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TPG Telecom to buy iiNet for $1.4b
![TPG Telecom to buy iiNet for $1.4b](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/12/Photos/d31d86d0-c903-11e4-9c8f-2b7862430a4a_853242287--180x120.jpg)
Updated | The competition watchdog has flagged a public inquiry into the proposed takeover of iiNet by TPG Telecom, a move that would create Australia’s second-biggest fixed-line telecommunications company after Telstra.
Higher bank capital inevitable, says ANZ's Mike Smith
![Higher bank capital inevitable, says ANZ's Mike Smith](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/12/Photos/5f4a1908-c8e0-11e4-9c8f-2b7862430a4a_878865146--90x60.jpg)
Australian banks will not be able to avoid building higher levels of equity to increase the resilience of the global financial system, ANZ chief executive Mike Smith has declared.
NAB’s UK arm under fresh fire over ‘tailored business loans’
![NAB’s UK arm under fresh fire over ‘tailored business loans’](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/12/Photos/993b08d8-c913-11e4-9c8f-2b7862430a4a_2014-10-09T031717Z_43384663--318x212-30675--90x60.jpg)
National Australia Bank's United Kingdom arm, Scottish-based Clydesdale Bank, faces fresh criticism over the mis-selling of complex interest rate hedging products.
ASOS gets its mojo back in Australia
ASOS's decision to cut prices in Australia to reverse declining sales has paid off, but overseas retailers hoping to maintain their share of the local e-commerce market will have to make tough decisions on pricing.
NBN Co upgrade plans to send download speed rocketing
NBN Co has announced plans to upgrade Telstra and Singtel-Optus' cable TV networks with technology that could boost their internet download speeds to 10 gigabits per second for an unknown cost.
Marais remembered for 'brutal honesty' and spirit
Sydney’s investing community gathered to pay tribute to the “contrarian wisdom” of activist fund manager Simon Marais at a memorial service in Angel Place in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday.
Even money can’t buy gender equality at Goldman Sachs
![Even money can’t buy gender equality at Goldman Sachs](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/12/Photos/c44179dc-c8a4-11e4-9e34-da820745e634_syd-6jl9ev8tp3o2q8kaol9--90x60.jpg)
Even when their bonuses are linked to employing more women, Goldman Sachs' investment bankers resist promoting women.
Henderson says using super for first homes a good thing
Australians dipping into their superannuation early to buy their first homes is not a bad thing as it will fuel interest in finance and retirement savings, says fund manager Henderson Group.
Prydes buys collapsed Betta Foods, 174 face redundancy
More than 170 people will lose their jobs and taxpayers are set to foot the bill for the collapse of sweets manufacturer Betta Foods.
Carsales.com takes $10m equity stake in P2P lender
![Carsales.com takes $10m equity stake in P2P lender](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/12/Photos/cd1aaace-c88b-11e4-bb6b-473c4228c1e5_67286580_90x60.jpg)
Online classifieds giant Carsales.com and its majority-owned Stratton Finance are taking a $10 million equity stake in peer-to-peer RateSetter, in an effort to expand the "disruptive" form of lending to car buyers.
Whitehaven secures a strong haul from lenders
![Whitehaven secures a strong haul from lenders](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/AFR/Blogs/Opinion_Street Talk/201503/Images/street_talk_small (2).jpg)
Deutsche Bank says Whitehaven’s effective interest rate on its debt will drop to under 5 per cent from 6 per cent, after the coal producer announced a $1.4 billion refinancing.
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Banking pillars stoutly backing coal
![Matthew Stevens Matthew Stevens](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/matthew_stevens_small.jpg)
Whitehaven Coal's game-changing $1.4 billion refinancing announces that coal remains an investment class of choice for banking pillars.
Oil Search's challenge not just oil and gas
![Jennifer Hewett Jennifer Hewett](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/jennifer_hewett_small.jpg)
Oil Search chief executive Peter Botten has had plenty of challenges as well as remarkable successes over decades developing oil and gas in PNG.
KBL pays a high price to end a Kinghorn siege
![Matthew Stevens Matthew Stevens](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/matthew_stevens_small.jpg)
Evidently, it costs a whole lot of money to just make Jeff Kinghorn go away.
Tech bubble ‘worse’ than dotcom crash, Cuban says
![Tech bubble ‘worse’ than dotcom crash, Cuban says](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/06/Photos/d3d5d5ce-c3b2-11e4-961f-a42318a85cfa_TV--Sharknado_NYET110-151--90x60.jpg)
The entrepreneur who got rich selling his internet radio startup for $US5.7 billion to Yahoo! before the tech wreck, says there unlisted tech firms are overvalued.
Mark Palmquist's global GrainCorp ambitions
![Mark Palmquist's global GrainCorp ambitions](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/05/Photos/d688229a-c385-11e4-961f-a42318a85cfa_882515781--90x60.jpg)
When approached about taking the helm of Australia's largest listed agribusiness, GrainCorp, Mark Palmquist didn't want the job.
Moody’s sees Aldi as threat to Coles, Woolies
![Moody’s sees Aldi as threat to Coles, Woolies](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/05/Photos/2dae791c-c385-11e4-961f-a42318a85cfa_aldi--90x60.jpg)
Aldi's growing presence is a long-term threat to Woolworths and Coles and could lead to lower profit margins, Moody's says.
Woolworths hard sell as it plots new strategy
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Woolworths chief executive Grant O’Brien has been doing the rounds this week, meeting Australian investors to explain his decision to sacrifice profit for future growth.
Qantas and Virgin dance with the devil
![Qantas and Virgin dance with the devil](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/09/Photos/5ffc1d5c-c63c-11e4-847f-e6492b251e5c_syd-6jjq4mqfl3k1n9289ol9--90x60.jpg)
Rear Window | Relations between airlines and media companies have always been fascinating. Virgin and Fairfax are new BFFs.
Reform remains elusive for troubled sector
![Adele Ferguson Adele Ferguson](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/adele_ferguson_small.jpg)
Disgraced liquidator Stuart Ariff will be released on parole on March 25 after serving four years in jail on 19 counts of criminal fraud.
Sunsuper partners with passive fund manager
![Sally Patten Sally Patten](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/sally_patten_small.jpg)
Alliance with one of the world’s biggest passive fund managers will put chill down spine of (highly paid) active management community.
Resources Daily
Rinehart blames government for mining woes
![Rinehart blames government for mining woes](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/11/Photos/765b487c-c833-11e4-9e34-da820745e634_206440268--U701525201166N1-45x54_7_0_1573595092--90x60.jpg)
Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart has attacked federal and state governments for inflicting high costs on local miners, which are battling plunging iron ore prices as global supply swells.
Timor-Leste fears floating LNG 'sitting ducks' for terrorists
Timor-Leste resources minister Alfredo Pires has described floating LNG vessels as "sitting ducks" for terrorists as he outlined opposition to Woodside's preferred plan for the Sunrise gas field.
Companies
ASOS gets its mojo back in Australia
ASOS's decision to cut prices in Australia to reverse declining sales has paid off, but overseas retailers hoping to maintain their share of the local e-commerce market will have to make tough decisions on pricing.
TPG Telecom to buy iiNet for $1.4b
Updated | The competition watchdog has flagged a public inquiry into the proposed takeover of iiNet by TPG Telecom, a move that would create Australia’s second-biggest fixed-line telecommunications company after Telstra.
Financial Services
NAB’s UK arm under fresh fire over ‘tailored business loans’
![NAB’s UK arm under fresh fire over ‘tailored business loans’](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/12/Photos/993b08d8-c913-11e4-9c8f-2b7862430a4a_2014-10-09T031717Z_43384663--318x212-30675--90x60.jpg)
National Australia Bank's United Kingdom arm, Scottish-based Clydesdale Bank, faces fresh criticism over the mis-selling of complex interest rate hedging products.
BNP’s founding father off board but keeping office
Michel Pebereau, the man known as the godfather of French finance, who defined the country’s banking sector over three decades, is stepping down as a director of BNP Paribas.
Marketing & Media
Discovery lobs new, lower offer for Ten Network
![Discovery lobs new, lower offer for Ten Network](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/03/08/Photos/9b69d76a-c5bc-11e4-847f-e6492b251e5c_syd-4y48ba11okk13g9szodm-178--90x60.jpg)
Discovery Communications and Foxtel have lodged a revised offer for the embattled broadcaster Ten Network Holdings that is believed to be lower than their original 23 cents per share offer.
Crucifixion claim 'ridiculous': SMH editor
Joe Hockey's barrister has accused the Sydney Morning Herald's editor Darren Goodsir of wanting to crucify the Treasurer, after making a comparison to Jesus Christ.
Enterprise
Uber v über: a lesson in customer service
A tiny company called über is over picking up the phone for stellar start-up, the ride-sharing service Uber.
Rise of the refugee entrepreneur
![Rise of the refugee entrepreneur](/web/20150313014200im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/12/08/Photos/5104ee94-7ea9-11e4-97eb-0e74b5af9cf7_unnamed--90x60.jpg)
Some of our newest arrivals are realising their business dreams after fleeing oppression.