Ten and WIN deal expected shortly

Original article by Jake Mitchell, Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 27 & 29 : 2-May-16

The Ten Network is said to be close to finalising an affiliation agreement with regional broadcaster WIN Corporation, which currently has a content supply deal with Nine Entertainment Company. Speculation that Nine will pursue a merger with Southern Cross Media Group has intensified since the two groups signed a five-year affiliation agreement on 29 April 2016. Nine will receive 50 per cent of Southern Cross’s advertising revenue under the new deal, compared with the 34 per cent that Ten receives at present.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, HIT NETWORK, WEST DIGITAL TELEVISION, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT

Stop the presses: News and Fairfax in talks on sharing printing operations

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 25-Apr-16

Traditional rivals Fairfax Media and News Corp Australia are said to have commenced discussions on sharing newspaper printing and distribution facilities. The proposed alliance is expected to include both metropolitan and regional titles, with the latter widely seen to have the most potential to generate cost savings. However, Fairfax has a much earlier deadline for the print editions of its newspapers.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, THE NEWSPAPER WORKS LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Ten in the picture as new WIN partner

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 21 : 30-Mar-16

WIN Corporation CEO Andrew Lancaster is believed to have held talks with executives from Ten Network regarding an affiliation agreement. The regional broadcaster had negotiated a six-month extension to its content supply deal with Nine Entertainment Company at the end of 2015. The timing of the 2016 federal election and the subsequent fate of proposed cross-media ownership reforms are likely to force regional TV networks to secure new affiliation deals.

CORPORATES
WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Blackmores, Bega target China’s ageing population

Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 17-Mar-16

Bega Cheese and Blackmores have reported strong demand for their infant formula in China. The partnership formed by the Australian-listed companies has been so successful that Bega and Blackmores want to expand into products for China’s ageing population. Bega chairman Barry Irvin said the partnership is working on "three to four" new products for the Chinese market.

CORPORATES
BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, BLACKMORES LIMITED – ASX BKL, TATURA MILK INDUSTRIES LIMITED

Virgin signs partner deal with Alliance

Original article by Jamie Freed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 16-Feb-16

Australian-listed Alliance Aviation Services has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A4.1m, which is 35 per cent lower than previously. The group, which specialises in the provision of charter flights for the "fly-in, fly-out" market, has been hit by the decline of the resources boom. Meanwhile, Alliance has secured a partnership agreement with Virgin Australia Holdings which will allow both groups to expand their charter operations.

CORPORATES
ALLIANCE AVIATION SERVICES LIMITED – ASX AQZ, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, QANTASLINK, COBHAM AVIATION SERVICES, AIRNORTH, SKYWEST AIRLINES LIMITED, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA REGIONAL AIRLINES PTY LTD, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AG, AUSTRALIA. BUREAU OF TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL ECONOMICS

Gordon’s top-up sealed Nine deal

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 23 : 18-Jan-16

Nine Entertainment Company will continue to receive 39 per cent of WIN Corporation’s advertising revenue under a six-month extension of their affiliation agreement. However, it is believed that Nine will receive an additional payment from Birketu, the private investment company of WIN owner Bruce Gordon. This will lift Nine’s share of its regional affiliate’s ad revenue to around 47 per cent.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, BIRKETU PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Qantas and American to fly new trans-Pacific routes

Original article by Jamie Freed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 14 : 7-Jan-16

Qantas and American Airlines intend to expand their joint venture’s trans-Pacific routes. The airlines are seeking final regulatory approval for flights between Australasia and mainland North America, stating in a submission filed with the US Department of Transportation that they would add at least two new trans-Pacific routes. This will be possible once Boeing starts delivering its 787-9 aircraft to Qantas in 2017.

CORPORATES
QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, AMERICAN AIRLINES INCORPORATED, BOEING COMPANY, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION, AIR NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – ASX AIZ, AIR CANADA

Law firms in hunt for Singapore tie-ups

Original article by Marianna Papadakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 5-Jan-16

Australian law firms are seeking partners in Asian business centres such as Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo. Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has formed an alliance with Singaporean firm Prolegis. HSF’s south-east Asia managing partner Alastair Henderson says Singaporean law is increasingly being used in other Asian countries, including India and Indonesia.

CORPORATES
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS PTY LTD, PROLEGIS, DWYER CONSULTING PTY LTD, EATON CAPITAL PARTNERS, BEATON CAPITAL PTY LTD

Wheatley’s new radio wagers on TopBetta

Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 16 : 4-Jan-16

EON Sports Radio CEO Glenn Wheatley says the new national sports radio network has secured TopBetta as its exclusive wagering partner. The Australian-listed TopBetta specialises in fantasy wagering, while it also produces sports content. TopBetta and EON will jointly produce a sports program for the digital-only radio network. EON has also secured the Australian radio broadcasting rights to English Premier League matches.

CORPORATES
EON SPORTS RADIO PTY LTD, TOPBETTA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TBH, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, EON-FM, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, G1X

Harris Scarfe tips growth through Debenhams deal

Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 14-Dec-15

Australian department store group Harris Scarfe has secured an alliance with UK-based Debenhams. Harris Scarfe expects its sales to be boosted by about $A100m by the deal to open about 10 stand-alone Debenhams stores in Australia via a franchise agreement. Harris Scarfe also expects revenue to be bolstered by a deal to sell a range of Debenhams’ brands in its stores. The group also intends to open up to 15 new stores in coming years.

CORPORATES
HARRIS SCARFE HOLDINGS LIMITED, DEBENHAMS RETAIL PLC, PEPKOR SOUTH EAST ASIA PTY LTD, BEST AND LESS PTY LTD, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, THE GAP INCORPORATED, TOP SHOP, J SAINSBURY PLC, HABITAT, MOMENTUM CORPORATE SOLUTIONS PTY LTD, POSTIE PLUS GROUP LIMITED, STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES