6-K 1 tm2112361d1_6k.htm FORM 6-K

 

 

 

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

 

April 7, 2021

 

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. 333-228295 and 333-228294), as such prospectuses may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

APRA approves Westpac’s Integrated Plan to address risk governance

 

Westpac confirms that the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has approved its Integrated Plan developed in response to the Enforceable Undertaking (EU).

 

Under the terms of the EU, entered into on December 3, 2020, Westpac was required to submit for APRA approval a detailed integrated plan outlining all major remediation activities related to risk governance. The plan was also required to have clear timelines and specify who is accountable for delivery.

 

The Integrated Plan outlines commitments designed to strengthen all aspects of Westpac’s risk governance across both financial and non-financial risk.

 

A requirement of the EU is that the Integrated Plan is independently assured. Westpac has appointed Promontory Australasia to provide quarterly assurance and we intend to release their reports bi-annually, with the first report (for the period up to March 1, 2021) released today.

 

In its report, Promontory acknowledged the completeness of Westpac’s Integrated Plan, as it expands on its existing Customer Outcomes and Risk Excellence (CORE) Program and noted that appropriate governance and accountability structures are in place to support effective implementation of the Plan.

 

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
     
1   ASX Release – APRA approves Westpac’s Integrated Plan to address risk governance

 

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.

 

 

 

We use words such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘seek’, ‘would’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘continue’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘probability’, ‘risk’, ‘aim’ or other similar words to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to change, certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are, in many instances, beyond our control and have been made based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with our expectations or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the expectations described in this Report. Factors that may impact on the forward-looking statements made include, but are not limited to, those described in the section entitled ‘Risk factors’ in Westpac’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the ongoing impact of COVID-19. 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. We are under no obligation, and do not intend, to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events 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:     April 7, 2021 By: /s/ Yvette Adiguzel
    Yvette Adiguzel
    Tier One Attorney