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☆ Virgin Australia's IPO executive David Marr resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 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. Picture taken August 19, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - Bain Capital-owned Virgin Australia (IPO-VIR.AX) on Tuesday said its Chief Development Officer David Marr, who was assigned to lead the airline's plans for an eventual initial public offering (IPO), has stepped down from his role. "A significant amount of this work is now complete and while we are committed to an IPO as soon as practicable, the timing of an actual listing is dependent on capital markets conditions," the airline said in an emailed response to Reuters. Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, David Marr, Poonam, Janane Organizations: Virgin, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Bain Capital, Virgin Australia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Virgin Australia, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Aussie lender NAB to cut 222 back-office jobs, says trade union
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Poonam Behura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - National Australia Bank (NAB.AX) is planning to cut 222 back-office jobs, the Finance Sector Union (FSU) said in an emailed response to Reuters. FSU, a white-collar trade union, said NAB’s restructuring will impact its departments such as Personal Direct Lending, Technology and Operations, Corporate Finance and Client Coverage. "This means certain roles may no longer be required or need to be moved to support other teams." NAB reported a 5% jump in third-quarter cash earnings in August, including a decline in its margins due to higher home lending competition and deposit costs.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Julia Angrisano, Poonam, Shilpi Majumdar, Devika Organizations: National, REUTERS, National Australia Bank, Finance Sector Union, FSU, Reuters, Technology, Corporate Finance, NAB, Australian, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corp, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australian regulator sues PayPal unit over unfair term in small business contracts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The PayPal logo is seen at an office building in Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2019. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said it has started proceedings against PayPal Australia Pty Ltd in a case that highlights a contract term that gives PayPal business account holders 60 days to notify discrepancies in fees charged. The regulator views the term as unfair as it authorises PayPal to retain fees it has inaccurately charged. "We allege this term is unfair because it allows PayPal to escape the consequences of its own errors in overcharging small businesses, and places additional burdens on small businesses to detect and correct charging errors," ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said. As at June 30, there were about 608,275 business account contracts between PayPal and active users in the country.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Sarah Court, Roushni Nair, Poonam Behura, Shailesh Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, PayPal Australia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's TPG Telecom extends due diligence period for $4 bln fibre assets offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 6 (Reuters) - Australia's TPG Telecom Ltd (TPG.AX) has extended until Oct. 4 an exclusive due diligence period granted to rival Vocus Group for the A$6.3 billion ($4.02 billion) offer for its non-mobile fibre assets. Discussions between the parties are ongoing and incomplete and its board has not made any decision to accept any offer, TPG said on Wednesday. Reuters in August reported that TPG, one of the country's top telecom firms, had received a non-binding offer from Vocus to buy some of its non-mobile fibre assets. Vocus, formed by infrastructure investors Macquarie Infrastructure and Aware Super, specialises in wholesale fibre networks. It has offered to buy certain Enterprise, Government and Wholesale (EGW) assets and associated fixed infrastructure assets, including the wholesale broadband business, Vision Network.

Persons: Poonam, Devika Syamnath Organizations: Australia's TPG Telecom Ltd, Vocus Group, TPG, Reuters, Macquarie Infrastructure, Enterprise, Government, Wholesale, Vision, Thomson Locations: dealmaking, Bengaluru

A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) shares shot 11.5% higher after the lithium developer's board on Monday backed a refreshed A$6.6 billion ($4.26 billion) bid from Albemarle Corp (ALB.N), the world's biggest lithium producer. The news prompted Liontown shares to shoot up 11.5% to A$2.92, the highest since July 14. Liontown controls two major lithium deposits in Western Australia, including its flagship Kathleen Valley project slated for first production in mid-2024, which is among the world's largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits. Albemarle's latest offer for Liontown was its fourth, having also proposed A$2.20 per share on Oct. 20 last year and A$2.35 per share earlier in March before its rejected A$2.50 a share offer was made public.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Liontown, Albemarle, Kathleen, Greenhill, Scott Murdoch, Poonam, Jamie Freed, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Albemarle Corp, Australia, Ford Motor, LG, Co, UBS, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Australian, Chile, Western Australia, South, Albemarle, Sydney

☆ Lithium developer Liontown backs Albemarle's sweetened $4.3 billion offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australian lithium developer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) said on Monday its board had recommended an improved takeover proposal from the world's biggest lithium producer Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) valuing the company at A$6.6 billion ($4.26 billion). Liontown said its board intended to unanimously recommend shareholders vote in favour of the new takeover proposal, adding that an independent expert concluded that it was in the best interests of shareholders. Albemarle's latest offer for Liontown was its fourth, having also proposed A$2.20 per share on Oct. 20 last year and A$2.35 per share earlier in March before its rejected A$2.50 a share offer was made public. Liontown said Greenhill & Co and UBS would act as financial advisers and Allens as its legal adviser in relation to the revised proposal.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Liontown, Kathleen, Greenhill, Poonam Behura, Kim Coghill, Christian Schmollinger, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Liontown Resources, Albemarle Corp, Co, UBS, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Australian, Western Australia

☆ Australia regulator sues Qantas alleging sale of tickets on cancelled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Qantas Airways Ltd FollowSYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator sued Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) on Thursday, accusing it of selling tickets to thousands of flights after they were cancelled, putting the airline at risk of huge fines and reputational turbulence. The airline kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control, such as "network optimisation", the ACCC added. Qantas kept selling tickets to one Sydney-to-San Francisco flight 40 days after it had been cancelled, the regulator said. At the Senate hearing, Joyce confirmed Qantas had written to the federal government in 2022 asking it to deny a request from Qatar Airways, a Qantas competitor on international routes, to increase flights to Australia.

Persons: Phil Noble, Rico Merkert, Alan Joyce, Joyce, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Byron Kaye, Poonam, Shailesh Kuber, Rashmi Aich, Gerry Doyle, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Qantas, Melbourne International Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, SYDNEY, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Sydney University's Institute of Transport, Logistics Studies, Australia, Senate, Qatar Airways, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ Aussie regulator takes Qantas to court for selling cancelled flights' tickets
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australian competition regulator has taken Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) to court, alleging the flagship carrier in mid-2022 kept selling tickets for more than 8,000 cancelled flights for an average of over two weeks after the flights were called off. "We have commenced these proceedings alleging that Qantas continued selling tickets for thousands of cancelled flights, likely affecting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. "However, this case does not involve any alleged breach in relation to the actual cancellation of flights, but rather relates to Qantas' conduct after it had cancelled the flights." ACCC said it would pursue orders including penalties, injunctions, declarations, and costs against the airline for its conduct after flight cancellations. Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Poonam, Shailesh Kuber Organizations: Qantas Airways, Qantas, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Airlines, ACCC, Qantas Group, Jetstar, Thomson Locations: Australian, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Appen slumps to over 7-year low on weak half-yearly results
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 28 (Reuters) - Shares of Australian artificial intelligence training provider Appen Ltd (APX.AX) on Monday hit their lowest level in more than seven years after reporting a significantly wider half-yearly loss on weak demand. The shares tanked as much as 28%, logging its sharpest losses since May 10. They pared some of the early losses and was down 27.2% at A$1.630 as of 0216 GMT. It also projected its annualised operating cost base on a run-rate basis to be lower than $113 million for fiscal 2023. Reporting by Navya Mittal and Poonam Behura; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Navya Mittal, Poonam, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Appen, Thomson

☆ Aussie lender NAB to cut 10% jobs in markets division, Australian Financial Review reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 28 (Reuters) - National Australia Bank (NAB.AX) is preparing to cut around 60 jobs of the 600-staff at its markets division and undertake a broad restructuring exercise across its seven business, the Australian Financial Review said on early on Monday citing sources. The country's second-biggest bank would begin the layoffs as early as this week but is yet to announce the changes internally, AFR said. Layoffs at NAB would include capital markets types working within its corporate and institutional banking unit, where its markets business sits with a team of about 600. Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, AFR, Poonam, Alison Williams Organizations: National, REUTERS, National Australia Bank, Australian Financial, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corp, NAB, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Pexa set for biggest weekly loss in 11 months on annual profit miss
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Poonam Behura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Shares of Australia's Pexa Group (PXA.AX) on Friday were poised for their biggest weekly decline since last September after the online property company posted a lower-than-expected annual profit. The company's net profit after tax attributable for the year ended June 30 came in at A$17.6 million ($11.29 million), below UBS estimate of A$43.3 million. The group posted a net loss from ordinary activities after tax attributable of A$21.8 million, as opposed to a profit of A$21.9 million in the year-ago period. "FY23 was a highly challenging year for property markets," Group Managing Director and CEO Glenn King said. The group's annual business revenue was A$283.4 million for 2023 fiscal, compared with A$279.8 million a year ago.

Persons: Glenn King, Poonam Behura, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: UBS, Thomson

☆ Australia's Telstra shelves InfraCo stake sale plan, shares down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Poonam Behura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The country's largest telecoms firm decided against selling a stake in InfraCo Fixed, saying the unit "plays an important role" in achieving its long-term goals. InfraCo Fixed posted a 4.1% rise in annual income to A$2.56 billion ($1.64 billion), contributing 11% to Telstra's total income of A$23.25 billion. Telstra is targeting net cost reductions of A$500 million and mid-single digit underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) growth through to FY25. It expects underlying EBITDA between A$8.2 billion and A$8.4 billion for fiscal 2024, higher than A$7.86 billion in the previous year. We remain absolutely committed to delivering our FY25 underlying EBITDA and EPS growth ambitions," Brady said.

Persons: David Gray, Henry Jennings, Vicki Brady, Brady, Poonam Behura, Anil D'Silva, Subhranshu Organizations: Telstra, REUTERS, Australia's Telstra, InfraCo, Marcustoday, TPG Telecom, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Medibank faces fourth class-action lawsuit over cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 29 (Reuters) - Australia's Medibank Private Ltd (MPL.AX) said on Thursday it was facing a fourth shareholder class-action lawsuit over a cyberattack incident last year that exposed the personal data of 9.7 million current and former customers. Earlier in the week, the country's banking regulator told Medibank to set aside A$250 million ($165.30 million) in extra capital, something analysts believe will affect the firm's ability to pay capital returns to shareholders. The proceedings were filed by Sydney-based law firm Phi Finney McDonald on behalf of people who held interest in Medibank shares between Sept. 10, 2020 and Oct. 25, 2022. The company intends to defend the proceedings, it said in a statement. ($1 = 1.5124 Australian dollars)Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Medibank, Phi Finney McDonald, Poonam, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Sydney, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Hong Kong makes new rules for specialist tech firm listings, cuts rev threshold
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 24 (Reuters) - The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) said on Friday it had framed new listing rules for specialist technology companies, adopting a lower revenue threshold for these firms set out in earlier proposals. The bourse operator, a unit of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (0388.HK), said it would welcome applications operating in frontier industries, including new energy, robotics, semiconductors, quantum computing, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and new food and agriculture technologies. A commercialised company should have no less than HK$6 billion ($764.38 million) in market capitalisation, according to the rules, lower than HK$8 billion stipulated in a consultation last October. These rules are designed to retain the attractiveness of Hong Kong's capital markets amid continued geopolitical tensions. ($1 = 7.8495 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bangalore and Selena Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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