Want to curb teen drinking? Talk to the retailers, writes Glenn Dyer.
Coles
Tips and rumours
Lotus Notes vs. Microsoft. Re. “Tips and rumours” (Friday, item 8). ”FAHCSIA is in the middle of a transition from a prehistoric Lotus Notes platform to MS Office, which is not going anywhere near as smoothly or as cheaply as expected.” Yet again another Commonwealth Department has been wooed from an established, industrial strength and modern […]
Coles makes profit, not many killed
Just when it seemed like the fiasco at the Coles Group had drawn to a close, the AFR revealed today that the merged retailer just “produced its best first quarter profit figure in five years,” writes Adam Schwab.
Some (gratuitous) advice for Wesfarmers
In spite of some recent nervousness about the shareholder vote, the deal is done, and Wesfarmers will get the Coles’ door keys and the safe combinations on 23 November, writes Rob Lake.
Coles: The $20 billion red light special
Grant Samuel’s full 187-page Independent Expert’s Report on Coles Group was finally released on Monday. The Report notes that while Wesfarmers’ offer “does not deliver a full premium for control” shareholders are better off voting in favour of the deal.
The retail approach to choosing a government
We have observed in many market research studies over the years that Australians in general, are expert shoppers. They have an eye for the general and for the particular. Politics is nowhere near as important to the average punter as is shopping. Yet the same shrewd instincts, the same critical eye apply, write Irving Saulwick and Denis Muller.
Buying a broken business from Coles is not the path to disaster
Contrary to what some analysts are writing, buying a broken business from Coles is not the path to disaster, writes Rob Lake.
Coles quietly slips away
The penultimate chapter in the sad recent history of Coles was played out this morning. Coles announced their last financial results as an independent retailer. A quiet little affair was arranged for the event. CEO John Fletcher, COO Mick McMahon and Chair Rick Allert delivered their final results to a phone hook up and Internet broadcast, electing not to eyeball pesky investors, writes Rob Lake.
Coles’ “independent expert”, paid for and chosen by Coles
The whole notion of an independent expert, paid for and chosen by the company being valued is a bizarre one. But that is exactly what Coles has done, writes Adam Schwab.
Tips and rumours
Readers may be interested to see that the Monash Alumini web page for Kevin Andrews has now been altered to refer to his having “contributed” rather than “coauthored” certain publications. To date there has been no change in the resume at the sites Kevin Andrews himself controls.
The Coles board are becoming embarrassed, defensive and quite […]
Once Wesfarmers get the keys to Coles, a new phase can commence
The events of yesterday, when the Coles board, faced with no real alternative, recommended acceptance of a slightly sweetened offer from Wesfarmers signals more than a dawn of the new Coles.
The AFL drug scandal: no public interest and no ethics
In the absence of any evidence to show there was a public interest in publishing the medical records of two AFL players, it appears that Channel Seven and its reporter Dylan Howard are in breach of both the television industry’s code of practice and the code of ethics of the journalism profession.
Tips and rumours
Watch this space. EasyCruise.com plans to expand in Australia and NZ Star Cruises also plan to expand operations during 2008/09 to give Australian travellers a choice of cruise lines.
Copping the bill. Well a certain foreign Navy training vessel skipped town (Cairns to be precise) with a load of fuel it hadn’t paid for. Their next […]
Wesfarmers adds sweetener to Coles deal, stirs
The anticipated sweetener was thrown into the Coles pot by Wesfarmers this morning, reports Rob Lake.
Morning Market Report
The highlights and lowlights of this morning’s sharemarket activity.
Minimum bid rule ain’t working for Coles shareholders
One of the principles underlying Australian takeover laws is that all shareholders of a target company are to be treated equally. To achieve this, section 621 of the Corporations Act provides that the price offered by a bidder must “equal or exceed” the price paid by the bidder in the past four months, Adam Schwab writes.
Coles should have sold when they had the chance
Having rejected the KKR $15.50 bid for Coles last October, Chairman Rick Allert finds himself with a huge problem. Retail commentator Rob Lake reports.
Wesfarmers is still Coles’ best option
There’s been speculation for weeks that the Wesfarmers-Coles deal might topple. I think the opposite is true, writes retails commentator Rob Lake.
Woolies rubs salt in Coles’ wound (for now)
To Coles, Woolworths has become taillights vanishing in the distance. However, retailing, and grocery retailing in particular is a highly labile sector. Not too many years ago, the positions of Coles and Woolworths were reversed, notes retail commentator Rob Lake.
Expect a less blokey Coles under Wesfarmers
Women can expect a stronger voice at the new Coles. And other things, writes retail commentator Rob Lake.
Just you wait: invigorated Coles to turn up the heat
The easy ride for some retailers is about to end. Every company operating in a sector in which Coles is a player will soon feel the heat of an invigorated Coles, writes Rob Lake.
Tips and rumours
The industry view on Coles and Wesfarmers is that the takeover will struggle as Bunnings operates with a totally different retail model. They buy on consignment, suppliers carry the stock cost and manage replenishment. Coles brands operate on totally different models, which Bunnings appear not to understand. At Myer, look out for a double digit […]
After Wesfarmers: The future at Coles
A decade ago, when Bunnings set about building their east coast hardware empire, they went back to first principles and therein lives a glimpse of how they might tackle Coles, writes retail commentator Rob Lake.
What Wesfamers did next
Right now it’s the “calm before the storm”, a Bunnings insider told Crikey today.
