1 October we become SureStone CapitalSame team, same ABN. Our website and email addresses move to surestone.com.au.
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Metcash (ASX: MTS) saw a small rise in profit for the half year. Net profit came in at 142.2 million dollars boosted by put option and business acquisition value adjustments. Group revenue rose 0.1% to 8.5-billion dollars but total sales fell 1.1 percent. Tobacco sales were down nearly 41-percent. The interim dividend was 8.5 cents a share, fully franked. Metcash says total group sales for the first four weeks of the second half are down 1-percent.
AUB Group (ASX: AUB) has ended takeover talks... with EQT and CVC. That's after the consortium said it would not proceed with a binding bid of $45 a share, valuing the company at $5.2-billion dollars. AUB says the $45 a share appropriately values the insurance broker, and it will now focus on acquisition opportunities. The firm reaffirmed its underlying net profit guidance of $215-million dollars.
Treasury Wine (ASX: TWE) has flagged the impairment of its US assets. It says $687.4 million of US goodwill is expected to be written off. It says softer conditions in the US have lowered its long term earnings forecasts.
Data centre operator NEXT DC (ASX: NXT) says recent customer contact wins have seen its company pro forma contracted utilisation increase by 29 percent to 205 megawatts. It says its pro forma order book has risen by 53% over the past six months. The firm says its net capital expenditure has increased by $400-millon dollars to $2.2 to $2.4-billion.
APA Group (ASX: APA) has signed a joint development agreement with CS Energy to develop the proposed 400 megawatt Bigalow Power Plant in Queensland. APA will own an up to 80-percent stake in the gas fired plant, while CS Energy will operate the plant and retain 20-percent. The plant is expected to be operational in 2028.
A new company hitting the boards today ....Cochlear-backed Epiminder (ASX: EPI) debuts on the ASX afterhaving raised $125 million in its IPO - with shares valued at $1.50. The company has developed a sub-scalp monitoring device for epilepsy. Epilepsy is the fourth most prevalent neurological disorder – behind only migraines, strokes and Alzheimer’s disease. Epiminder's device aims to make detecting the disease easier -- leading to more effective management to control seizures. And we'll be speaking to Epiminder CEO Dr Rohan Hoare just after 3pm eastern daylight savings time.
SiteMinder (ASX: SDR) has appointed technology executive Samantha Lawson as a non executive director. Lawson is the former Optus vice president of artificial intelligence and digital.
