STRATEGIC PLANNING – AUSTRALIA

Optus could say Yes to name change

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Original article by David Ramli, John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 8-Mar-16

Australian telco Optus has used market research and focus groups to determine whether consumers would embrace a move to rebrand itself under the "Yes" banner. Optus has been actively securing trademarks using the Yes theme, although the cost of rebranding is seen as one of the problems associated with adopting its long-running tagline as its corporate name. Meanwhile, Optus is planning a major marketing drive ahead of launching its exclusive English Premier League coverage.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FETCHTV PTY LTD, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Union mergers a failure, says ex-ACTU official

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 4-Mar-16

The ACTU’s former assistant secretary Tim Lyons says mergers between trade unions have failed to arrest a decline in union membership. He argues that most mergers have been unsuccessful, and unions should develop strategies to ensure that the outcomes of future mergers meet expectations.

CORPORATES
ACTU, PER CAPITA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

700 jobs to go as Rio strips its costs

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 20 : 3-Mar-16

Rio Tinto has declined to comment on media reports which suggested that it plans to shed between 500 and 700 workers at its iron ore mines in Western Australia. The job cuts are part of its goal to reduce global costs by $US2bn ($A2.6bn) over the next two years. Rio Tinto previously reduced its Western Australian iron ore headcount by 800 in 2015, and its costs have been slashed by $US6.2bn over the last three years.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

More pain before big miners execute M&A

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 1-Mar-16

A growing number of large Australian mining companies are looking to capitalise on the downturn in commodity prices to pursue acquisitions. South32 CEO Graham Kerr says many companies are likely to be reluctant to offload distressed assets, adding that the real impact of lower commodity prices is unlikely to be felt for another six months. Kerr acknowledges that South32’s healthy balance sheet means it is better-placed that many rivals to seek acquisitions, but he stresses that the group will not rush into any deals.

CORPORATES
SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Fortescue Metals looks to M&A for growth

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 25-Feb-16

Fortescue Metals Group has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $US319m, compared with $US331m previously. Revenue fell from $US4.8bn to $US3.3bn. CEO Nev Power says the iron ore group is open to acquisitions if appropriate opportunities become available, and it has not ruled out diversifying into other commodities. Fortescue has also signalled that it will seek to reduce its break-even price for exports to China to $US28.80 per tonne by mid-2016, but stresses that it will not try to compete with BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to become the lowest-cost exporter.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Brokers confident of smooth shift to two-day settlements

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 22-Feb-16

Australia’s equities and debt markets are set to adopt a two-day settlement cycle on 7 March 2016. The ASX says that more than 100 market participants have indicated that they are prepared for the so-called T+2 system, which has been in test mode since August 2015. The New Zealand Exchange is also slated to make the transition on 7 March, while key Asian markets have either adopted T+2 or are planning to do so.

CORPORATES
ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, CHI-X AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEW ZEALAND EXCHANGE LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH SECURITIES LIMITED, BNP PARIBAS EQUITIES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Fairfax about-face to cost 70 jobs at NZ subsidiary

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 21 : 17-Feb-16

Fairfax Media subsidiary Pagemasters will resume responsibility for subediting and production work on the group’s Australian metropolitan newspapers. The work was shifted to Fairfax Editorial Services in New Zealand in 2014, which prompted concern among journalists about quality control issues. The latest move is aimed at reducing costs and will result in the loss of about 70 jobs at Fairfax’s New Zealand division.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, PAGEMASTERS PTY LTD, FAIRFAX EDITORIAL SERVICES

Focus on sales reboots growth at Cochlear

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 12-Feb-16

Australian-listed Cochlear has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A94m, which is 32 per cent higher than previously. Revenue also increased by 32 per cent, to $A581.7m, and sales of its hearing implants rose by 26 per cent to 14,748 units. CEO Chris Smith says the group has benefited from its consumer-focused strategy, and notes that the 65-plus age group represents a huge growth opportunity for Cochlear.

CORPORATES
COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH

Rio Tinto set to slash dividend as profits dive

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 12-Feb-16

Rio Tinto has posted a 2015 statutory loss of $US866m, while its underlying earnings for the calendar year were 51 per cent lower at $US4.5bn. The downturn in the iron ore price resulted in a sharp fall in revenue, to $US34.8bn. Shareholders will receive a full-year dividend of $US2.15 per share, but Rio Tinto will abolish its progressive dividend policy in 2016 in favour of a payout ratio. It expects to pay a full-year dividend of around $US1.10 per share in 2016.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX ERA, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION

Building sector wants more women leaders

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 39 : 9-Feb-16

Australian companies are taking steps to reduce gender imbalance among their staff. Buildcorp has hired a number of women with a non-building industry background. Buildcorp principal Josephine Sukkar says there are now three women among 33 mid-level project managers and engineers. The Property Male Champions of Change program is meant to facilitate the entry of women into the sector.

CORPORATES
BUILDCORP COMMERCIAL PTY LTD, ERNST AND YOUNG, STOCKLAND – ASX SGP, SCENTRE GROUP – ASX SCG, DEXUS PROPERTY GROUP – ASX DXS, GPT GROUP – ASX GPT