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Lithium aspirant readies first sales to China

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 14-Nov-17

Altura Mining is on target to commission its $170 million Pilgangoora lithium project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region during the March 2018 quarter. Altura has contracts with J&R Optimum Energy and Lionenergy that will see both firms take at least 100,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum for an initial period of five years. J&R Optimum Energy is Altura’s major shareholder. Altura is targeting initial annual production of 220,000 tonnes, with plans to double output to 440,000 tonnes.

CORPORATES
ALTURA MINING LIMITED – ASX AJM, J & R OPTIMUM MINING, LIONENERGY, PILBARA MINERALS LIMITED – ASX PLS, BLACKROCK INCORPORATED, NEW HOPE CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX NHC

Amazon tells of $700m Australia push

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 30 : 14-Nov-17

US e-commerce giant will establish an Australian presence "very soon", according to country manager Rocco Braeuniger. He says both the Amazon Marketplace and its own retail platform will be launched in Australia, with the range of product categories it offers to be progressively expanded. Braeuniger has stressed that customer service will be a focus for Amazon, which intends to invest $A700m in its Australian business over five years.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, HIP CUB, KOALA SAFE PTY LTD, GOBE PTY LTD

Nine won’t rush into mergers, Costello declares

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 18 : 14-Nov-17

Nine Entertainment Company has advised that its EBITDA for 2017-18 will be at the higher end of its newly revised range of $A204m to $A230m. It had previously flagged full-year EBITDA of between $A186m and $A207m. Meanwhile, chairman Peter Costello says the Federal Government’s cross-media ownership reforms may not lead to significant consolidation in the sector, as technology has reduced the impact of the reforms. He adds that the Nine Network’s strong ratings performance shows that the company can prosper on its own.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, CRICKET AUSTRALIA

ABC set to unveil massive shake-up

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 13-Nov-17

The ABC is poised to abolish its traditional TV and radio content divisions in favour of a cross-platform approach. The public broadcaster is expected to retain its existing news and regional content divisions and create a new one which will produce content in a range of genres. The restructuring is not expected to result in any job losses, although changes to the ABC’s management structure is likely. The ABC recently overhauled its news division, while its science unit was restructured in 2016.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SCREEN PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Ten execs hope raunchy show will pack a punch

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Original article by Aaron Patrick
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 10-Nov-17

The Ten Network showcased its 2018 program line-up at its "upfronts" on 9 November. Ten announced that it will launch a local version of dating show "Bachelor in Paradise", while Julia Morris will host "Blind Date". Ten will also launch a website that will feature short-form content such as news and sports videos aimed at mobile phone users. Ten’s chief content officer Beverley McGarvey says the network will focus on "brand-safe, family friendly" programming.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Harvey Norman showdown likely over chairman’s re-election

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 7-Nov-17

The Australian Shareholders’ Association has urged Harvey Norman shareholders not to vote for the re-election of chairman Gerry Harvey and two other directors at its AGM on 16 November. If the nominated three directors are re-elected, the ASA contends Harvey Norman will no longer have an independent board as from December. Under its guidelines, any director that has been on a board for more than 12 years is no longer deemed independent. The ASA also plans to vote against Harvey Norman’s remuneration report, while it will also urge Wesfarmers’ shareholders to vote against its remuneration report at its AGM, to be held on the same day.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION,HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN,WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES,AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION,ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX

Millers, Lowes and Noni-B lead for customer satisfaction

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Original article by
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Nov-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that Millers had the highest level of customer satisfaction level of any clothing store in September, at 89.7 per cent. It was followed by Lowes, Noni-B, Rockmans and Jeanswest. Millers’ customer satisfaction was up by 2.9 per cent over the past year, while Lowes and Noni B also increased their level of customer satisfaction. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine notes the clothing store sector is one of the most competitive in Australian retail, so good customer service is all important.

CORPORATES
SPECIALTY FASHION GROUP LIMITED – ASX SFH, LOWES MENSWEAR, NONI B LIMITED – ASX NBL, ROCKMANS STORES LIMITED, JEANSWEST CORPORATION PTY LTD, HENNES OCH MAURITZ AB, ZARA, DEBENHAMS RETAIL PLC, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, UNIQLO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Stokes questions merger logic

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Original article by Jemima Whyte
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 3-Nov-17

Seven West Media will reduce its costs by $A25m via staff cuts, as part of a broader strategy to slash its costs by $A105m over two years. Meanwhile, chairman Kerry Stokes has told shareholders that Seven has not held any merger talks with Fairfax Media or News Corp, and he suggested that merging a TV network with a print media company may offer few synergies. He also said Seven is trialling a combined TV and print newsroom in Perth, which could influence whether Seven pursues mergers or acquisitions in the media sector.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, CGI GLASS LEWIS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION, ENERGY QUEENSLAND, HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS PTY LTD

Fairfax goes it alone as investors back Domain split

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 21 : 3-Nov-17

The majority of Fairfax shareholders at its 2017 annual meeting voted in favour of demerging the Domain property listings business. Fairfax will retain a 60 per cent stake in Domain, while shareholders will receive one share in Domain for every 10 Fairfax shares that they own. Meanwhile, Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood has stressed that the company’s print newspapers will continue to be published for some time, while chairman Nick Falloon indicated that Fairfax would be open to merger deals following the relaxation of cross-media ownership laws.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN.COM.AU, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TRONC INCORPORATED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Amazon threat and opportunity

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Original article by Simon Evans, Michael Bailey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 12 : 2-Nov-17

US-based e-commerce giant Amazon is widely tipped to enter the Australian market before the end of 2017. Delegates at a retail summit on 1 November were told that the arrival of a new competitor will be good for Australian retailers, with Launa Inman arguing that it will force them to improve their online offerings. Small Business & Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell says Amazon will face close scrutiny to ensure that its contracts are fair, while Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman stressed the need to ensure that Amazon complies with Australia’s penalty rates regime.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS AND FAMILY ENTERPRISE OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, BILLABONG INTERNATIONAL LIMITED – ASX BBG, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THEICONIC.COM.AU