SLM Corporate’s managing director Barry Lewin acted as an expert for the accused Mr Vaughan Bowen.

Former Vocus Group Limited chair Vaughan Bowen has been acquitted of insider trading charges following a nearly five-week trial in the Melbourne County Court.

A jury found Mr Bowen, not guilty of two counts of insider trading relating to Mr Bowen’s disposal of more than 5.5 million Vocus shares on 4 June 2019.

ASIC had alleged that Mr Bowen sold the shares while in possession of inside information relating to the withdrawal of a takeover bid by EQT Infrastructure IV Fund, with the intention of avoiding a loss when the share price fell upon announcement of the news.

The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions following an ASIC referral.