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☆ Australia's AI firm Appen mulls selling part or whole of business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Australia's AI firm Appen (APX.AX) said Tuesday it is mulling the sale of a part or whole of its business. Appen, which was one of the world's largest AI training providers, has implemented a raft of cost-saving initiatives and has seen its executive team being entirely replaced over the last two years. The company on Tuesday announced an equity raise of A$30-million ($19.52 million), aimed at boosting its working capital. It also announced an additional $14 million of cost reduction, boosting its cost-saving initiatives this year to $60 million. ($1 = 1.5366 Australian dollars)Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank DhaniwalaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nausheen, Mrigank Organizations: Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ China's SMIC sees lower Q4 gross margin, lifts annual capex forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is seen at China International Semiconductor Expo (IC China 2020) following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China October 14, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 9 (Reuters) - Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (0981.HK) on Thursday lifted its annual capital expenditure forecast to around $7.5 billion and said it expects lower fourth-quarter gross margins. SMIC expects a gross margin of between 16% and 18% in the fourth quarter, compared with 19.8% in the third quarter. Revenue for the third quarter fell to $1.62 billion from $1.91 billion a year ago, but the company expects a sequential increase of 1% to 3% in the fourth quarter. SMIC had previously said it expects capital expenditure in 2023 to be roughly flat compared with 2022, which came in at about $6.35 billion.

Persons: Aly, TSMC, Germany's, SMIC, Nausheen, Devika Organizations: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, China International Semiconductor, REUTERS, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, HK, SMIC, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Bengaluru

☆ Singapore Airlines posts record half-year profit as air travel demand soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Singapore Airlines plane is seen among the planes in the static display at the Singapore Airshow in Singapore, February 16, 2022. "The robust demand for air travel continued into the Northern Summer travel season, led by the rebound in passenger traffic to North Asia with the full reopening of China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Taiwan," the airline said in a statement. Singapore Airlines and its budget arm, Scoot, carried around 17.4 million passengers during the half-year, an increase of 52.3% year-on-year. The firm also intends to redeem 50% of the zero-coupon mandatory convertible bonds (MCBs) that it issued in June 2021 to support its balance sheet amid an almost total shutdown of air travel during the pandemic. ($1 = 1.3543 Singapore dollars)Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Caroline Chia, Rishav Chatterjee, Nausheen, Janane Organizations: Singapore Airlines, Singapore, REUTERS, Companies, India, Air India, India's Tata Group, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Asia, North Asia, China , Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Taiwan, Bengaluru

☆ Virgin Australia clocks first profit in 11 years as travel demand recovers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aircraft from Australia's second largest airline, Virgin Australia, sit on the tarmac at the domestic terminal of Sydney Airport in Australia, August 19, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - Bain Capital-owned Virgin Australia said on Tuesday that the airline returned to a profit for the first time in 11 years for fiscal 2023, buoyed by a strong recovery in travel demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. The carrier reported a statutory net profit after tax of A$129 million ($82.93 million) for the full year ended June 30, 2023, compared with a loss of A$565.5 million in 2022. Virgin Australia now has a considerably stronger balance sheet with continued significant improvement in its cost base, CFO Race Strauss said in a statement on Tuesday. Virgin was upbeat on its capital position, reporting total debt including leases of A$2.3 billion and over A$1 billion of cash on the balance sheet.

Persons: David Gray, Bain, Race Strauss, Strauss, Roushni Nair, Nausheen, Rashmi Organizations: Virgin, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Bain Capital, Virgin Australia, Australian Securities Exchange, Reuters, GQG Partners, Airlines, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Virgin Australia, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ TPG Telecom's $4 bln fiber assets bid's due diligence period expires
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 4 (Reuters) - Australia's TPG Telecom (TPG.AX) said on Wednesday the exclusive due diligence period granted to Macquarie-backed rival Vocus Group for the A$6.3 billion ($3.97 billion) bid for its non-mobile fiber assets has expired. Discussions between the parties for the commercial terms of the deal remain ongoing, with the consideration subject to change, TPG said in a statement. The bid, made in August, includes TPG's non-mobile fibre assets such as certain Enterprise, Government and Wholesale (EGW) assets and associated fixed infrastructure assets, including the wholesale broadband business, Vision Network. A successful deal would create a combined entity with A$8 billion to A$9 billion enterprise valuation. Separately, TPG was in an asset swap deal with Telstra which faced strong regulatory opposition based on competition concerns.

Persons: Nausheen, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Australia's TPG Telecom, Vocus Group, TPG, Enterprise, Government, Wholesale, Vision Network, Telstra, Thomson Locations: Macquarie, Vocus, dealmaking, Bengaluru

☆ SingTel to sell stake in Trustwave for $205 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view of Singtel's head office in Singapore May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 2 (Reuters) - Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI) on Monday said it entered into an agreement with MC2 Titanium, LLC to sell its stake in cyber security business Trustwave for $205 million. Southeast Asia's largest telecom firm began a strategic review of its 98% interest in Trustwave in 2021 after buying it for $770 million in 2015. The divestment comes after SingTel incurred an impairment charge of S$336 million ($245.92 million) on Trustwave in the second half of 2021. ($1 = 1.3663 Singapore dollars)Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Edgar Su, SingTel, Nausheen, Lisa Shumaker, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Singapore Telecommunications, MC2, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Trustwave, Bengaluru

☆ Aussie corporate regulator alleges IAG units misled home insurance customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Small toy figures are seen in front of displayed IAG (Insurance Australia Group) logo in this illustration taken, November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies IMA and IAL misled customers about loyalty discountsIAG says units intend to defend the proceedingsRegulator is seeking declarations of contravention, pecuniary penalties and adverse publicity ordersAug 25 (Reuters) - Australia's corporate regulator said on Friday it filed a lawsuit against two units of Insurance Australia Group (IAG) (IAG.AX), alleging they misled customers about loyalty discounts available for certain types of home insurance policies. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has commenced civil proceedings against Insurance Australia Ltd (IAL) and Insurance Manufacturers of Australia (IMA) in the Federal Court, alleging loyal customers may have had their premiums increased before the promised discounts were applied. "IMA and IAL do not agree that they have misled customers and intend to defend the proceedings further," IAG said in a separate release. The regulator is seeking declarations of contravention, pecuniary penalties and adverse publicity orders against IAL and IMA from the court.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, IAG, Sarah Court, IAL, Nausheen, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: Insurance, REUTERS, Insurance Australia Group, Australian Securities & Investments Commission, Insurance Australia Ltd, Insurance Manufacturers of Australia, Federal, IMA, IAL, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

People walk past a Woolworths supermarket following the easing of restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sydney, Australia, June 16, 2020. A day earlier, Coles said a cost blowout sent its underlying annual profit lower. Woolworths said its earnings margin from food was 6% in the year to end-June, from 5.3% a year earlier. The company gave no profit guidance except that growth in Australian food sales, its main earnings driver, remained strong although inflation was moderating. "We think the result will be taken well in the context of yesterday’s weaker result from Coles," Citi analysts said.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Coles, Brad Banducci, Jim Stanford, Byron Kaye, Nausheen, Archishma Iyer, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Stephen Coates, Muralikumar Organizations: Woolworths, REUTERS, JPMorgan, Macquarie Group, Citi, Centre, Future, Australia Institute, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Coles, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Woolworths posts nearly 5% rise in annual profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk past a Woolworths supermarket following the easing of restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sydney, Australia, June 16, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - Australia's largest supermarket chain Woolworths Group (WOW.AX) reported an 4.6% rise in full-year profit on Wednesday, helped by elevated shelf prices on the back of rising inflation and increasing normalization of customer habits. The company said annual net profit after tax from continuing operations, after significant items, was A$1.62 billion ($1.04 billion), compared with A$1.55 billion a year earlier. The Sydney-based company also declared a final dividend of 58 Australian cents per share, higher than 53 cents per share declared last year. ($1 = 1.5567 Australian dollars)Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo and Archishma Iyer in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Brad Banducci, Nausheen Thusoo, Archishma Iyer, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Woolworths, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Coles annual profit misses estimates; shares slip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Nausheen Thusoo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman walks in the fruit and vegetables section at a Coles supermarket in Sydney, Australia, February 20, 2018. Coles flagged modest supermarket sales for early fiscal 2024 alongside early signs of customers shifting from out-of-home dining. Shares of Coles Group Ltd (COL.AX) are down 3.8 % at A$16.63 as at 0002 GMT, making it one of the top losers on the benchmark. Coles' higher profit comes on the back of higher supermarket sales, which help offset flat liquor sales revenue for the year. The supermarket division, Coles' biggest revenue-generating segment, incurred A$36,746 million revenue during the year, 6.1% higher than a year ago.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Australia's, Coles, Nausheen Thusoo, Sameer Manekar, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Matthew Lewis, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Coles, REUTERS, cps, Australia's Coles, Jefferies, UBS, Coles Group Ltd, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Melbourne, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Coles flags modest start to fiscal 2024; 2023 profit rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman walks in the fruit and vegetables section at a Coles supermarket in Sydney, Australia, February 20, 2018. 2 grocer said supermarket volumes have remained modestly positive for fiscal 2024 compared with the prior corresponding period alongside early signs of customers shifting from out-of-home dining. The Melbourne-based company also said it expects cost-of-living pressure to remain for Australian households in fiscal 2024. Coles' higher profit comes on the back of higher supermarket sales which help offset flat liquor sales revenue for the year. The supermarket division, Coles' biggest revenue-generating segment, incurred A$36,746 million revenue during the year, 6.1% higher than a year ago.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Australia's, Coles, Nausheen Thusoo, Sameer Manekar, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Coles, REUTERS, cps, Australia's Coles, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Melbourne, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's IAG misses annual cash earnings estimates; shares slip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nausheen Thusoo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Small toy figures are seen in front of displayed IAG (Insurance Australia Group) logo in this illustration taken, November 8, 2021. The country's top general insurer posted cash earnings of A$452 million ($290.00 million) for the year ended June 30, up from A$213 million a year ago but missing analysts' average estimate of A$656.7 million, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Australian insurers have seen their profits soar this year, as they incur higher premiums in an elevated interest-rate environment, while also benefiting from a rebound in investment income. The company also expects an insurance margin in fiscal 2024 of 13.5%–15.5%, higher than the 12.6% margin last year. However, elevated inflation in home and motor claims costs, as well as the higher natural perils allowance, impacted the underlying insurance margin, IAG said in a statement.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, IAG, Nick Hawkins, Nausheen Thusoo, Archishma Iyer, Paul Simao, Stephen Coates, Rashmi Organizations: Insurance, REUTERS, cps, Insurance Australia Group, New Zealand, Citi, UBS, Thomson Locations: Australia, New

☆ Australia's IAG sees lower double-digit gross written premium growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Small toy figures are seen in front of displayed IAG (Insurance Australia Group) logo in this illustration taken, November 8, 2021. Australia's top general insurer reported a 10.6% rise in GWP to A$14.73 billion ($9.4 billion) for fiscal 2023, matching the Refinitiv estimate. The company also expects an insurance margin in fiscal 2024 of 13.5%–15.5%, higher than the pervious year's margin of 12.6%. IAG also declared a dividend of 9 Australian cents per share, up from 5 cents per share a year ago. The insurer posted cash earnings of A$452 million for the 12 months ended June 30, up from A$213 million a year ago.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nick Hawkins, IAG, Refinitiv Eikon, Nausheen Thusoo, Archishma Iyer, Paul Simao, Stephen Coates Organizations: Insurance, REUTERS, cps, Insurance Australia Group, ”, Thomson Locations: GWP

☆ ANZ Group reports higher late mortgage payments in stiff market
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A pedestrian is reflected in the window of a branch of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) in central Sydney, Australia, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Steven Saphore/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Reports rise in customer depositsMarginal increase in gross impaired assetsAug 17 (Reuters) - ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ.AX) said on Thursday late mortgage repayments past 90 days edged higher in the June quarter but were still below historic levels while logging higher customer deposits in a stiff market. The country's fourth-largest bank is still dealing with rising financial stress among mortgage customers as higher cash interest rates put pressure on its margins. "Liability portfolio mix continued a shift towards higher interest rate, lower margin, savings accounts and term deposits," ANZ said in a statement. ANZ recorded a continued growth in retail and institutional customer deposits while flagging a marginal rise in its gross impaired assets.

Persons: Steven Saphore, Rishav Chatterjee, Nausheen, Shilpi Majumdar, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: New Zealand Banking Group, ANZ, REUTERS, ANZ Group Holdings, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Treasury Wine Estates profit falls on lower US sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Bottles of Penfolds Grange, a Treasury Wine Estates brand, on sale at a wine shop in Sydney, Australia, August 4, 2014. REUTERS/David Gray/File PhotoAug 15 (Reuters) - Australia's Treasury Wine Estates (TWE.AX) reported a 3.3% fall in annual profit on Tuesday, mainly hurt by a decline in wine sales in the United States. A decline in shipment of premium products and low availability of luxury wines pressured sales at the Treasury America segment, the largest contributor to the winemaker's revenue. The company reported a net profit after tax of A$254.5 million for the year ended June 30, compared with A$263.2 million a year earlier. Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo and John Biju in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, John Mullen, Paul Rayner, Nausheen Thusoo, John Biju, Shinjini Ganguli, Shounak Organizations: Treasury Wine Estates, REUTERS, Wine Estates, Treasury America, Thomson Locations: Grange, Sydney, Australia, United States, Melbourne, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's BNPL firm Zip to streamline cost and operations - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 3 (Reuters) - Australian buy-now-pay-later firm Zip Co (ZIP.AX) is further streamlining its operations and cost base following a recent review, a company official told Reuters on Monday. "Following a recent review, we have made decisions to further streamline our operations and cost base," Vivienne Lee, director for investor relations, said in an emailed comment. The new law would require BNPL firms to run credit checks before lending, notifying customers when credit limits increase and following dispute resolution processes. It also aims to reduce cash burn from the rest of its global operations by the end of 2023. Shares of Zip, which tanked over 88% last year, are down nearly 16% this year as of Monday's close.

Persons: Vivienne Lee, Zip, Ayushman Ojha, Nausheen Thusoo, Rashmi Aich, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Co, Reuters, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Thomson Locations: Australia, Central, Eastern Europe, South Africa

☆ Online healthcare portal WebMD to acquire ASX-listed Limeade
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 9 (Reuters) - ASX-listed Limeade (LME.AX) said on Friday it will be acquired by WebMD in an all-cash deal with an enterprise value of A$112 million ($75.21 million). Shareholders of the U.S.-based software-as-a-service firm will receive A$0.425 per share from WebMD, a premium of 325% to Limeade's last closing price. After the acquisition is completed, Limeade will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of WebMD, the company said. The software provider said the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023. ($1 = 1.4892 Australian dollars)Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Limeade, Nausheen, Krishna Chandra Organizations: WebMD, Thomson Locations: U.S, WebMD, Bengaluru

☆ Tencent applies for dual counter trading on Hong Kong exchange
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 31 (Reuters) - Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) said on Friday the video game company has applied for a dual currency counter with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to allow investors to trade its shares in the yuan, in addition to the Hong Kong dollar. The stock exchange said in December it will introduce a new dual counter trading model from the first half of 2023. Other Hong Kong-listed companies such as insurer AIA Group Ltd (1299.HK) have also applied for a dual currency counter with the Hong Kong exchange. The launch of the dual currency counter is aimed at further advancing the internationalisation of the Chinese yuan, the Hong Kong bourse operator said earlier this month. Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's Magnis in deal with Tesla to supply graphite for electric vehicle batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australia's graphite developer Magnis Energy (MNS.AX) on Tuesday said it has signed a binding offtake deal with Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) to supply battery anode materials for a minimum three-year term beginning February 2025. The deal comes while automakers race to secure the supply of critical minerals as the world shifts to decarbonise and diversify global supply chains away from China, the world's biggest producer of electric vehicle batteries. Australia is beefing up its supply of critical minerals to the global auto industry, with BHP group (BHP.AX), Syrah Resources (SYR.AX), Liontown Resources(LTR.AX) and Piedmont Lithium having agreed to supply these minerals to Tesla. Magnis aims to secure a final location for its commercial AAM facility in the U.S. by June 30, and commence production by February 2025. Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's Whitehaven Coal posts 23% drop in output on flood woes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Australia's Whitehaven Coal Ltd (WHC.AX) on Wednesday reported a 23% plunge in first-quarter production as severe floods in New South Wales hit operations, including a week-long lock-out of its key Maules Creek mine. The company was also bullish on coal prices after it achieved a record average price of A$581 per tonne in the September quarter, up from A$189 per tonne a year earlier. "Looking locally, a number of weather events impacted coal producers during the September quarter, which together with the forecasted La Niña weather patterns, has further bolstered support for strong coal prices out of East Coast Australia," Whitehaven said. "We continue to view thermal coal prices as well supported throughout FY23 and beyond." The company's managed run-of-mine coal production was 4 Mt for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with 5.2 Mt a year ago and brokerage Barrenjoey's estimate of 5 Mt.

☆ Whitehaven Coal output slumps 23% as floods sweep New South Wales
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Upasana Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Severe wet weather including floods in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, disrupted mining operations as the country suffered for a third straight year from the La Nina induced adverse weather. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterManaged run-of-mine coal production was 4 Mt for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with 5.2 Mt a year ago and brokerage Barrenjoey's estimate of 5 Mt. Whitehaven said its annual output at Maules Creek was on track to be at the lower end of its 11.7 million tonnes to 12.6 million tonnes (Mt) forecast. Its shares fell as much as 7.1% to A$9.67, underperforming the broader market (.AXJO), which rose 0.4%. "Looking locally, a number of weather events impacted coal producers during the September quarter, which together with the forecasted La Niña weather patterns, has further bolstered support for strong coal prices out of East Coast Australia," Whitehaven said.

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