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Falling $A bolsters Bookworld’s fight against Amazon

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 10-Apr-15

IBISWorld estimates that sales of books online have risen by 26 per cent annually over the last five years, compared with a five per cent-plus annual decline in retail book sales over the same period. Bookworld has benefited from the Australian dollar’s 18 per cent fall against its US counterpart in the last eight months, as it has made the online bookseller’s prices more competitive against offshore rivals. Bookworld now boasts about 1.5 million registered customers

CORPORATES
BOOKWORLD, ANGUS AND ROBERTSON PTY LTD, BORDERS GROUP INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, THE BOOK DEPOSITORY LIMITED, DYMOCKS BOOKSELLERS PTY LTD, IBISWORLD PTY LTD, REDGROUP RETAIL PTY LTD, PEARSON GROUP PLC, RANDOM HOUSE AUSTRALIA, SAP AG, BOOKTOPIA PTY LTD

Caltex eyes franking credits post Chevron

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 30-Mar-15

Caltex Australia has indicated that its business strategy will not be affected by US-based Chevron’s sale of its 50 per cent stake for $A4.6bn. Chevron sold its long-standing stake in Caltex at $A34.20 per share, compared with the stock’s closing price of $A37.88 on 27 March 2015. Caltex CFO Simon Hepworth says Chevron’s exit from its share register will enhance the group’s ability to provide shareholders with franking credits

CORPORATES
CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTXCHEVRON CORPORATIONGOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTDRIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIOROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLCWOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPLVIVA ENERGY AUSTRALIA LIMITEDOZ MINERALS LIMITED – ASX OZLSANDFIRE RESOURCES NL – ASX SFRNEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCMEVOLUTION MINING LIMITED – ASX EVN

Stokes’ Seven West poison pill scares some fund managers

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 30-Mar-15

The Kerry Stokes-controlled Seven Group Holdings owns nearly 35 per cent of Seven West Media’s shares. However, Stokes could potentially move to 49 per cent ownership of Seven West in 2016, when $A250m worth of convertible preference shares are due to be redeemed. When interest is taken into account, Stokes will be owed $A350m. The other option for Seven West will be to convert this sum into the company’s shares, which would allow Stokes to increase his holding significantly

CORPORATES
SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVWSEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWMFAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

iiNet data points to big start for Netflix

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Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 30-Mar-15

Listed ISP iiNet has reported that Netflix now comprises 15 per cent of its consumer internet traffic, less than a week after launching in Australia. Meanwhile, some estimates suggest that Netflix could account for up to 25 per cent of Australian internet traffic, as many people use a VPN to access the US version of Netflix. Use of Netflix’s streaming video service does not count toward iiNet customers’ monthly data allowance

CORPORATES
IINET LIMITED – ASX IINNETFLIX INCORPORATEDSINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTDFOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTDSEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWMNINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NECFAIRFAX MAGAZINESPRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTDSTANFETCHTV PTY LTD

Double trouble as banks face new levy

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Original article by Shaun DrummondPhillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 30-Mar-15

The Australian Government will proceed with an 0.05 per cent levy on bank deposits that was first proposed by the Australian Labor Party when it was in office. The Australian Greens will support the levy on bank deposit of up to $A250,000, although this support is conditional on it applying only to the four major banks. The levy will be used to finance the deposit guarantee scheme, but CUA CEO Rob Goudswaard says it will have a major impact on mutual lenders

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURYCREDIT UNION AUSTRALIA LIMITEDCUSTOMER OWNED BANKING ASSOCIATIONAUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTYAUSTRALIAN GREENSAUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATIONAUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Fewer kids playing (and watching) cricket and football

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Mar-15

A Roy Morgan Young Australians Survey has found that 21 per cent of Australian aged between six and 13 played cricket at school in the year to December 2014, while 14 per cent played cricket outside of school hours. This compares with 23 per cent and 15 per cent respectively in 2010. The survey also shows that the proportion of Australians aged 6-13 playing Australian Rules football at school has fallen from 17 per cent to 15 per cent, while those who play this sport outside school hours has fallen from 12 per cent to 10 per cent

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITEDAUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Booze news: Australians’ alcohol habits by age

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Mar-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 68 per cent of Australians aged 18+ drank alcohol in any given four-week period in the year to December 2014. The survey also shows that 66 per cent of Australians aged between 18 and 29 drink alcohol in any given four weeks, compared with 69 per cent of those aged 30+. Meanwhile, 48% of those aged 30+ drink wine in an average four weeks, compared with 32 per cent of under-30s, while 39 per cent of the latter age group drink beer and 36 per cent of over-30s do so

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Job loss warning on 4.2pc pay push

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 27-Mar-15

The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry has warned that the ACTU’s bid to have the minimum wage increased by 4.2 per cent could cost jobs and will discourage employers from taking on new staff. The push to increase the minimum wage by $A27 a week to $A667.90 has also been criticised by the Australian Industry Group. CEO Innes Willox describes it as "unrealistic" and "unsustainable"

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRYTHE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUPACTUAUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSIONORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Falloon takes Fairfax chair in August

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 27-Mar-15

Fairfax Media has confirmed that Nick Falloon will succeed Roger Corbett as chairman at the end of August 2015. Falloon has joined the media group’s board as a non-executive director, and has previously been CEO of Ten Network Holdings and Publishing & Broadcasting Limited. Corbett has been a Fairfax director for more than 12 years

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJTEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TENPUBLISHING AND BROADCASTING LIMITEDACP MAGAZINES LIMITEDNINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITEDCROWN MELBOURNE LIMITEDONE.TEL LIMITED

Planners could lose $270m a year

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Original article by Ruth LiewSally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 12 : 27-Mar-15

Data from DEXX&R shows that financial advisers received $A3.4bn of the $A4.1bn worth of commissions that Australian life insurance groups paid in 2014. Life insurance advisers have criticised a proposal to cap up-front commissions at $A1,200, arguing that it would no longer be financially viable to sell life insurance products. Association of Financial Advisers CEO Brad Fox adds that it would prompt many financial planners to retire and discourage others from entering the industry

CORPORATES
DEXX&RASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL ADVISERS LIMITEDAUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITYFINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCILAUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSIONGEM CAPITAL FINANCIAL ADVICESUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUNSUNCORP LIFE AND SUPERANNUATION LIMITEDNATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NABINDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD