M69 Professional Scientific and Technical Services

CFOs lose patience with pace of reform

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 16-Jul-15

A quarterly survey of CFOs by Deloitte shows that nearly 74 per cent of respondents think the Australian Government should act more quickly to reduce the Budget deficit. This compares with 54 per cent 12 months earlier. Meanwhile, 56 per cent of CFOs do not expect the small business measures in the May 2015 Budget to do much to boost business investment. However, 68 per cent anticipate that their company’s revenue will rise in the next year.

CORPORATES
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Age bias starts at 47, survey finds

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Original article by Claire Stewart
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 10-Jul-15

It is estimated that the annual economic contribution of Australian workers over the age of 45 is about $A65bn. However, the Westpac Women of Influence Report shows that business leaders believe that workplace discrimination is becoming a problem for employees at the age of 47. The survey also shows that almost 80 per cent of respondents believe that gender-based discrimination still occurs in Australian workplaces.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION

RBA reveals why boards won’t invest

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Jemima Whyte, Jenny Wiggins, Anne Hyland, Yolanda Redrup, Perry Williams, Agnes King
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 19-Jun-15

Research by the Reserve Bank of Australia has examined factors that deter companies from making capital investments. Some 90 per cent of companies said they would only commit to new investment if the hurdle rate is at least 10 per cent. However, the central bank notes that some companies are applying outdated hurdle rates that do not reflect current interest rates. Computershare tries to maintain its return on capital at a certain level, according to CFO Mark Davis, but is open to revising it when this is deemed to be necessary.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED – ASX CPU, TECHNOLOGY ONE LIMITED – ASX TNE, ARISTOCRAT LEISURE LIMITED – ASX ALL, AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD

Recall sure on takeover bid

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Original article by Tim Binsted, James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 10-Jun-15

Recall Holdings’ shares closed 3.5 per cent higher at $A7.27 on 9 June 2015, after the records management group’s board accepted a takeover offer from US-based Iron Mountain. The deal was endorsed after Iron Mountain added a cash component of $A0.50 per share to its offer of 0.1722 of its shares for each Recall share. Recall CEO Doug Pertz expects the revised deal to receive the backing of shareholders.

CORPORATES
RECALL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX REC, IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED, GREENCAPE CAPITAL PTY LTD

Iron Mountain sweetens Recall bid

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 9-Jun-15

Recall Holdings CEO Doug Pertz believes that the revised takeover offer from US-based Iron Mountain is in the best interests of shareholders. Iron Mountain has added a cash component of $A0.50 per share to its offer of 0.1722 of its shares for each Recall share. Meanwhile, the suitor has upgraded its estimate of the likely synergies from the merger to at least $US155m ($A202m). Recall shares closed at $A7.02 on 5 June 2015.

CORPORATES
RECALL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX REC, IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED

Writer of accidental ‘dick’ text sacked

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 10-Apr-15

The Fair Work Commission has rejected an unfair dismissal claim brought by a woman who was sacked for insulting her employer. Louise Nesbitt inadvertently sent a derogatory text message to Dragon Mountain Gold chairman and MD Rob Garder, in which she called him a "complete dick". She had meant to send the message to her daughter’s boyfriend, who was to undertake plumbing work in the company’s office

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, DRAGON MOUNTAIN GOLD LIMITED – ASX DMG

Business confidence in March shows tentative improvement

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Apr-15

A Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey has found that Australian business confidence rose by 6.3 per cent to 112.4 in March 2015. Despite the improvement, business confidence remains below its level before the 2013 federal election and the average for the last four years of 117.6. The rise in business confidence occurred across all components of the index, but it stemmed mainly from an increase in the proportion of businesses that believe the next 12 months will be a good time to invest in growing their business

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence: Bumpy Ride for Confidence

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Apr-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 2.3 per cent to 109.7 in the week ended 5 April 2015, its lowest level in almost eight months. The weakness was broadly based, with four out of the five sub-indices declining. The sub-index for confidence in the economic outlook over the next year fell by 2.9 per cent, while confidence in the economic outlook over the next five years fell by 1.3 per cent

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Small business warning

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 1-Apr-15

The Australian Bankers’ Association’s submission on the financial system inquiry has broadly supported the recommendations on increased capital requirements for the nation’s banks. However, it has questioned the need for local banks to be in the top quartile of banks globally. The submission also raises concerns over the proposal for credit contracts to be covered by laws on unfair contracts, noting the potential impact on loans to small businesses

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Google tax to hit profit shifting

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 1-Apr-15

The Australian Government’s May 2015 Budget will include tax measures aimed at addressing the problem of profit-shifting by multinational corporations. The so-called "Google tax" will be modelled on the UK’s Diverted Profits Tax. The Australian Labor Party recently unveiled measures intended to combat profit-shifting. The Budget will also include a levy on bank deposits, while the small business sector will receive a tax cut

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, THE GROUP OF EIGHT LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING