Stapled Securities: Antipodean Anomaly or Adaptable Innovation?

Abstract

The issuing of stapled securities (such as a unit in a trust and a share in a company) which cannot be traded separately occurs relatively frequently in Australia but is not common elsewhere. This article outlines the features and use of stapled security structures and examines explanations for their popularity in Australia, such as tax, behavioural finance, and governance aspects. It considers the use of such structures, and regulatory impediments, in other economies.