1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
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Contents >> International Accounts and Trade >> Foreign ownership in Australia

Table 30.18 shows that the value of equity on issue by Australian enterprise groups at 30 June 2002 stood at $1,181b. Of this total, 65% related to shares or equivalent equity interests issued by corporate trading enterprises. Banks accounted for a further 16% of total equity issued, and the other financial sub-sector, including life offices and superannuation funds (but excluding non-bank deposit taking institutions), also accounted for 16%. Lesser amounts were issued by non-bank deposit taking institutions (2% of the total) and, the central bank (1%).

Of the total equity on issue by Australian enterprise groups at 30 June 2002, non-residents held equity valued at $339b (29%), while residents held $842b (71%).

Although the proportion of equity held by non-residents has remained relatively stable, the total value of equity on issue has increased by 33%, from $887b to $1,181b, over the period from 30 June 1998 to 30 June 2002.

Analysed by sub-sector, at 30 June 2002 non-residents held 34% of the equity in corporate trading enterprises, which has changed little over recent years. The value of equity on issue by corporate trading enterprises at 30 June 2002 decreased on the previous year by 5%.

The amount issued by banks has increased by 82% over the period from 30 June 1998 to 30 June 2002, while the proportion of non-resident holdings of the total equity issued by banks has risen from 24% to 26% over the same period.

The value of equity issued by life offices, superannuation funds and other financial institutions increased by 39% over the period from 30 June 1998 to 30 June 2002, the foreign ownership of this equity increased from 3% at 30 June 1998 to 15% at 30 June 2002.

Data for equity on issue by unlisted corporations are of lesser quality than the data supplied by the Australian Stock Exchange for listed corporations. Data for unlisted corporations are compiled from returns supplied in the ABS Survey of Financial Information, ABS Survey of International Investment, selected annual reports, and estimates synthesised from analysing residual items in demand and supply tables for the various share markets.

In terms of the analysis undertaken here, errors in the estimated market value of equity on issue will impact on the accuracy of estimates of the proportion of that equity owned by non-residents.


30.18 FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF EQUITY(a) - At 30 June

Units
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002

ALL SECTORS COMBINED

Amount issued
$b
887.4
991.7
1,118.3
1,206.8
1,181.4
Amount held by rest of world
$b
249.5
287.0
330.8
345.8
339.1
Percentage of foreign ownership
%
26.6
28.9
29.6
28.7
28.7

SUB-SECTORS

Corporate trading enterprises(b)
Amount issued(c)
$b
615.5
722.4
791.9
810.1
765.6
Amount held by rest of world
$b
198.0
238.8
278.2
273.3
258.5
Percentage of foreign ownership
%
33.2
33.1
35.1
33.7
33.8
Banks
Amount issued(c)
$b
104.0
113.6
138.6
178.3
189.3
Amount held by rest of world
$b
25.1
28.3
31.1
45.4
48.2
Percentage of foreign ownership
%
24.1
24.9
22.4
25.5
25.5
Non-bank deposit taking institutions
Amount issued(c)
$b
17.5
15.0
15.7
20.1
23.6
Amount held by rest of world
$b
4.3
4.0
3.5
3.9
4.3
Percentage of foreign ownership
%
33.9
26.7
22.3
19.3
18.2
Other financial sub-sectors(d)
Amount issued(c)
$b
137.8
129.8
161.7
186.0
191.5
Amount held by rest of world
$b
22.1
15.8
18.0
23.1
28.2
Percentage of foreign ownership
%
16.0
12.2
11.1
12.4
14.7
Central bank
Amount issued(e)(f)
$b
12.6
10.9
10.4
12.3
11.4

(a) Equity includes units in trusts.
(b) Includes private non-financial corporations, and Commonwealth, state and local public non-financial corporations.
(c) These estimated market values are considered to be of poor quality. They should be used cautiously.
(d) Includes life offices and superannuation funds, central borrowing authorities, and other financial institutions.
(e) Net asset values.
(f) There is no foreign ownership in this sub-sector.

Source: Australian National Accounts: Financial Accounts (5232.0); Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (5302.0).



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