I figured out why you think BHP is foreign owned.
Most shares are held in custodianship arrangements. See here.
The thing is, everyone can use a custodian. Even retail holders. Including your super fund. Notice how HSBC, making up the majority of the custodianship shares and being a common one to use for many people from all walks of life, is not featured on the substantial holders list.
Here are the "evil overseas corporations" that own BHP. Notice how that does not add up to 90%? Notice how despite what some people claim, blackrock does not own the entire corporation?
I found the article you referenced earlier, from the Australia institute. Taking aside their obvious political bias, let's give them the benefit of the doubt and look at their cited sources in the report. Their report only becomes true if you believe that every single custodian at the time of the report being commissioned was an overseas shareholder. We know this not to be true from the above information and sub holder notices.
I believe they used the same flawed methodology and I'm guessing the numbers fluctuate from time to time in regards to nominees holding varying amounts, as does the amount of retail holders. Sometimes this data is a bit out of date as well and can dramatically change, I have tried to include the most current data. Either way, the claim that 90% overseas corporations own BHP is insane, factually incorrect and 2 seconds on google disproves it. Remember, most of these institutions are actually going to be super funds. Those super funds also own BlackRock and vanguard.
I will give you credit for fantastic trolling, you've got me defending BHP and I don't even own it! But I strongly believe in fair justice and think that facts should be stuck to.
On a personal note, I actually agree that overseas corporations have been buying up too much of our agriculture. Funny how this is never talked about yet lies about companies like BHP persist in the public lexicon because they sound nicer. It's easier to imagine the evil mining company.
