Westpac Banking Corp 6-K, filed Sep 5, 2023
Westpac Banking Corp (WEBNF)
About this 6-K
Westpac Banking Corp filed this 6-K on September 5, 2023.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE
13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
September 5, 2023
Commission File Number 1-10167
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
275 KENT STREET, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES 2000, AUSTRALIA
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Incorporation by Reference
The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K, excluding the information set forth in Exhibit No. 1, shall be incorporated by reference in the prospectuses relating to the Registrant’s securities contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-260702 and 333-260703), as such prospectuses may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
Westpac acknowledges ASIC proceedings
Westpac acknowledges the civil penalty proceedings commenced by ASIC in the Federal Court alleging contraventions under the National Credit Code (Credit Code) and National Consumer Credit Protection Act.
The proceedings relate to a technology failure in which ASIC alleges 229 applications for hardship assistance submitted between 2015 and 2022 were not assessed within 21 days, as required under the Credit Code. Over this period, Westpac received approximately 630,000 applications for hardship assistance.
Once Westpac identified the incident we self-reported it to ASIC. We are considering the matters raised by ASIC and have cooperated with their investigation.
Index to Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 1 | Westpac acknowledges ASIC proceedings |
Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements
The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Forward-looking statements are statements about matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this Report and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to our business and operations, macro and micro economic and market conditions, results of operations and financial condition, capital adequacy and risk management, including, without limitation, future loan loss provisions and financial support to certain borrowers, forecasted economic indicators and performance metric outcomes, indicative drivers, climate- and other sustainability-related statements, commitments, targets, projections and metrics, and other estimated and proxy data.
We use words such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘seek’, ‘would’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘continue’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘probability’, ‘indicative’, ‘risk’, ‘aim’, ‘outlook’, ‘forecast’, ‘f’cast’, ‘f’, ‘assumption’, ‘projection’, ‘target’, ‘goal’, ‘guidance’, ‘ambition’, or other similar words to identify forward-looking statements, or otherwise identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views on future events and are subject to change, certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other factors which are, in many instances, beyond our control (and the control of our officers, employees, agents and advisors), and have been made based on management’s expectations or beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon us. Forward-looking statements may also be made, verbally or in writing, by members of Westpac’s management or Board in connection with this Report. Such statements are subject to the same limitations, uncertainties, assumptions and disclaimers set out in this Report.
There can be no assurance that future developments or performance will align with our expectations or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those we expect or which are expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, depending on various factors including, but not limited to, those described in the section titled ‘Risk factors’ in Westpac’s 2023 Interim Financial Results on Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to us, investors and others should carefully consider such factors and other uncertainties and events.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this Report, whether from new information, future events, conditions or otherwise, after the date of this Report.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION | ||
| (Registrant) | ||
| Date: September 5, 2023 | By: | /s/ Yvette Adiguzel |
| Yvette Adiguzel | ||
| Tier One Attorney | ||
| ASX Release 5 September 2023 Westpac acknowledges ASIC proceedings Westpac acknowledges the civil penalty proceedings commenced by ASIC in the Federal Court alleging contraventions under the National Credit Code (Credit Code) and National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP Act). The proceedings relate to a technology failure in which ASIC alleges 229 applications for hardship assistance submitted between 2015 and 2022 were not assessed within 21 days, as required under the Credit Code. Over this period, Westpac received approximately 630,000 applications for hardship assistance. “This error meant we didn’t provide some of our customers with the help they needed. For this, we are deeply sorry,” said Westpac Group Chief Information Officer, Scott Collary. “While we have assisted some of these customers in subsequent contact, it is not good enough that we missed their initial attempt to get in touch. “Since we uncovered this issue, we’ve contacted these customers and completed a remediation program including refunds of fees and interest, debt waivers and payments for non-financial loss, totalling approximately $900,000. “We have strengthened our processes and are upgrading our online hardship applications,” Mr Collary said. Once Westpac identified the incident we self-reported it to ASIC. We are considering the matters raised by ASIC and have cooperated with their investigation. For further information: Hayden Cooper Justin McCarthy Group Head of Media Relations General Manager, Investor Relations 0402 393 619 0422 800 321 This document has been authorised for release by Tim Hartin, Company Secretary Level 18, 275 Kent Street Sydney, NSW, 2000 |
