Suspended Companies

If your company is suspended from quotation, you will find confirmation in the company record by searching on the company name or code above.

Here is a small selection of companies currently in suspension. A full list can be downloaded by clicking in the box at the foot of the list.

Suspension explained

ASX (or NSX) may suspend an entity's shares or other securities from quotation at the request of the entity or it may initiate the suspension itself. In the latter case, ASX listing rules provide that suspension may occur if in the opinion of ASX the entity breaks a listing rule, is unwilling to comply with a listing rule, suspension will prevent a disorderly or uniformed market, ASX rules require the suspension or it is appropriate for some other reason.

When suspension occurs the securities are not tradeable on the exchange until they are reinstated by the exchange to quotation.

Often a company's shares are suspended from quotation for months or even years (now a maximum of 2 years) before the company is either delisted or reinstated to quotation.

It should noted that suspension from quotation differs from a trading halt which is a temporary suspension of a company's trading activity that may occur at the request of the company or where the ASX receives an announcement from a related entity that is deemed to be market sensitive.

As a general rule we monitor all companies suspended from quotation, whether they are in external administration or not.

Failed and suspended companies

Many of the companies suspended from quotation have failed. Often that is not apparent to shareholders unless they are following developments closely.

When a company is suspended it remains in portfolios at the last quoted price. This is quite misleading as that market price may be months or even years old and have nothing to do with the current value of the shares.

deListed acquires shares in failed and suspended (or delisted) companies to facilitate the crystallisation of a capital loss or effect the closure of an account. There is an online facility here, "Sell your Worthless Shares"  where that can be initiated.

Finding your suspended company

If you are unable to find your company anywhere, or the information is incomplete or incomprehensible, please send us a message and we will try to assist. If the suspension is prolonged, an administrator, usually in conjunction with creditors or directors, is often deciding the company's fate.

Many small companies suspended because of insolvency concerns, are recapitalised and regain quotation; usually with little, if any, residual value left for shareholders. The larger companies that fail are eventually delisted and end up in liquidation.

Why was your company suspended?

According to the Australian Stock Exchange Listing Rules a company may be suspended from quotation:

1. If it asks to be suspended (see Listing rule 17.2*)
2. If in the opinion of ASX: (see Listing rule 17:3*) it breaks a listing rule or is unwilling or unable to comply with a rule, it is necessary to "prevent a disorderly or uninformed market", ASX's rules require the suspension or it is appropriate for some other reason
3. In the event of a compulsory acquisition following a takeover bid (see Listing Rule 17.4*) 
4. In the event of a compulsory acquisition under Part 6A.2 of the Corporations Act (see Listing Rule 17.4A*)
5. If an entity fails to lodge certain documents (see Listing Rule 17.5*)
6. If it fails to pay annual listing fees (see Listing Rule 17.6*)

Note you can view the detail of the listing rules by clicking here.