Netflix adds another 400,000 Australians in June – now up over 1.42 million

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 14-Jul-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 1.42 million Australians aged 14+ in 559,000 homes had a Netflix subscription in June 2015. The survey also shows that 8.4 per cent of households with fixed broadband have a Netflix subscription. However, 16.8 per cent of households with fixed broadband through iiNet (or one of its standalone subsidiaries) have Netflix, compared with 11.7 per cent of Optus’s fixed broadband customers and 5.2 per cent of Telstra’s fixed broadband customers. Meanwhile, 9.6 per cent of homes with an NBN connection use Netflix.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, INTERNODE SYSTEMS PTY LTD, WESTNET PTY LTD, ADAM INTERNET PTY LTD, M2 GROUP LIMITED – ASX MTU, DODO INTERNET PTY LTD, IPRIMUS, APPLE INCORPORATED, FETCHTV PTY LTD, CHROMECAST

iiNet says Netflix surge calls for NBN price cut

Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 6-Jul-15

Australian-listed iiNet has increased its network capacity after customers complained of slower internet speeds due to the popularity of Netflix. However, CEO David Buckingham says prices for accessing the national broadband network will need to be significantly reduced to take into account the use of video streaming services. He adds that such services may not be affordable for many consumers when the NBN rollout is complete unless the issue is addressed.

CORPORATES
IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SUPERLOOP LIMITED – ASX SLC, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, DODO INTERNET PTY LTD, EXETEL PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NBN CO LIMITED

Amcom, Vocus beat TPG to win merger vote

Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 16-Jun-15

TPG Telecom’s ploy to block a merger between Amcom Telecommunications and Vocus Communications by building a 19.9 per cent stake in the former has failed. The $A1.2bn deal was endorsed by Amcom shareholders on 15 June 2015, with more than 90 per cent of proxy votes backing the deal. Vocus CEO James Spenceley notes that more than 97 per cent of shareholders turned out to vote on the merger. TPG will emerge with a stake of about nine per cent in the merged entity.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, AMCOM TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED – ASX AMM, VOCUS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED – ASX VOC, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD

Competition concerns over TPG bid for iiNet

Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 12-Jun-15

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has postponed a decision on TPG Telecom’s takeover bid for iiNet until 20 August 2015. The ACCC has expressed concern that the $A1.56bn deal may result in a significant reduction in competition in the broadband sector. It has also suggested that the deal could result in an increase in the cost of internet access and reduced customer service for clients of the merged entity.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTAR UNITED COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

iiNet must reveal downloaders’ IDs

Original article by Marianna Papadakis, David Ramli, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 8-Apr-15

The Federal Court of Australia has upheld a bid to obtain the identities of people who allegedly downloaded illegal copies of a US film. Dallas Buyers Club LLC took legal action against several ISP to obtain the names and residential addresses of Australians associated with more than 4,700 IP addresses that were used to download "Dallas Buyers Club". The ruling affects iiNet, Dodo, Adam Internet, Amnet and Internode

CORPORATES
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, DODO INTERNET PTY LTD, ADAM INTERNET PTY LTD, AMNET LIMITED, INTERNODE SYSTEMS PTY LTD, M2 GROUP LIMITED – ASX MTU, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB LLC, VOLTAGE PICTURES LLC, COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE LIMITED, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

TPG’s Teoh pledges to keep best of iiNet

Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 25-Mar-15

TPG Telecom has posted a 2014-15 interim net profit of $A106.7m, which is 18 per cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, executive chairman David Teoh says the group’s $A1.4bn takeover offer for iiNet is "compelling". He has responded to criticism from some iiNet shareholders by stressing that the target’s customer service will not be affected if the bid succeeds. He also says it is too early to know the extent of any job cuts at iiNet

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

iiNet founder tries to kill $1.4b TPG bid

Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 24-Mar-15

Investors who hold about 14 per cent of iiNet’s shares believe that the $A1.4bn takeover offer from TPG Telecom undervalues the group. The dissenters include iiNet founder Michael Malone, who holds about 2.5 per cent of the telco’s shares. He has criticised iiNet chairman Michael Smith for failing to consult with shareholders until 10 days after the bid was made, and says the majority of iiNet’s board should be ousted in favour technology entrepreneurs

CORPORATES
IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED – ASX SGT

iiNet chairman to meet irate investors

Original article by Jemima Whyte, David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 23-Mar-15

A number of iiNet shareholders have expressed concern that TPG Telecom’s $A1.4bn takeover offer undervalues the group. Australian-listed iiNet will hold meetings with shareholders in the next week, while chairman Michael Smith will discuss the proposed merger with investors on 23 March 2015. However, some investors – particularly those who hold shares in both groups – are in favour of the deal

CORPORATES
IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, M2 GROUP LIMITED – ASX MTU, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, AZURE CAPITAL PARTNERS LP

Major iiNet shareholder labels TPG bid price ‘absurd’

Original article by David Ramli, Jemima Whyte
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 20-Mar-15

BT Investment Management’s Paul Hannan says the fund manager is disappointed that iiNet directors have not contacted major shareholders regarding TPG Telecom’s takeover offer. Hannan adds that the current offer gives iiNet shareholders little benefit from synergies arising from a merger. Andrew Abercrombie, who holds 500,000 shares in iiNet, has also criticised the telco’s lack of communication with investors in recent months

CORPORATES
IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, NBN CO LIMITED, INTERNODE SYSTEMS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, AZURE CAPITAL PARTNERS LP, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD