LOGISTICS – AUSTRALIA

Toll back to logistics losses as Japanese parent loses face

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 14-Aug-19

Logistics company Toll Holdings made a net loss of $113.8 million for the 12 months to March, according to its latest annual report. This compares to a profit of $11.2 million for the previous corresponding period, with Toll attributing the loss in part to increased transport, fuel and restructuring costs. Toll’s woes appear to have continued since then, with its parent Japan Post advising in the week ending 9 August that its international logistics unit – which includes Toll, Toll Express and JP Toll Logistics – made a net loss of $24 million for the three months to June. This compares to a loss of $8 million for the previous corresponding period.

CORPORATES
TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, JAPAN POST COMPANY LIMITED

Linfox driven to be first adopter of electric truck technology

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 30-Jan-18

Linfox chairman Peter Fox says the trucking company is keen to investigate the use of electric trucks, particularly for its Armaguard business. Tesla has revealed plans for an electric truck that could run at maximum weight for 500 miles before needing to be recharged. Fox says there would need to be a lot more charging stations available before Linfox could consider using electric trucks, while he does not think that governments should subsidise the use of electric vehicles.

CORPORATES
LINFOX PTY LTD, TESLA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LOGISTICS COUNCIL

Amazon will benefit us: Brambles chair

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Original article by Lisa Allen, Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 14-Aug-17

Brambles chairman Stephen Johns says that although Amazon will be a "disruptive force" for Australian retailers, its entry into the local market could present an opportunity for the logistics group. He adds that the AmazonFresh business in particular should benefit Brambles’ CHEP and IFCO pallet operations. Morgan Stanley says department stores are likely to be hardest hit by Amazon’s arrival in Australia.

CORPORATES
BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AMAZONFRESH, CHEP AUSTRALIA, IFFCO GROUP OF COMPANIES, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Japan Post takes axe to Toll jobs

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Original article by Damon Kitney
The Australian – Page: 17 & 26 : 27-Apr-17

Toll Holdings has shed about 300 jobs at its head office so far in 2017, and the transport and logistics group has revealed plans to axe an additional 1,700 positions over the next year. Toll’s Australian division, which employs about 25,000 people, is expected to bear the brunt of the job cuts. Toll will implement a restructuring program after parent company Japan Post flagged a $US3.6bn ($A4.8bn) writedown of the business and advised that 2017 EBIT is likely to be well below expectations. Japan Post paid $A6.5bn for Toll in 2015.

CORPORATES
TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, JAPAN POST COMPANY LIMITED, ASCIANO LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, LINFOX PTY LTD, KIRIN HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED, LION-DAIRY AND DRINKS PTY LTD

Brambles heads to UK as Gorman exits

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Original article by Damon Kitney, Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 21 & 25 : 19-Aug-16

Australian-listed logistics group Brambles has posted a 2015-16 net profit of $US588m ($A725m), which is one per cent higher than previously. Its statutory profit was six per cent lower at $US557.4m due to writedowns and impairment charges totalling $US78.1m, but revenue rose by two per cent to $US5.54bn. Meanwhile, British executive Graham Chipchase will succeed CEO Tom Gorman in early 2017, and Brambles will relocate its head office to London.

CORPORATES
BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, FORD MOTOR COMPANY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, REXAM HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BALL CORPORATION

ACCC’s concerns delay Asciano deal

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 27-May-16

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission will not make a final ruling on the $A9bn takeover of ports and rail group Asciano until 21 July 2016. The ACCC’s statement of issues raises a number of concerns regarding the proposed deal, including the impact on competition if the sale of Asciano’s stake in the ACFS Port Logistics joint venture proceeds. The ACCC will accept submissions on its statement of issues until 10 June.

CORPORATES
ASCIANO LIMITED – ASX AIO, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, ACFS PORT LOGISTICS PTY LTD, BROOKFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS LP, GOVERNMENT OF SINGAPORE INVESTMENT CORPORATION PTE LTD, QATAR INVESTCO, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, QUBE HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX QUB, PATRICK CORPORATION LIMITED, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, PACIFIC NATIONAL PTY LTD, CANADA PENSION PLAN INVESTMENT BOARD, CIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, DBCT HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Pilbara worries cloud Aurizon dividend boost

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 18-Aug-15

Aurizon has reported a 15 per cent rise in underlying net profit after tax to $A604 million. The Australian-listed rail group informed investors on 17 August 2015 that its dividend payout ratio would rise to 70 to 100 per cent of underlying net profits after tax, from 60 to 70 per cent. Coal volumes are expected to remain unchanged between 210 million and 220 million tonnes in 2016 while iron ore volumes are forecast to decline to 24 million tonnes in 2016.

CORPORATES
AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, GVK POWER AND INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

Toll rolls into Japan Post $6.5b takeover deal

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins, John Stensholt, James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 & 28 : 14-May-15

Some 95.9 per cent of Toll Holdings shareholders endorsed Japan Post’s takeover bid on 13 May 2015. Former CEO Paul Little believes that Toll will benefit from the $A6.5bn deal. Japan Post has committed to retaining the Toll brand, which was established in 1888, and plans to utilise Toll’s expertise to expand its parcels business globally. Toll shares will cease trading on 14 May.

CORPORATES
TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TOL, JAPAN POST, AUSTRALIA POST, SINGAPORE. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, TRANSPORT INTELLIGENCE LIMITED, FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION, TNT EXPRESS WORLDWIDE, BONGO INTERNATIONAL

Toll to drop off ASX after Japan Post vote

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 11-May-15

Toll Holdings shareholders are widely tipped to vote in favour of a $A6.5bn takeover offer from Japan Post on 13 May 2015. The deal, which requires the support of 75 per cent of shareholders, has received regulatory approval in Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Toll will be delisted if shareholders approve the deal.

CORPORATES
TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TOL, JAPAN POST, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, NEW ZEALAND. OVERSEAS INVESTMENT COMMISSION, JAPAN FAIR TRADE COMMISSION, FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION, TNT EXPRESS WORLDWIDE, AUSTRALIA POST, OFFICEWORKS SUPERSTORES PTY LTD, MAILMAN GROUP, GRANT SAMUEL AND ASSOCIATES PTY LTD

Toll rivals say JP sale poses sovereign risk

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 23-Feb-15

One Global Logistics MD James Sparke has warned of potential sovereign risk issues associated with government-owned Japan Post’s takeover bid for Toll Holdings. Meanwhile, Toll CEO Brian Kruger does not expect any of the group’s customers to enforce the "change of control" provisions of their contracts if the $A6.5bn takeover bid proceeds. The deal requires approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board

CORPORATES
TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TOL, JAPAN POST, ONE GLOBAL LOGISTICS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE, UNITED STATES NAVY, CHEVRON CORPORATION, ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, NIKE INCORPORATED, OFFICE DEPOT INCORPORATED, FISHER AND PAYKEL APPLIANCES HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY, GRAINCORP LIMITED – ASX GNC, HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA POST, STAR TRACK EXPRESS PTY LTD, LINCOLN INDICATORS PTY LTD