form 603 · 2020-01-09 · form 603 corporations law section 671b notice of initial substantial...

Form 603

Corporations Law Section 671B

Notice of initial substantial holder

To: Company Name/Scheme OPTHEA LTD

ACN/ARSN 006 340 567

1. Details of substantial holder (1) Name Bank of America Corporation and its related bodies corporate (See

Appendix C)

ACN/ARSN (if applicable)

The holder became a substantial holder on: 7 January 2020

2. Details of voting power The total number of votes attached to all the voting shares in the company or voting interests in the scheme that the substantial holder or an associate (2) had a relevant interest (3) in on the date the substantial holder became a substantial holder are as follows:

Class of securities (4)

Number of securities

Persons’ votes (5)

Voting power (6)

Ordinary 13,548,654 13,548,654 5.03%

3. Details of relevant interests The nature of the relevant interest the substantial holder or an associate had in the following voting securities on the date the substantial holder became a substantial holder are as follows:

Holder of relevant interest Nature of relevant interest (7) Class and number of securities

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd Power to control voting and/or disposal of securities in its capacity as ultimate beneficial owner having a principal position.

Ordinary 9,067,074

Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd Borrowing of securities pursuant to a Prime Brokerage Agreement (see Appendix B), with power to control the voting and/or disposal of borrowed securities.

Ordinary 4,103,016

Merrill Lynch International Borrowing of securities pursuant to a Prime Brokerage Agreement (see Appendix B), with power to control the voting and/or disposal of borrowed securities.

Ordinary 378,564

4. Details of present registered holders The persons registered as holders of the securities referred to in paragraph 3 above are as follows:

Holder of relevant interest

Registered holder of securities

Person entitled to be registered as holder (8)

Class and number of securities

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Ltd

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd

Ordinary 9,067,074

Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Ltd

Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd

Ordinary 4,103,016

Merrill Lynch International Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Ltd

Merrill Lynch International Ordinary 378,564

5. Consideration The consideration paid for each relevant interest referred to in paragraph 3 above, and acquired in the four months prior to the day that the substantial holder became a substantial holder is as follows:

Holder of relevant interest Date of acquisition Consideration (9) Class and number of securities

Cash Non-cash

Please see Annexure A.

6. Associates

The reasons the persons named in paragraph 3 above are associates of the substantial holder are as follows:

Name and ACN/ ARSN (if applicable) Nature of association

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd Related body corporate

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Ltd Related body corporate

Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd Related body corporate

Merrill Lynch International Related body corporate

7. Addresses

The addresses of persons named in this form are as follows:

Name Addresses

Bank of America Corporation 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28255, USA

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd Level 38, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Ltd Level 19, 120 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia

Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd Level 38, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Merrill Lynch International 2 King Edward Street, London, England, EC1A 1HQ, United Kingdom.

SIGNATURE

Print Name:

Kelvin Kwok

Capacity:

Authorised signatory

Sign Here:

Date:

9 January 2020

Appendix A

Date of change Person whose relevant interest changed Nature of change (4) Consideration

(5) Class (6) of securities

Securities affected

Person's votes affected Remark

9/9/2019 Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited

Securities borrowed N/A Ordinary 78,455

78,455 Refer to App. B


Securities returned N/A Ordinary (25)

(25) Refer to App. B


Securities returned N/A Ordinary (76,155)

(76,155) Refer to App. B
























































Securities borrowed N/A Ordinary 2,415,094

2,415,094 Refer to App. B









































































9/9/2019 Merrill Lynch International Securities borrowed N/A Ordinary 383,945


9/9/2019 Merrill Lynch International Securities returned N/A Ordinary (1)

(1) Refer to App. B

9/9/2019 Merrill Lynch International Securities returned N/A Ordinary (383,944)






9/26/2019 Merrill Lynch International Securities returned N/A Ordinary (4,471)


12/27/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (209) Ordinary (70)

(70) N/A

12/27/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (1,001) Ordinary (337)

(337) N/A

12/27/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (25,200) Ordinary (8,489)

(8,489) N/A


(1,045) N/A


(4,885) N/A


(11) N/A

12/30/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 20,326 Ordinary 6,646

6,646 N/A


(5,914) N/A

12/30/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 889 Ordinary 286

286 N/A


(998) N/A


(1,449) N/A


1,574 N/A


(1,121) N/A

12/31/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (1,192,247) Ordinary (395,179)

(395,179) N/A


(727) N/A


(539) N/A


169 N/A


(364) N/A


(15,429) N/A


2,919 N/A


(2,166) N/A


(12,530) N/A


185 N/A


283 N/A


(1,296) N/A


5,371 N/A

1/7/2020 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 2,960,000 Ordinary 1,000,000

1,000,000 N/A


(153) N/A


(1,100) N/A


1,874 N/A


1,822 N/A


192 N/A


1,789 N/A

9/11/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 2,139 Ordinary 629

629 N/A


41 N/A

9/12/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 20 Ordinary 6 6 N/A


1,811 N/A


2,017 N/A


1,805 N/A


1,496 N/A


(866) N/A


1,581 N/A


(4,269) N/A


1,312 N/A


1,258 N/A


1,469 N/A


974 N/A


1,097 N/A


957 N/A


1,729 N/A

9/24/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 2,797,500 Ordinary 750,000

750,000 N/A


1,403 N/A


613 N/A


1,108 N/A


1,314 N/A


700 N/A


254 N/A


900 N/A


9,228 N/A


(7,193) N/A


1,657 N/A


593 N/A


(1,497) N/A


1,200,000 N/A


(5,127) N/A


1,348 N/A


1,447 N/A


(12) N/A


563 N/A


4,400 N/A


3,467,239 N/A


571 N/A


218,911 N/A


500 N/A


6,567 N/A


89 N/A


(2,092) N/A


(2,708) N/A


(2,685) N/A


437 N/A


(1,787) N/A


(895) N/A


6,295 N/A


1,670 N/A


303 N/A


2,120,104 N/A


(7,175) N/A


285 N/A


1,300 N/A


15,952 N/A


500,000 N/A


(1,178) N/A


1,163 N/A


406 N/A


5,000 N/A


1,000 N/A


185,000 N/A


1,100 N/A


(2,449) N/A


669 N/A


544 N/A


463 N/A


60,000 N/A


560 N/A


3,618 N/A


(389) N/A


389 N/A


303 N/A


5,021 N/A


3,106 N/A


(544) N/A


163 N/A


(301) N/A


(505) N/A


1,596 N/A


(2,871) N/A


315 N/A


15,313 N/A


(4,152) N/A


157 N/A


(2,440) N/A


(1,863) N/A


311 N/A


3,700 N/A

10/18/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (1,743,004) Ordinary (491,971)

(491,971) N/A


(1,015) N/A


2,065 N/A


1,091 N/A


(1,238) N/A


(2,700) N/A


2,200 N/A


(4,521) N/A


(4,500) N/A


(2,053) N/A


380 N/A


14,034 N/A


7,761 N/A


2,203 N/A


3,885 N/A


(2,196) N/A


543 N/A


(525) N/A


12 N/A


184 N/A


1,001 N/A


(2,211) N/A


4,391 N/A


(2,724) N/A


(2,542) N/A


200 N/A


445 N/A


(804) N/A


43 N/A


563 N/A


28 N/A


(1,470) N/A


(1,849) N/A


920 N/A


192 N/A


201 N/A


517 N/A


(4,449) N/A


2,359 N/A


(386) N/A


1,000 N/A


210 N/A


(2,749) N/A


(1,138) N/A


26 N/A


(543) N/A


(351) N/A


(24,328) N/A


461 N/A


722 N/A


(1,452) N/A


145 N/A


500 N/A


(1,718) N/A


(1,530) N/A


(1,500) N/A


427 N/A


97 N/A


1,530 N/A


5,668 N/A


(420) N/A


(5,215) N/A


3,884 N/A


982 N/A


(5,303) N/A


(16) N/A


38 N/A


202 N/A


4,297 N/A


(1,371) N/A


(414) N/A


3,383 N/A


(274) N/A


(6,895) N/A


3,362 N/A


1,049 N/A


(223) N/A


1,900 N/A


238 N/A


(3,063) N/A


4,800 N/A


(184) N/A


(15) N/A


6,079 N/A


4,332 N/A


(1,900) N/A


(6,616) N/A


446 N/A


(643) N/A


(6,025) N/A


144 N/A


8,036 N/A


(340) N/A


230 N/A


(4,200) N/A


(238) N/A


330 N/A


(29,099) N/A


900 N/A


29,099 N/A


23,866 N/A


(206) N/A


278 N/A

11/19/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (3,480,000) Ordinary (1,200,000)

(1,200,000) N/A


(406) N/A


(19,706) N/A


(3,200) N/A


694 N/A


14,281 N/A


(4,229) N/A


2,911 N/A


(9,647) N/A

11/21/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (16,620,000) Ordinary (6,000,000)

(6,000,000) N/A


7,058 N/A


(560) N/A


3,535 N/A


(2,838) N/A


2,334 N/A


1,417 N/A


500,000 N/A


3,913 N/A


(3,156) N/A


(5,163) N/A


3,018 N/A


2,446 N/A


(711) N/A


8,440 N/A


(927) N/A


(4,054) N/A


(2,018) N/A


5,760 N/A


269 N/A


(3,456) N/A


(17,828) N/A


3,712 N/A


(1,940) N/A


(925) N/A


(3,593) N/A


(1,933) N/A


3,207 N/A


(171) N/A


(3,478) N/A


21 N/A


(798) N/A


3,617 N/A


22,204 N/A


328 N/A


(14,409) N/A


28,083 N/A


7,696 N/A


(3,005) N/A


(4,897) N/A


(1,800) N/A


(29) N/A


3,000 N/A


1,825,283 N/A


6,610 N/A


(4,023) N/A


(6,845) N/A


(2,143) N/A


5,494 N/A


1,072 N/A


(12,140) N/A


(9,433) N/A


(247) N/A


3,916 N/A


(25,639) N/A


(536) N/A


(774) N/A


1,889 N/A


2,829 N/A


(2,584) N/A


(536) N/A


6,802 N/A


(1,492) N/A


12 N/A


2,666 N/A


(668) N/A


(3,186) N/A


318 N/A


(10,761) N/A


11,599 N/A


(1,250) N/A


778 N/A


(1,513) N/A


(1,588) N/A

12/11/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (23,609) Ordinary (8613) (8613) N/A

12/11/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd BUY 5,979 Ordinary 2198 2198 N/A

12/11/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (884) Ordinary (318) (318) N/A

















12/16/2019 Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Ltd SELL (2,208,000) Ordinary (800000) (800000) N/A









Appendix B-1: Prescribed information

Type of agreement International Prime Brokerage Agreement

Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited and Equity Trustees Limited As Trustee And Responsible Entity Of Regal Investment Fund

Holder of voting rights

Securities borrower. Securities lender may instruct the registered holder to vote on securities.

Are there any restrictions on voting rights?

No

If yes, detail N/A

Scheduled return date (if any)

On recall of the securities loan by the securities lender.

Does the borrower have the right to return early?

Yes

If yes, detail Securities borrower will have right to return assets at any time.

Does the lender have the right to recall early?

Yes

If yes, detail Securities lender will have right to recall assets at any time.

Will the securities be returned on settlement?

Yes

If yes, detail any exceptions

N/A



Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International and Integrated Core Strategies (Asia)




No

If yes, detail N/A




Yes



Yes



Yes


N/A



Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited and Regal Funds Management Pty Limited as Trustee of Regal Australian Long Short Equity Fund




No

If yes, detail N/A




Yes



Yes



Yes


N/A



Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited and Regal Funds Management Pty Limited as Trustee of Tasman Market Neutral Fund




No

If yes, detail N/A




Yes



Yes



Yes


N/A



Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited and Regal Funds Management Pty Limited as Trustee of Atlantic Absolute Return Fund




No

If yes, detail N/A




Yes



Yes



Yes


N/A



Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited and SSW-TRADING GMBH




No

If yes, detail N/A




Yes



Yes



Yes


N/A



Parties to agreement Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited and Susquehanna Pacific Pty Ltd




No

If yes, detail N/A




Yes



Yes



Yes


N/A

Appendix C

Related bodies corporate Incorporated ACN/Registration/Incorporation Number

Merrill Lynch International United Kingdom 2312079

ML UK Capital Holdings United Kingdom 4971231

BofAML EMEA Holdings 2 Limited United States 119605

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Futures Limited Australia 003639674

Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited Australia 002892846

Merrill Lynch Markets (Australia) Pty. Limited Australia 075587816

Merrill Lynch (Australasia) Pty. Limited Australia 075923894

Bank of America Global Holdings, LLC United States 5169939

BofAML Jersey Holdings Limited Jersey 115831

NB Holdings Corporation United States 2361372

Bank of America Corporation United States N/A628

form 603 · 2020-01-09 · form 603 corporations law section 671b notice of initial substantial...

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