Please select from one of the below to view FAQs for that category:
| Corporate |
| How are sales tracking? |
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On Tuesday, 1 July 2008, Great Southern announced details of sales of its managed investment projects to 30 June 2008. Click here to go to the company announcements page for full details.
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| What is the company's ASX code? |
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GTP
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| What is the company's dividend history? |
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Great Southern Plantations' dividend history is:
- 2007/2008 Interim dividend of 3 cents per share fully franked, paid on 16 July 2008
- 2006/2007 Final dividend of 8 cents per share fully franked, paid on 17 December 2007
- 2006/2007 Interim dividend of 4 cents per share fully franked, paid on 22 June 2007
- 2005/2006 Final dividend of 11 cents per share fully franked, paid on 27 October 2006
- 2005/2006 Interim dividend of 4 cents per share fully franked, paid on 12 April 2006
- 2004/2005 Final dividend of 10 cents per share fully franked, paid on 22 September 2005
- 2004/2005 Interim dividend of 4 cents per share fully franked, paid on 7 April 2005
- 2003/2004 Final dividend of 7 cents per share fully franked, paid on 21 October 2004
- 2003/2004 Interim dividend of 3 cents fully franked paid on 24 March 2004
- 2002/2003 Final dividend of 5 cents fully franked paid on 11 November 2003
- 2002/2003 Interim dividend of 2 cents fully franked paid on 20 May 2003
- 2001/2002 Special dividend of 30 cents fully franked paid on 13 June 2002
- 2000/2001 Final dividend of 6 cents fully franked paid on 29 June 2001
- 2000/2001 Interim dividend of 3 cents fully franked paid on 18 May 2001
- 1999/2000 Final dividend of 5 cents fully franked paid on 27 November 2000
- 1999/2000 Interim dividend of 2 cents fully franked paid on 23 May 2000
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| What is the company's dividend policy? |
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Great Southern is committed to maximising shareholder value through being a variety of means, including payment of dividends. Dividends paid to date have resulted in Great Southern being rated highly as a yield stock.
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| When will the company announce its results? |
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The company released its half year financial results on 26 May 2008. To access the announcement go to the Company Announcements page.
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| Environment |
| What is the impact of the plantations on the environment? |
| The establishment of hardwood plantations has a number of environmental benefits. It helps to reduce salinity and erosion problems caused by historic over-clearing of land, assists in the absorption of phosphates which have built up in the soil, and produces a woodchip product which requires less bleaching than native forest chips. |
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| Insurance |
| Who do I contact if I have a question about my insurance invoice? |
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Questions about insurance invoices should be directed to Great Southern's Administration department, on (08) 9320 9700.
If your question relates to the insurance policy and coverage, please contact a Great Southern Investor Relations Officer on 9320 9700 or 1800 258 348.
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| Great Southern 2008 Diversified Olives Income Project |
| How do I invest? |
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You must complete the application form in the current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). To obtain a PDS, see your financial planner or accountant, call Great Southern on 1800 258 348, or download a copy from the Diversified Olives section of this website.
More information: PDS and How to Invest
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| How much does it cost to invest? |
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A grovelot in the Great Southern 2008 Diversified Olives Income Project costs $6,325 (GST inclusive).
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| Is finance available? |
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The Great Southern Group provides a range of flexible finance options. For more information, view the Finance Options information in the Diversified Olives section of this website.
More information: Finance Options
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| What olive varieties will be planted? |
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Picual, Arbequina, Koroneiki, Coratina, Frantoio, WA Mission, Leccino, Pendolino and Barnea. Olive varieties have been chosen for their ability to cross pollinate and produce consistent yields.
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| Where will the groves be located? |
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The olives groves may be located near the olive groves Great Southern has acquired for previous projects, including the Moore River region, Avon Valley or Preston Valley of southern Western Australia. The climate and soils of each region has proven conducive to the commercial production olive growing. The groves may also be located in other areas in Australia deemed suitable by Great Southern.
More information: Growing Region
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| What tax deduction is available? |
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Investments are 100% tax deductible over the first three years of the Project (80% in 2008, 10% in each of 2009 and 2010), as confirmed by Australian Taxation Office Product Ruling PR 2007/44*.
In addition, investors are eligible for further tax deductions in respect of capital expenditure (incurred by Great Southern) in the establishment of the olive groves.
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| What will the olives be used for upon harvest? |
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Great Southern expects to establish a contract for the sale of organic olives from the Project to Kailis Organic Olive Processing and Packaging Pty Ltd, who produce organic extra virgin olive oil to be sold locally and internationally.
Great Southern also expects to enter into an agreement with Sumich EVOO Australia Pty Ltd for the sale of the conventional olive oil produced from the Project.
Please refer to the PDS for further details.
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| What are options? |
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Growers in the 2007 and 2008 Diversified Olives Income Projects can purchase options in the Great Southern Olives Company Limited ("Olives Business Company"), the new unlisted public company that owns the land, olive trees, infrastructure and any water rights attached to the properties used in the 2007 Project. Options cost $250 each.
Option holders will be able to exercise their options at the completion of the 2007 Project to become shareholders in the Olives Business Company, at no additional cost.
The closing date to apply for options has been extended to 30 September 2007, unless closed fully subscribed prior to this.
Options in the 2008 Diversified Olives Income Project are also expected to be available, following the release of a options prospectus. |
| Great Southern Plantations 2007 Project |
| How do I invest? |
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You must complete the application form in the current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). See your financial planner or accountant for a copy of the PDS or call Great Southern on 1800 258 348. Alternatively, you can request a PDS by clicking on the link below.
More information: PDS and how to invest
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| How much does it cost to invest? |
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One woodlot (0.5 hectares on the Tiwi Islands or 0.33 hectares elsewhere) costs $3,300 (GST inclusive).
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| Is finance available? |
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Yes - the Great Southern Group provides a range of flexible finance packages including 12 month interest free loans and longer principal & interest loans to make investing in the projects even easier.
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| What are my likely returns? |
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As the project is of a medium term duration and there are a high number of variables involved in the calculation of returns to growers, the ability to accurately forecast returns is extremely limited.
Further information can be found in the Project Returns section of our website.
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| What is the difference between compulsory insurance and full or optional insurance? |
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Compulsory insurance covers the standing value of the timber on a yearly basis. In the early years of the Project, insurance recoveries are unlikely to equal the full investment cost. The value of the trees increases with time and the insurance recovery will increase accordingly. Full or Optional insurance enables Growers to cover the full initial cost of the woodlot.
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| What tax deduction is available? |
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Product Ruling PR 2007/62*, issued by the Australian Taxation Office, makes it clear that 100% of the application fee is tax deductible.
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| What will the trees be used for when they are harvested? |
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The trees will be mainly be chipped and exported to Japan, where they will be used in the production of fine paper.
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| When did the first harvests take place? |
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Great Southern commenced harvesting of our first project during the 2004 / 2005 financial year.
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| Where are the plantations? |
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Great Southern has established plantations in each Australian state and territory. Click on the link below for further information and to view a map showing the general location of the growing regions.
More information: Growing regions
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| Why do the financial statements of certain plantation schemes have $nil balances? |
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Great Southern’s plantation schemes will typically operate for a period of about eleven years. In its first year of operation, a plantation scheme will receive application fees from investors. Any application fees that are paid in cash are received directly into the scheme’s bank account and recorded in the scheme’s balance sheet as a cash asset with an offsetting and equivalent amount payable to the responsible entity (Great Southern Managers Australia Limited). The cash assets will eventually be distributed to the responsible entity once the land for the plantation has been acquired and grid lotted and land interests are issued to the investors.
During years two through ten, a plantation scheme’s balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows will typically have $nil balances. This is due to the fact that the growing timber belongs to the individual investors within the scheme and not the scheme itself. This is a technical view that Great Southern has agreed with its independent auditors, Ernst & Young.
In approximately year eleven, the investor’s timber will be harvested and the net harvest proceeds are remitted to the scheme’s bank account. The net harvest proceeds will be recorded as a cash asset in the scheme’s financial statements because the proceeds have been pooled among all scheme investors. When the proceeds are distributed to individual investors, the scheme will record a distribution expense and a reduction of cash assets in its financial statements. Shortly after all net harvest proceeds have been distributed to the investors, the scheme will be wound up by the responsible entity. |
| Great Southern 2008 High Value Timber Project |
| How do I invest? |
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You must complete the application form in the current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). To obtain a PDS, see your financial planner or accountant, call Great Southern on 1800 258 348, or download a copy from the Diversified Olives section of this website.
More information: PDS and How to Invest
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| How much does it cost to invest? |
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A woodlot in the Great Southern 2008 High Value Timber Project costs $13,750 (GST inclusive).
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| Is finance available? |
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The Great Southern Group provides a range of flexible finance options. For more information, view the Finance Options information in the Diversified Olives section of this website.
More information: Finance Options
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| What hardwood varieties will be planted? |
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The hardwood species being planted include tropical timbers teak and African mahogany. Each have been long regarded for their natural beauty and durability and are used extensively for furniture and appearance grade timber.
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| Where will the plantations be located? |
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Growing regions may include the Northern Territory and Queensland, or other regions in Australia Great Southern deems suitable for the commercial production of high value timber hardwood.
Great Southern has developed a comprehensive methodology for assessing potential land for plantations, including a physical assessment by both Great Southern's land evaluation team and an independent forester.
More information: Growing Region
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| What tax deduction is available? |
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Investments are 100% tax deductible over the first financial year of investment, as confirmed by Australian Taxation Office Product Ruling PR 2007/70*.
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| What will the trees be used for when they are harvested? |
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Once harvested the timber will be used for furniture and appearance grade timber and is expected to supply both domestic and international markets. |
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| Rural Funds Management information |
| Where do I find information about my investments? |
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Rural Funds Management Limited ({RFM) is now wholly owned by Great Southern Limited. RFM investors seeking information on their investments should click here. Information such as unit prices and the distribution history for each fund, investor newsletters and independent research, and a link to log in to view your investments is available. This page is also available through a link from the www.great-southern.com.au home page.
More information: RFM information
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*The Product Ruling is only a ruling on the application of the taxation law and is in no way expressly or impliedly a guarantee or endorsement of the commercial viability of the Project, of the soundness or otherwise of the Project as an investment, or of the reasonableness or commerciality of any fees charged in connection with the Project. The Product Ruling is only binding on the Commissioner if the Project is implemented in the specific manner provided in the Product Ruling.
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