Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 26 : 10-Sep-14
Australian-listed logistics group Brambles has increased its presence in the UK with the acquisition of Ferguson Group for Stg320m ($A556m). Ferguson specialises in the supply of shipping containers to the offshore oil and gas sector, and boasted revenue of Stg56m and EBITDA of Stg30m in 2013. The acquisition will be funded entirely via debt
CORPORATES
BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, FERGUSON GROUP LIMITED
Original article by Rowan Callick
The Australian – Page: 20 : 5-Sep-14
The World Economic Forum has issued the 2014 version of its index of global competitiveness. Australia has lost one place to now be ranked 22nd, leap-frogged by Malaysia at number 20. The leaders are Switzerland, Singapore, US, Finland, Germany, Japan and Hong Kong. Australia is being held back chiefly by its low score of 4.3 points out of seven in the area of labour market flexibility. Meanwhile commercial lawyer Andrew Thomson warns that over-regulation in Australia is likely to erode much of the benefit gained from the new free trade agreement with Japan
CORPORATES
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, BM ALLIANCE COAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ASAHI BREWERIES LIMITED, SCHWEPPES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED
Original article by Jamie Freed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 5-Sep-14
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) had been widely tipped to approve Expedia’s acquisition of Wotif.com. However, the competition regulator has expressed concern that the $A703m deal may lead to an increase in commission rates in the accommodation sector. The ACCC has noted that Wotif.com’s low commission rates may have influenced rivals such as Expedia to offer lower rates in Australia than in other markets
CORPORATES
WOTIF.COM HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX WTF, EXPEDIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, BOOKING.COM BV, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, BELL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED – ASX BFG, CLIFFORD CHANCE, FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT, HELLOWORLD LIMITED – ASX HLO, STA TRAVEL PTY LTD, PRICELINE.COM, EUROMONITOR, JETSET TRAVELWORLD LIMITED, STELLA TRAVEL SERVICES LIMITED, DRANSFIELD HOTELS AND RESORTS PTY LTD, ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Original article by Peter Ker, Ben Butler
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 3-Sep-14
Hancock Prospecting has previously indicated that it expects to commence exporting iron ore from its Roy Hill project in September 2015. However, mining magnate Gina Rinehart has advised that exports could begin ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Hancock Prospecting has revealed that it has ceased all exploration activities in Mongolia and no longer has any commercial interests in the country
CORPORATES
HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, ROY HILL IRON ORE PTY LTD, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SOUTHGOBI RESOURCES LIMITED, MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, LINKEDIN LIMITED, ASPIRE MINING LIMITED – ASX AKM, GUILDFORD COAL LIMITED – ASX GUF, SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION
Original article by Larry Schlesinger
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 2-Sep-14
The Australian Parliament’s housing inquiry has heard claims about overseas buyers in the residential real estate market trying to circumvent Foreign Investment Review Board regulations. However, this is being dismissed by McGrath Real Estate Agents founder and CEO John McGrath and First National Real Estate CEO Ray Ellis. They argue against any push to lift stamp duty rates for such investors. Melbourne-based buyers’ agent David Morrell had alleged that Asian bidders were inflating prices by as much as 30% and acting illegally as they were not permanent residents
CORPORATES
MORRELL AND KOREN PTY LTD, McGRATH REAL ESTATE PTY LTD, FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE GROUP, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA
Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 19 : 1-Sep-14
The Utah Taxpayers Association opposes Macquarie Group’s proposal to complete the construction of an open-access broadband network in the state. Work on the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) project started about 10 years ago, and Macquarie wants to finance completion of the network. The original proposal was for the network to cover 11 cities in Utah
CORPORATES
MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UTAH TELECOMMUNICATION OPEN INFRASTRUCTURE AGENCY (UTOPIA), UTAH TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, CENTURYLINK, COMCAST CORPORATION, MACQUARIE CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC, ECONOWEST ASSOCIATES
Original article by Steve Creedy
The Australian – Page: 17 : 25-Aug-14
The Jetstar Airlines budget carrier off-shoot of Australian group Qantas Airways in March 2012 formed a joint venture with China Eastern Airlines and the Shun Tak group. However, regulatory hurdles and lobbying by rival Cathay Pacific Airways have so far prevented the Jetstar Hong Kong business from operating. Insiders now say the local authorities will not assess the application until March 2015. The partners have sold a further three Airbus A320 aircraft due to the delay
CORPORATES
QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, JETSTAR AIRLINES PTY LTD, JETSTAR HONG KONG AIRWAYS LIMITED, CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES CORPORATION LIMITED, CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED, SHUN TAK HOLDINGS LIMITED, AIRBUS SAS, EMIRATES AIRLINES, ETIHAD AIRWAYS
Original article by Scott Murdoch
The Australian – Page: 17 : 22-Aug-14
Simon Blair, head of international financial services at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), says its push into the Chinese market has a focus on the regions. It has launched 15 banks in such areas since 2011, the latest being Handanxian County Bank in Hebei province. CBA has full ownership of a third of the businesses, and stakes of 80% each in the remainder. The Chinese county banks have recorded 13% growth in lending and 97% in deposits during 2013-14
CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, HANDANXIAN COUNTY BANK
Original article by Madeleine Heffernan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 21-Aug-14
Australian-listed SEEK has posted a 2013-14 underlying net profit of $A179.7m. The online job advertisement website operator had revenue of $A756.4m for the financial year, while shareholders will receive a dividend of $A0.16 per share for the second half. Meanwhile, the group has advised that it expects to pay $A636m for JobStreet, with the deal likely to be finalised in September 2014
CORPORATES
SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK,JOBSTREET CORPORATION BERHAD,SINGAPORE. COMPETITION COMMISSION,CITIGROUP PTY LTD,LINKEDIN LIMITED,MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED,CARSALES.COM LIMITED – ASX CRZ,REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA
Original article by Jamie Freed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 15-Aug-14
The Australian Government insists on reciprocity in traffic rights for airlines of Australia and Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific argues that Qantas Airways’ Jetstar Hong Kong will not comply with Hong Kong’s Basic Law, because the new budget carrier business of the Australian airline will be effectively controlled from Australia. Mike Mrdak, the secretary of the Australian Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development, commented on the matter in mid-August 2014. He said Cathay Pacific and other Hong Kong carriers will not be given increased traffic rights into Australia unless Australian carriers are given the same rights in Hong Kong
CORPORATES
QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, JETSTAR AIRLINES PTY LTD, JETSTAR HONG KONG AIRWAYS LIMITED, CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES CORPORATION LIMITED, SHUN TAK HOLDINGS LIMITED
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