Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ):
Cartel charges over ANZ’s 2015 capital raising will get their first court airing next month as classaction lawyers begin gauging interest for a claim against the country’s third-biggest lender. ANZ, its treasurer Rick Moscati, Citi, Deutsche Bank and unnamed executives have received court appearance notices for the Sydney Local Court on July 3 in what is considered to be a very early stage of an expected criminal trial. On Friday, the bank flagged criminal charges flowing from an Australian Competition & Consumer Commission probe for alleged involvement in cartel behaviour relating to dealing in the bank’s shares following a $2.5 billion share placement.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA):
Scott Morrison has blasted the Commonwealth Bank for putting national security at risk, after the country’s biggest financial institution was hit with a record $700 million fine for flouting anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The largest penalty in Australian corporate history comes amid warnings from the head of the financial intelligence regulator, Austrac, of “exponential growth” in offshore crime syndicates targeting Australian banks in an attempt to launder funds. In an exclusive interview, Austrac chief executive Nicole Rose told The Australian a large number of criminal gangs were targeting Australia due to the high prices syndicates can charge for drugs. “We think that 70 per cent of our organised or serious crime has links to, or originates, overseas,” Ms Rose said. “This is not Colombian drug cartels; it’s people driving up to our suburban banks and putting in this sort of cash. A lot of it is criminal gangs.”
Kogan.com Ltd (KGN):
There has been a fire sale in online retailer Kogan stock today following news yesterday evening that brokers were shopping around a 10 per cent stake in the business on behalf of founder and chief executive Ruslan Kogan and chief financial officer David Shafer. The shares are off 10 per cent at $8.75 and were off as much as 13 per cent earlier. The company has since said that Kogan and Shafer did not receive any bid and no sale of stakes have occurred, Reuters reports. Kogan owns 36.2 per cent of the business, while Shafer has 13.7 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data. Kogan.com's two top executives have historically reduced their holdings in unison, however, Kogan alone jettisoned 5.7 million shares at $8.80 a piece in February. Prior to that, the pair sold shares in October at $4.25 each, representing a $23 million payday for Kogan and Shafer and a combined 6 per cent stake in the company. The selling on Monday came just hours after the company announced plans to push into whitegoods and kitchen appliances. The news was well received and Kogan.com shares were up 7.5 per cent to $9.80 on Monday.
Mortgage Choice Limited (MOC):
One of the country's biggest mortgage brokers, Mortgage Choice, is in damage control as it faces an uprising from its franchisees on the back of a business model that is pushing many into financial ruin, depression and cutting corners on arranging loans. A joint media investigation by Fairfax and ABC’s 7.30 can reveal scores of current and former franchisees have been financially devastated after signing up to the high profile brand. Confidential documents show as many as 173 franchisees, almost half the franchisees in the system, are considering setting up a fighting fund to take legal action if the company doesn’t make the relationship fairer. Late last year they agreed to commit almost $200,000 to set up the fund if their demands aren't met. The investigation can reveal that a harsh business model and remuneration structure is pushing franchisees to cut corners, including churning customers, writing inflated loans to meet aggressive targets and in some cases committing fraud. Mortgage Choice, which has a loan book worth $54 billion, has been making record profits for its shareholders, which include Commonwealth Bank and the founders, the Higgins brothers, who also sit on the board. On Monday, shortly after being contacted by the joint investigation, Mortgage Choice issued a statement to the ASX saying it was reviewing its franchisee remuneration structure. It says the purpose of an “updated remuneration model was to increase franchisee remuneration and reduce franchisee income volatility to allow them to grow their businesses and assist more customers with their home loan needs. Mortgage Choice chief executive Susan Mitchell says the model was “outdated” and needed to be more competitive with the rest of the industry. “It was my first priority when I became CEO two months ago,” she says.
Qantas Airways Limited (QAN):
Qantas boss Alan Joyce says Australians should expect to pay higher airfares off the back of increasing oil prices, but has assured customers he is taking other steps to absorb some of the cost increases. The International Air Travel Association said on Monday it expected the average cost of Brent Crude to be $US70 a barrel for 2018 - 27 per cent higher than in 2017 ($US55 a barrel) and 16 per cent higher than it had previously forecast - which would weigh on airlines' profitability worldwide.
Qantas says it is “reimagining” ultra-long-haul flying ahead of placing an order with either Airbus or Boeing for aircraft that would fly non-stop from Australia’s east coast to London or New York. Chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline expected to place the order for the aircraft next year and one of the carrier’s executives said “intense” discussions would take place in coming months. During a briefing on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association conference in Sydney yesterday, Qantas executives also gave the clearest indication yet that they would change how they referred to Taiwan on their website to comply with an edict from China. They also suggested a surge in jet fuel prices was putting upward pressure on airfares. Qantas International chief executive Alison Webster said the carrier was talking to the plane-makers about having an aircraft that had “the technical capability and also importantly the right economics” to allow the non-stop flights by 2022 in what the carrier calls Project Sunrise.
RETAIL FOOD GROUP LIMITED (RFG):
New Retail Food Group chief executive Richard Hinson has taken the knife to the troubled food and coffee franchisor's profit guidance, warning that underlying net profit is expected to fall 54 per cent this year. The stock is off 3.9 per cent at 79 cents. In a trading update this morning - barely a week after Mr Hinson took the helm from Andre Nell - Retail Food Group said underlying net profit for the 12 months ending June was expected to be around $34.5 million, compared with $75.7 million in 2017 and $24.7 million in the December-half. The new guidance is well below market consensus forecasts of around $54.6 million. RFG did not issue guidance at the half-year, but at last year's results the company said it expected underlying earnings to grow 6 per cent in 2018. RFG, the owner of Gloria Jeans, Michel's Patisseries, Brumby's Bakeries and Donut King, also expects a bottom line net loss around $87.6 million for 2018, baring further one-off costs. This is in line with the bottom line loss reported in the December-half, when the company booked $138 million in impairment charges and asset writedowns. RFG said the full-year forecast included termination payments to Mr Nell, who left last week, and other additional one-off turnaround expenses. However, it did not include about $3 million of anticipated international licence fee revenues that may occur before the year end nor any further impairment charges. "Trading performance has continued to be impacted by a combination of previously noted persistent difficult retail market conditions, the cumulative impact of planned domestic outlet closures, and ongoing negative sentiment regarding both retail franchising and RFG in particular," the company said.
Rio Tinto Limited (RIO):
The Indonesian company primed to buy Rio Tinto's stake in the Grasberg copper and gold mine says it has obtained financing to execute the deal, in another sign the long-running sale process is nearing its conclusion. Indonesia has been pushing for majority local ownership of its mineral wealth in recent years, with Australian miners like Newcrest and Rio Tinto caught up in that push. Rio and its Grasberg partner Freeport McMoran have been negotiating with Indonesian state-owned company Inalum over a way to give the latter control of Grasberg's complicated ownership structure, which currently gives Rio rights to 40 per cent of copper produced by the mine above a certain production threshold, and 40 per cent of all copper produced at the mine after 2023.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (TLS):
The Australian Football League’s $2.508 billion media rights deal continues to yield benefits for players after the code struck a deal with Telstra that will help professional players with retirement. The landmark deal between the AFL Players Association and Telstra will cultivate new digital media assets with 50 players across the league’s 18 elite clubs as part of an effort to cross-promote the national competition. The agreement, in partnership with the AFL, is believed to be the first of its kind involving a sports league, players’ association and a commercial partner. Every AFL player will benefit from the partnership through greater contributions into the player retirement scheme, which is designed to support players in their post-AFL lives without the daily discipline that comes with being a professional athlete. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Vicinity Centres Re Ltd (VCX):
Listed retail landlord Vicinity Centres is set to sell up to $1 billion of smaller shopping centres as the group unveils a strategy of focusing on flagship destination assets. The landlord will use the proceeds of the asset sale to reduce gearing and redevelop some centres, including the addition of mixed-use elements such as apartment towers. The plans come amid a challenging retail environment, with cautious consumers worrying about lacklustre wage growth or turning to online shopping platforms such as Amazon.
(Source: AIMS)
Cartel charges over ANZ’s 2015 capital raising will get their first court airing next month as classaction lawyers begin gauging interest for a claim against the country’s third-biggest lender. ANZ, its treasurer Rick Moscati, Citi, Deutsche Bank and unnamed executives have received court appearance notices for the Sydney Local Court on July 3 in what is considered to be a very early stage of an expected criminal trial. On Friday, the bank flagged criminal charges flowing from an Australian Competition & Consumer Commission probe for alleged involvement in cartel behaviour relating to dealing in the bank’s shares following a $2.5 billion share placement.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA):
Scott Morrison has blasted the Commonwealth Bank for putting national security at risk, after the country’s biggest financial institution was hit with a record $700 million fine for flouting anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The largest penalty in Australian corporate history comes amid warnings from the head of the financial intelligence regulator, Austrac, of “exponential growth” in offshore crime syndicates targeting Australian banks in an attempt to launder funds. In an exclusive interview, Austrac chief executive Nicole Rose told The Australian a large number of criminal gangs were targeting Australia due to the high prices syndicates can charge for drugs. “We think that 70 per cent of our organised or serious crime has links to, or originates, overseas,” Ms Rose said. “This is not Colombian drug cartels; it’s people driving up to our suburban banks and putting in this sort of cash. A lot of it is criminal gangs.”
Kogan.com Ltd (KGN):
There has been a fire sale in online retailer Kogan stock today following news yesterday evening that brokers were shopping around a 10 per cent stake in the business on behalf of founder and chief executive Ruslan Kogan and chief financial officer David Shafer. The shares are off 10 per cent at $8.75 and were off as much as 13 per cent earlier. The company has since said that Kogan and Shafer did not receive any bid and no sale of stakes have occurred, Reuters reports. Kogan owns 36.2 per cent of the business, while Shafer has 13.7 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data. Kogan.com's two top executives have historically reduced their holdings in unison, however, Kogan alone jettisoned 5.7 million shares at $8.80 a piece in February. Prior to that, the pair sold shares in October at $4.25 each, representing a $23 million payday for Kogan and Shafer and a combined 6 per cent stake in the company. The selling on Monday came just hours after the company announced plans to push into whitegoods and kitchen appliances. The news was well received and Kogan.com shares were up 7.5 per cent to $9.80 on Monday.
Mortgage Choice Limited (MOC):
One of the country's biggest mortgage brokers, Mortgage Choice, is in damage control as it faces an uprising from its franchisees on the back of a business model that is pushing many into financial ruin, depression and cutting corners on arranging loans. A joint media investigation by Fairfax and ABC’s 7.30 can reveal scores of current and former franchisees have been financially devastated after signing up to the high profile brand. Confidential documents show as many as 173 franchisees, almost half the franchisees in the system, are considering setting up a fighting fund to take legal action if the company doesn’t make the relationship fairer. Late last year they agreed to commit almost $200,000 to set up the fund if their demands aren't met. The investigation can reveal that a harsh business model and remuneration structure is pushing franchisees to cut corners, including churning customers, writing inflated loans to meet aggressive targets and in some cases committing fraud. Mortgage Choice, which has a loan book worth $54 billion, has been making record profits for its shareholders, which include Commonwealth Bank and the founders, the Higgins brothers, who also sit on the board. On Monday, shortly after being contacted by the joint investigation, Mortgage Choice issued a statement to the ASX saying it was reviewing its franchisee remuneration structure. It says the purpose of an “updated remuneration model was to increase franchisee remuneration and reduce franchisee income volatility to allow them to grow their businesses and assist more customers with their home loan needs. Mortgage Choice chief executive Susan Mitchell says the model was “outdated” and needed to be more competitive with the rest of the industry. “It was my first priority when I became CEO two months ago,” she says.
Qantas Airways Limited (QAN):
Qantas boss Alan Joyce says Australians should expect to pay higher airfares off the back of increasing oil prices, but has assured customers he is taking other steps to absorb some of the cost increases. The International Air Travel Association said on Monday it expected the average cost of Brent Crude to be $US70 a barrel for 2018 - 27 per cent higher than in 2017 ($US55 a barrel) and 16 per cent higher than it had previously forecast - which would weigh on airlines' profitability worldwide.
Qantas says it is “reimagining” ultra-long-haul flying ahead of placing an order with either Airbus or Boeing for aircraft that would fly non-stop from Australia’s east coast to London or New York. Chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline expected to place the order for the aircraft next year and one of the carrier’s executives said “intense” discussions would take place in coming months. During a briefing on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association conference in Sydney yesterday, Qantas executives also gave the clearest indication yet that they would change how they referred to Taiwan on their website to comply with an edict from China. They also suggested a surge in jet fuel prices was putting upward pressure on airfares. Qantas International chief executive Alison Webster said the carrier was talking to the plane-makers about having an aircraft that had “the technical capability and also importantly the right economics” to allow the non-stop flights by 2022 in what the carrier calls Project Sunrise.
RETAIL FOOD GROUP LIMITED (RFG):
New Retail Food Group chief executive Richard Hinson has taken the knife to the troubled food and coffee franchisor's profit guidance, warning that underlying net profit is expected to fall 54 per cent this year. The stock is off 3.9 per cent at 79 cents. In a trading update this morning - barely a week after Mr Hinson took the helm from Andre Nell - Retail Food Group said underlying net profit for the 12 months ending June was expected to be around $34.5 million, compared with $75.7 million in 2017 and $24.7 million in the December-half. The new guidance is well below market consensus forecasts of around $54.6 million. RFG did not issue guidance at the half-year, but at last year's results the company said it expected underlying earnings to grow 6 per cent in 2018. RFG, the owner of Gloria Jeans, Michel's Patisseries, Brumby's Bakeries and Donut King, also expects a bottom line net loss around $87.6 million for 2018, baring further one-off costs. This is in line with the bottom line loss reported in the December-half, when the company booked $138 million in impairment charges and asset writedowns. RFG said the full-year forecast included termination payments to Mr Nell, who left last week, and other additional one-off turnaround expenses. However, it did not include about $3 million of anticipated international licence fee revenues that may occur before the year end nor any further impairment charges. "Trading performance has continued to be impacted by a combination of previously noted persistent difficult retail market conditions, the cumulative impact of planned domestic outlet closures, and ongoing negative sentiment regarding both retail franchising and RFG in particular," the company said.
Rio Tinto Limited (RIO):
The Indonesian company primed to buy Rio Tinto's stake in the Grasberg copper and gold mine says it has obtained financing to execute the deal, in another sign the long-running sale process is nearing its conclusion. Indonesia has been pushing for majority local ownership of its mineral wealth in recent years, with Australian miners like Newcrest and Rio Tinto caught up in that push. Rio and its Grasberg partner Freeport McMoran have been negotiating with Indonesian state-owned company Inalum over a way to give the latter control of Grasberg's complicated ownership structure, which currently gives Rio rights to 40 per cent of copper produced by the mine above a certain production threshold, and 40 per cent of all copper produced at the mine after 2023.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (TLS):
The Australian Football League’s $2.508 billion media rights deal continues to yield benefits for players after the code struck a deal with Telstra that will help professional players with retirement. The landmark deal between the AFL Players Association and Telstra will cultivate new digital media assets with 50 players across the league’s 18 elite clubs as part of an effort to cross-promote the national competition. The agreement, in partnership with the AFL, is believed to be the first of its kind involving a sports league, players’ association and a commercial partner. Every AFL player will benefit from the partnership through greater contributions into the player retirement scheme, which is designed to support players in their post-AFL lives without the daily discipline that comes with being a professional athlete. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Vicinity Centres Re Ltd (VCX):
Listed retail landlord Vicinity Centres is set to sell up to $1 billion of smaller shopping centres as the group unveils a strategy of focusing on flagship destination assets. The landlord will use the proceeds of the asset sale to reduce gearing and redevelop some centres, including the addition of mixed-use elements such as apartment towers. The plans come amid a challenging retail environment, with cautious consumers worrying about lacklustre wage growth or turning to online shopping platforms such as Amazon.
(Source: AIMS)
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