applicants.

Echo Law now acts for the Joint Representative Applicant, Ms Holly Southernwood. Maurice Blackburn continues to act for the Joint Applicant William Vincent Kidd & Mary Agnes Collum as Trustees for the Magness-Bennett Superannuation Fund.