In a sign savvy investors are abandoning fossil fuels, the giant Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) conglomerate has sold out of coal and moved investments into materials used in lithium ion battery production. The company announced a $776 bid for lithium producer Kidman Resources (ASX: KDR) and its downstream operations. Wesfarmers offer is a massive 47 per…
Comment by Peter Roberts Well there is some justice in the world for small Australian manufacturers facing the might, and dubious business practises, of some major multi-national corporations. The Federal Court last week decided in favour of Bega Cheese (ASX: BGA) in its case against Mondelēz International over what can only be described as an…
Melbourne wound healing technology manufacturer PolyNovo (ASX: PNV) has capped off a string of recent successes with a deal that will see it enter the defence market in the United States. The company, which makes a range of NovoSorb skin regeneration products, has been given access to defence contracts in a deal with the Defence…
Forum member Dennis Rutzou delivers some sage advice on how manufacturers can tell their stories to the world Every business has a unique story to tell. Success, mediocrity, or even failure can depend upon it, and getting your message out should be a basic operating principal of any business. But it is much more than…
Sleep technology manufacturer, ResMed (ASX: RMD) has posted third quarter revenue to the end of March up 15 per cent on a constant currency basis to $662 million. Expanding device sales and the inclusion of revenue from the recently-purchases SaaS businesses helped boost margins by one per cent, and net profit by 15 per cent.…
Comment by Peter Roberts Tony Abbott, the prime minister that oversaw the death blow to Australia’s car industry, went on a bizarre rant over the industry at an electorate debate on Thursday. Abbott made ridiculous claims that a move to electric vehicles (EVs) would mean “no Hiluxs … no Taragos, no SUVS, no utes”. Toyota…
The South Australian government has used its leverage to force Belgian metals group Nystrar to pay back its first instalment of a $291 million loan made to help rebuild the Port Pirie silver, lead and zinc smelter. Treasurer Rob Lucas used his power to approve or veto a takeover of Nystar to negotiate the making…
Canadian conglomerate BRP has purchased 80 pert cent of the shares in leading Australian aluminium leisure craft and trailer builder, Telwater Pty Ltd. BRP Marine, which owns the Evinrude, Alumacraft and Manitou brands, will increase its global reach by buying Australia’s number one builder of aluminum boats from owner, Paul Phelan. Phelan, Telwater’s managing director,…
Analysis by Peter Roberts A major trend is developing with big manufacturers by-passing distributors and retailers and dealing direct with gas producers to secure reasonably-priced, long-term access to the key industrial fuel. Queensland gas producer Senex Energy (ASX: SXY) signed an initial deal this week with packaging manufacturer, Orora (ASX: ORA). The two year agreement…
The OECD has found that 14 per cent of Australian jobs are at high risk of automation, but that a sharp decline in overall unemployment is unlikely. In its latest employment outlook for Australia, the organisation said many jobs would disappear, but others will emerge. Not only that, with automation ongoing, overall employment had been…
