AusSuper goes solo in $5bn Infratil bid

Original article by Cliona O’Dowd
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 9-Dec-20

AustralianSuper is offering $NZ7.43 ($7.04) per share in an indicative, non-binding takeover offer for New Zealand-based Infratil. The offer comprises a cash component of $NZ5.79 per share and an in-specie distribution of shares in renewable energy provider Trustpower. The bid for the dual-listed Infratil is the first major deal that AustralianSuper has pursued on its own; the industry fund has previously teamed up with co-investors to bid for companies such as Navitas and Healthscope. AustralianSuper is said to have been looking at Infratil for at least a year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, INFRATIL LIMITED – ASX IFT, NAVITAS LIMITED, HEALTHSCOPE LIMITED

Banks bluffing on NZ lending threats: former PM

Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 20 : 24-May-19

Former New Zealand prime minister Bill English has concerns about the Reserve Bank of NZ’s plans to require the local subsidiaries of Australia’s big four banks to increase their capital levels. S&P Global Ratings has estimated that the banks would need to raise an additional $8.1 billion, given that Australia’s four major banks have an 86 per cent share of the NZ lending market. English is worried that the move will make the banks more complacent about risk management, although he doubts that they will go ahead with threats to reduce lending in New Zealand.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, STOCKBROKERS AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

RBNZ could end big four’s NZ super profits

Original article by Sarah Turner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 1-Mar-19

New Zealand has traditionally been a cash cow for Australia’s major banks, but experts warn that profit growth could be dampened by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s proposal to increase their capital requirements. Westpac has warned that any move to impose higher capital buffers could push up interest rates on loans and result in a downturn in deposit rates. The RBNZ has downplayed concerns that it proposal may prompt Australian banks to exit the NZ market.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NEW ZEALAND INITIATIVE, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Big four may mull NZ exit due to capital call

Original article by Sarah Turner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 28-Feb-19

Brian Johnson of CLSA and Jonathan Mott of UBS have warned that Australia’s four major banks could seek to divest their New Zealand subsidiaries if the nation’s central bank presses ahead with plans to increase their capital requirements. However, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has downplayed such suggestions, arguing that the nation’s banks are among the most profitable in the world. Mott does not expect the RBNZ to back down on its proposal.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Buyers firming up for next round of bids for Vocus NZ operation

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 5-Mar-18

Vocus Group appears on target to complete the sale of its New Zealand business by the end of the 2017-18 financial year. Trust Power and 2degrees are known to have made the next stage of the bidding process, but it is understood that other parties have also done so. Vocus has indicated that it is seeking between $A500 million and $A600 million for its New Zealand unit, which generated revenue of $NZ342 million ($A315 million) for the year to 30 June 2017.

CORPORATES
VOCUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX VOC, TRUST POWER LIMITED, 2 DEGREES MOBILE LIMITED, TRILOGY INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, STUFF.CO.NZ, SPARK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – ASX SPK, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD