DIVIDENDS – AUSTRALIA

Vesey to stay put as AGL profit surges

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 10-Aug-18

AGL Energy has posted a 2017-18 net profit of $1.59bn, compared with $539m previously. The electricity generator and retailer’s underlying profit rose by 28 per cent to $1.02bn. AGL has reported revenue of $12.8bn, a modest increase from the previous fiscal year, while shareholders will receive a partially franked final dividend of $0.63 per share. CEO Andy Vesey has refuted suggestions that he may step down, stressing that he will remain at the helm while AGL implements its three-year strategy.

CORPORATES
AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, ALINTA ENERGY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Comyn passes first test

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Original article by James Eyers, Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 18 : 9-Aug-18

The Commonwealth Bank has posted a 2017-18 cash profit of $9.23bn, which is 4.8 per cent lower than previously. The result was marred by a 9.2 per cent increase in operating expenses in the wake of the bank’s money-laundering scandal and the banking royal commission. CEO Matt Comyn says there will be "substantial progress" on addressing governance issues during 2018-19. Shareholders will receive a 2017-18 full-year dividend of $4.31 per share, which is $0.02 higher than previously.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, CLIME ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, PERENNIAL VALUE MANAGEMENT LIMITED, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Macquarie Media turns up the volume with profit surge

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 9-Aug-18

Australian-listed Macquarie Media has posted a 2017-18 net profit of $21.5m, which is 24 per cent higher than previously. Revenue was four per cent higher at $136.3m, and shareholders will receive a final dividend of $0.04 per share. Fairfax Media has a 54.5 per cent stake in the radio broadcaster, and Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate says the group will benefit from the synergies arising from Fairfax’s proposed merger with Nine Entertainment Company.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, 2GB, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD

OZ looks at stepping up output

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 20 : 23-Feb-18

OZ Minerals has posted a 2017 net profit of $A231m, which is 114 per cent higher than previously. CEO Andrew Cole says the company hopes to begin an early-stage scoping study on a potential expansion of the Carrapateena copper and gold mine in early 2019. The South Australian mine is under construction and slated to commence production in late 2019. OZ Minerals shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.14 per share, with a full-year payout of $A0.20 per share.

CORPORATES
OZ MINERALS LIMITED – ASX OZL, CASSINI RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX CZI

BHP on brink of bigger shareholder returns

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 22-Feb-18

Hayden Bairstow of Macquarie Group says there is potential for BHP Billiton to return an additional $US1.9bn to shareholders in the second half of 2017-18 and at least $US2.4bn in 2018-19. He adds that the latter figure could be higher if BHP sells its US shale assets and opts to distribute the proceeds to investors. However, BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie has declined to comment on the group’s plans for the proceeds of the exit from shale. Meanwhile, BHP is expected to make a decision on its proposed South Flank iron ore mine within six months.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

Discounts put $1b hole in Fortescue’s earnings

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 22-Feb-18

Fortescue Metals Group has posted a 2017-18 interim net profit of $US681m. It is 44 per cent lower than previously but exceeded analysts’ expectations. Fortescue’s received prices for iron ore fell by 15 per cent over the period, and the widening gap between lower-grade ore and the price of benchmark ore reduced its underlying EBITDA by $US734m. Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of $A0.11 per share, compared with analysts’ forecasts for a payout of $A0.14 per share.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED

BHP surges on oil, copper

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 21-Feb-18

BHP Billiton has posted a 2017-18 interim underlying net profit of $US4.05bn ($A5.11bn). Although the result was 25 per cent higher than previously, it was below the consensus forecast of analysts. BHP’s statutory profit of $US2.02bn was down 37 per cent, due primarily to exceptional item associated with the Trump administration’s company tax cuts. Revenue exceeded market expectations at $US21.78bn, an increase of 21 per cent, and the interim dividend has risen from $US0.40 per share to $US0.55.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ELLIOTT ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

SEEK’s reinvestment delivers record revenue

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Original article by Yolanda Redrup
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 20-Feb-18

Online job advertisements group SEEK has posted a 2017-18 interim underlying net profit of $A112.1m, which is 21 per cent higher than previously. It has advised that full-year profit is expected to be at the higher end of its previous forecast of $A225m to $A230m. Group revenue for the first half rose by 27 per cent to a record $A628m; its Australia and New Zealand division’s revenue rose 15 per cent and its international unit’s revenue was up 10 per cent. Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of $A0.24 per share.

CORPORATES
SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, BRASIL ONLINE HOLDINGS, ONLINE CAREER CENTER MEXICO SA DE CV

Use tax cuts to boost wages: ex-BCA boss

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 8-Feb-18

Former Business Council of Australia president Tony Shepherd says employees and shareholders of large companies should directly benefit from any reduction in the corporate tax rate via higher wages and increased dividend payouts. Many large companies in the US have announced wage rises in response to the Trump administration’s tax package. However, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have questioned the merits of a "social contract" in Australia if across-the-board corporate tax cuts are passed by federal parliament.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, McDONALD’S AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, SPOTLESS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SPO, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL COMMISSION OF AUDIT

Rio tips pay inflation as profits surge

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 20 : 8-Feb-18

Rio Tinto has posted a 2017 underlying profit of $US8.6bn ($A10.9bn), which is 69 per cent higher than previously. The full-year result was boosted by $US4.1bn due to a rise in the prices of key commodities, such as iron ore and coal. Shareholders will receive a second-half dividend of $US1.80 per share, with the full-year payout rising to a record $US2.90 per share. Meanwhile, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques says the strong profit growth is likely to prompt employees across Rio Tinto’s global operations to seek wage increases.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, BLOOMBERG LP