B08 Metal Ore Mining

Forrest boosts his stake in Fortescue

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Original article by Melissa Yeo
The Weekend Australian – Page: 24 : 29-Feb-20

Fortescue Metals Group has advised that chairman and founder Andrew Forrest bought more than 22 million shares in the pure-play iron ore miner between 20 and 27 February. Forrest paid some $242m to lift his stake in Fortescue from 30 per cent to about 36 per cent. Forrest will receive $828m in dividends for the first half of 2019-20 after Fortescue recently announced an interim dividend of $0.76 per share.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

Investors back Rio payout cut for climate

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 2-Mar-20

Camille Simeon of Aberdeen Standard Investments says mining companies such as Rio Tinto needs to consider the short-term financial costs of taking action on climate change compared with the long-term cost of inaction. She warns that miners may incur higher costs of capital, stranded assets, reduced demand and lower shareholder returns if they fail to reduce carbon emissions. Ross Illingworth of Kingfisher Capital Partners has praised Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques for asking shareholders whether they are willing to accept lower dividends in return for faster progress on reducing emissions.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KINGFISHER CAPITAL PARTNERS

Rio shareholders want dividends and climate action

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 28-Feb-20

Rio Tinto has released a report which notes that some of its investments aimed at reducing carbon emissions will generate returns that are below its typical thresholds. The resources giant has set a net zero emissions target of 2050, and CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques says this is likely to include the use of carbon offsets. He has used an investor briefing in London to raise the question of whether shareholders are willing to accept lower dividend payouts in return for faster progress on reducing emissions.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

China will act quickly to spur economy: Rio

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 22 : 27-Feb-20

Rio Tinto has reported underlying earnings of $US10.37bn ($15.77bn) for 2019. The result was bolstered by a strong rise in the iron ore price; the group’s average received price was 37 per cent higher than in 2018. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto has warned that both the Chinese and global economies will be adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak in the March quarter. However, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques expects the Chinese government to pursue stimulus measures, which will in turn boost demand for commodities. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $US2.31 per share.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Rio to spend $US1b on climate

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 27-Feb-20

Rio Tinto has updated its climate change policies, which now include a net zero carbon emissions target of 2050. In addition, the resources group aims to reduce its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions to 15 per cent of 2018 levels by 2030, while it has set a goal of reducing its emissions intensity to 30 per cent of 2018 levels by the same date. However, it has not set any targets for scope 3 emissions. Rio Tinto has also committed to investing $US1bn ($1.5bn) in climate initiatives over the next five years.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

BHP digs deep to make most of data analytics

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 26-Feb-20

BHP will seek further productivity gains by increasing its focus on technologies such as data analytics and machine learning. The resources giant is also expected to make greater use of cloud technology rather than continuing to operate its own data centres. BHP will restructure its technology division as part of this process, which is expected to result in the loss of about 700 jobs in a division that employs 2,000 people. BHP will redeploy some of the displaced workers.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

ATO probes Rio on its pricing of aluminium

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 25-Feb-20

Rio Tinto’s Australian aluminium business is the subject of a transfer pricing assessment by the Australian Taxation Office. It is understood that the ATO’s investigation is looking at Rio’s Boyne aluminium smelter in Queensland, and the manner in which transactions between Boyne and Rio’s Singapore marketing hub have been structured in recent years. The ATO’s investigation comes at a time when Rio is holding discussions with governments concerning a possible rescue package for its loss-making Australian aluminium smelters. The ATO also launched a $212 million transfer pricing claim against Alcoa in December.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Alcoa owes $212m taxes, ATO claims

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 19 : 24-Feb-20

Alcoa has stated in its latest financial report that its Australian unit has been served with a $212 million tax bill by the Australian Taxation Office. Alcoa has stated that the ATO is of the view that Alcoa of Australia has underpaid tax on the sale of alumina, which it produces in Western Australia. A spokeswoman for Alcoa of Australia has stated that it disputes the ATO’s claim, and it plans to make use of the statutory rights available to it to challenge the ATO’s position.

CORPORATES
ALCOA INCORPORATED, ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

Forrest’s payout tops $2bn as Fortescue’s profit rises

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 19 : 20-Feb-20

Fortescue Metals Group has posted a 2019-20 interim net profit of $US2.5bn ($3.7bn), which is 281 per cent higher than previously. The pure-play iron ore miner has reported underlying EBITDA of $US4.2bn and revenue of $US6.5bn for the half-year. Fortescue’s shipments totalled 88.6 million tonnes for the period, and its average realised price for the steel input was 73 per cent higher than the previous corresponding period. Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of $0.76 per share, boosting the wealth of founder Andrew Forrest.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

Virus fears cloud BHP outlook

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 & 22 : 19-Feb-20

BHP has posted a 2019-20 interim net profit of $US4.87bn ($7.29bn), which is 29 per cent higher than previously. Underlying EBITDA rose by 15 per cent to $US12.1bn, with a rise in the price of iron and copper boosting this figure by $US1.5bn. CEO Mike Henry says the coronavirus has had a limited impact on BHP to date, but he warns that commodity exports may be affected if the outbreak is not contained by the end of March. Shareholders will receive a record half-year dividend of $US0.65 per share.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP