Insider trading charges laid against Vaughan Bowen of Brighton, Victoria, have been discharged in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.  

The insider trading charges had related to Mr Bowen’s disposal of more than 5 million Vocus Group Limited shares on 4 June 2019. ASIC had alleged that at the time, Mr Bowen was in possession of information concerning the likely withdrawal of a proposal by EQT Infrastructure IV Fund to acquire all shares in Vocus prior to that information being announced to the market. 

On 21 December 2022, following a contested committal hearing, the magistrate discharged Mr Bowen.  

The matter had been prosecuted by the CDPP following a referral from ASIC.