BHP Billiton Limited (BHP):
BHP Billiton has vowed to continue to push for changes to the GST distribution system which it says would benefit the mining industry and the national economy. Mike Henry, the chief executive of BHP Australian mining operations, told a lunch in Perth on Monday the GST distribution mechanism was not ‘‘equitable’’. Mr Henry argued that because increased resources ‘‘royalties translate into less GST’’ it created the ‘‘perverse effect’’ of dulling ‘‘the incentive for states to stimulate the development of resources’’. ‘‘A distribution that instead saw states retain a portion of resource royalties outside of the funding pool, would increase the incentive towards resource developments,’’ he said. Mr Henry told reporters BHP had an ‘‘obligation’’ to advocate on important issues. He said it would make a submission to the Productivity Commission’s review of the GST redistribution system and continue to publicly advocate for a better deal for Western Australia and the mining industry. ‘‘It is really important to note here it is not just because Western Australia is so important to us,’’ he said. ‘‘I genuinely believe that a change would be good for the industry. By being good for the industry it would be good for the state and I think it would have broader flow-on benefits to the economy which make it good for the nation. ‘‘And therefore not only can we advocate, we should advocate. And it will be these [events], it will be oneon-one conversations [and] it will be ongoing engagement.’’ His comments come after former Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls argued earlier this year the miner should lobby harder to change the GST system, while trying to impose a $7.2 billion tax on BHP and fellow Pilbara iron ore major Rio Tinto．
Central Petroleum Limited (CTP):
The level of opposition to Macquarie Group’s $87 million takeover of Central Petroleum has become clearer ahead of a shareholder vote on Thursday, with one rebel group claiming it has conditionally secured up to $US100 million ($131 million) in funding to extract the explorer from the bank’s clutches. The ‘‘New Direction Team’’ led by would-be new chairman of Central, Alan Beasley, want to use the funds to inject capital into cash-strapped Central, and to possibly pay down part or all of a loan by Macquarie to Central. New Direction is one of two groups of dissident shareholders opposing the takeover, which managing director Richard Cottee acknowledged on Monday was ‘‘a probability’’ of being voted down, although he said he expected the majority of shareholders to back it. The deal for the bank to buy the Northern Territory explorer needs to be supported by more than 50 per cent of shareholders voting at the meeting, but those shareholders need to represent at least 75 per cent of the register. Macquarie in May ruled out increasing its 20¢ a share offer, which also includes a ‘‘contingent value note’’, the value of which depends on the results of drilling in Central’s vast acreage．
Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (FLT); Qantas Airways Limited (QAN):
Airbnb has struck a deal with ASX-listed Flight Centre in its largest corporate travel partnership in the Asia Pacific, offering business travellers the ability to book Airbnb houses, apartments or rooms directly though the travel agency. Airbnb has struck a deal with ASXlisted Flight Centre in its largest corporate travel partnership in the Asia Pacific, offering business travellers the ability to book Airbnb houses, apartments or rooms directly though the travel agency. Listings from the sharing economy player will first be available via Flight Centre’s Campus Travel and Stage and Screen services, before also being rolled out in its FCm Travel Solutions and Corporate Traveller divisions. The deal follows a period of substantial growth in the corporate travel market for Airbnb and comes after Qantas last year formed a partnership with Airbnb to allow frequent flyer members to earn points on bookings through the accommodation group. The deal with Qantas angered the hotel industry, which has faced market share losses at the hands of Airbnb．
Seymour Whyte Limited (SWL):
Queensland construction group Seymour Whyte has recommended investors accept a $113 million takeover bid from French construction group Vinci. Seymour Whyte’s board accepted the proposed cash offer of $1.285 a share after several months of exclusive talks with Vinci’s construction division. The French group had initially made a non-binding, conditional proposal valued at between $1.36 and $1.43 a share in cash in March before being given access to due diligence. Seymour Whyte’s shares were trading at $1.10 before it announced the proposal in March. The stock rose 12¢ on Monday to close at $1.37．
（Ｓｏｕｒｃｅ： ＡＩＭＳ）
BHP Billiton has vowed to continue to push for changes to the GST distribution system which it says would benefit the mining industry and the national economy. Mike Henry, the chief executive of BHP Australian mining operations, told a lunch in Perth on Monday the GST distribution mechanism was not ‘‘equitable’’. Mr Henry argued that because increased resources ‘‘royalties translate into less GST’’ it created the ‘‘perverse effect’’ of dulling ‘‘the incentive for states to stimulate the development of resources’’. ‘‘A distribution that instead saw states retain a portion of resource royalties outside of the funding pool, would increase the incentive towards resource developments,’’ he said. Mr Henry told reporters BHP had an ‘‘obligation’’ to advocate on important issues. He said it would make a submission to the Productivity Commission’s review of the GST redistribution system and continue to publicly advocate for a better deal for Western Australia and the mining industry. ‘‘It is really important to note here it is not just because Western Australia is so important to us,’’ he said. ‘‘I genuinely believe that a change would be good for the industry. By being good for the industry it would be good for the state and I think it would have broader flow-on benefits to the economy which make it good for the nation. ‘‘And therefore not only can we advocate, we should advocate. And it will be these [events], it will be oneon-one conversations [and] it will be ongoing engagement.’’ His comments come after former Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls argued earlier this year the miner should lobby harder to change the GST system, while trying to impose a $7.2 billion tax on BHP and fellow Pilbara iron ore major Rio Tinto．
Central Petroleum Limited (CTP):
The level of opposition to Macquarie Group’s $87 million takeover of Central Petroleum has become clearer ahead of a shareholder vote on Thursday, with one rebel group claiming it has conditionally secured up to $US100 million ($131 million) in funding to extract the explorer from the bank’s clutches. The ‘‘New Direction Team’’ led by would-be new chairman of Central, Alan Beasley, want to use the funds to inject capital into cash-strapped Central, and to possibly pay down part or all of a loan by Macquarie to Central. New Direction is one of two groups of dissident shareholders opposing the takeover, which managing director Richard Cottee acknowledged on Monday was ‘‘a probability’’ of being voted down, although he said he expected the majority of shareholders to back it. The deal for the bank to buy the Northern Territory explorer needs to be supported by more than 50 per cent of shareholders voting at the meeting, but those shareholders need to represent at least 75 per cent of the register. Macquarie in May ruled out increasing its 20¢ a share offer, which also includes a ‘‘contingent value note’’, the value of which depends on the results of drilling in Central’s vast acreage．
Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (FLT); Qantas Airways Limited (QAN):
Airbnb has struck a deal with ASX-listed Flight Centre in its largest corporate travel partnership in the Asia Pacific, offering business travellers the ability to book Airbnb houses, apartments or rooms directly though the travel agency. Airbnb has struck a deal with ASXlisted Flight Centre in its largest corporate travel partnership in the Asia Pacific, offering business travellers the ability to book Airbnb houses, apartments or rooms directly though the travel agency. Listings from the sharing economy player will first be available via Flight Centre’s Campus Travel and Stage and Screen services, before also being rolled out in its FCm Travel Solutions and Corporate Traveller divisions. The deal follows a period of substantial growth in the corporate travel market for Airbnb and comes after Qantas last year formed a partnership with Airbnb to allow frequent flyer members to earn points on bookings through the accommodation group. The deal with Qantas angered the hotel industry, which has faced market share losses at the hands of Airbnb．
Seymour Whyte Limited (SWL):
Queensland construction group Seymour Whyte has recommended investors accept a $113 million takeover bid from French construction group Vinci. Seymour Whyte’s board accepted the proposed cash offer of $1.285 a share after several months of exclusive talks with Vinci’s construction division. The French group had initially made a non-binding, conditional proposal valued at between $1.36 and $1.43 a share in cash in March before being given access to due diligence. Seymour Whyte’s shares were trading at $1.10 before it announced the proposal in March. The stock rose 12¢ on Monday to close at $1.37．
（Ｓｏｕｒｃｅ： ＡＩＭＳ）
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