MINING CORPORATIONS – AUSTRALIA – EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Mining sector costs on rise as cycle turns

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 15 & 16 : 19-Dec-16

There are indications of an upturn in mining industry activity in Australia in the wake of rising commodity prices. Independence Group CEO Peter Bradford notes that there is growing demand for mining equipment and the services of mining contractors, as well as growing competition for skilled labour. Fortescue Metals Group CEO Nev Power adds that it is becoming more difficult for the iron ore miner to achieve further cost savings, particularly with the rising oil price, which has in turn increased the cost of diesel fuel.

CORPORATES
INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL – ASX IGO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BARMINCO PTY LTD, DFP RECRUITMENT SERVICES PTY LTD, REGIS RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX RRL, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Booming gold sector powers Barminco profit

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 22 : 29-Sep-16

Unlisted mining services group Barminco has posted a net profit of $A42.4m for 2015-16, compared with a net loss of $A48.4m previously, while EBIT rose from $A43.6 million to $A57m. Barminco now boasts debt of just $US306m after repaying some $US79.8m ($104m) during fiscal 2016. The group has benefited from its strong presence in the gold sector, which accounts for more than 50 per cent of its contracts.

CORPORATES
BARMINCO PTY LTD, GRESHAM PRIVATE EQUITY LIMITED, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST

BHP Billiton widens tougher payment terms across Pilbara

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 11-Aug-16

Suppliers to BHP Billiton’s iron ore operations in Western Australia have criticised its move to increase payment terms for more suppliers from 30 days to 60 days and require them to use a third-party payment vendor. BHP had already extended the payment terms of many suppliers in late 2015, and the latest move is expected to affect a relatively small proportion of companies that supply products and services to BHP Billiton Iron Ore.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, BHP BILLITON IRON ORE PTY LTD, QUANDREM, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Orica shares dive 12pc as shareholders blast poor result

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Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 10-May-16

Mining services group Orica has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A149m, which is 33 per cent lower than previously. The explosives manufacturer’s revenue was 22 per cent lower at $A2.6bn, and its half-year dividend has been reduced from $A0.40 per share to just $A0.205 following a decision to abandon its progressive dividend policy. CEO Alberto Calderon has warned that a significant improvement in commodity markets is unlikely for some time.

CORPORATES
ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED

WA chilling as big miners cut $20b spending

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 31-Aug-15

In the past three years, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals have reduced operational spending by $US14.3 billion ($A19.9 billion). Most cuts were made in their iron ore operations in Western Australia. The mining giants intend to continue their cost-cutting initiatives. They are even raising their cost-cutting targets, with Rio Tinto’s lifting its target for 2015-16 from $US750 million to $US1 billion.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, CBRE PTY LTD, JONES LANG LASALLE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Clay forces Hope Downs rethink

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Original article by Nick Evans
The West Australian – Page: online : 25-Aug-15

Rio Tinto is experiencing technical problems at the Hope Downs 1 iron ore project in Western Australia. The company found that ”clay-like geothetic material” at Hope Downs 1’s two main deposits clogs up processing equipment. The problem has an adverse impact on production rates at Hope Downs 1. Rio Tinto applied to the state’s Environmental Protection Authority to be allowed to mine the nearby Baby Hope deposit. Dry material from the deposit is suitable for blending with the clay that causes mechanical problems.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, BC IRON LIMITED – ASX BCI, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

More mining collapses ‘inevitable’

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 29-Jun-15

KordaMentha’s Scott Langdon expects more Australian mining services groups to experience financial problems in 2015. He says privately-owned firms whose turnover is below $A50m are most vulnerable to insolvency. However, Langdon adds that investors and lenders will seek alternatives to insolvency such as debt restructuring deals. He also forecasts an increase in cost reduction measures in the resources sector, such as staff and wage cuts, as well as the departure of some CEOs.

CORPORATES
KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, BRADKEN LIMITED – ASX BKN, BIS INDUSTRIES LIMITED, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, SIGDO KOPPERS SA, CHAMP PRIVATE EQUITY PTY LTD