In 2016, Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) raised the eyebrows of many investors when it expanded into the UK and Ireland hardware business. Two years later and $1.7 billion down on its investment, WES has decided to pull out. It shows yet again why growth through acquisition can be a risky strategy. Show More
Growth vs value is a well-documented discussion in stock investing. It describes two fundamental approaches or styles to investing where in a basic sense, the growth approach seeks to invest in companies that exhibit strong growth characteristics (whether this be in the sales, earnings and/or cash flow of a company),... Show More
Boral shares (ASX:BLD) rose again last month as investors continue to focus on the fundamentals of the US-based Headwaters acquisition. Show More
Caltex (ASX:CTX) shares added value in May as investors began to revisit this name. Show More
Australia's premier fruit and vegetable grower, Costa Group (ASX:CGC), announced its acquisition, in conjunction with Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management, of Queensland-based Avocado Ridge orchard and packing operations. Under the agreement, Macquarie will purchase the farms and enter into a 20-year lease with CGC to operate them. The avocado category is... Show More
Oil and gas company Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) announced today it would look to acquire InterOil Corp for US$2.2 billion. Both companies currently have extensive oil and gas acreage in Papua New Guinea, with the acquisition resulting in the creation of a “major independent PNG oil and gas champion”.... Show More
On Thursday, Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) announced an offer to acquire United Kingdom DIY retail chain Homebase from Home Retail Group for £340 million (A$700 million). The company plans to rebrand the Homebase chain of 265 stores across Britain and Ireland as Bunnings. Wesfarmers said the British home improvement and gardening... Show More
Leisure business Skydive the Beach (ASX: SKB), which debuted on the Australian stock market this year, has come to an agreement to buy New Zealand's Skydive Queenstown operation for $15.5 million. Skydive Queenstown is New Zealand’s leading tandem skydiving company, holding approximately 33% of New Zealand's skydive market share. Skydive... Show More
Australia’s largest marine tourism and transport company Sealink Travel Group Ltd (ASX: SLK) has announced it will acquire Transit Systems Marine (TSM) for $125 million. This follows a $50 million capital raise which was used to fund the acquisition. SeaLink Chief Executive Jeff Ellison said the company, which had a... Show More
In a somewhat under the radar move, Google (GOOGL) purchased digital music service Songza for $39 million. Of course, $39 million is just pocket change for Google, which has something like $57 billion in cash on hand. Still, the move is significant as it comes after Apple's $3 billion purchase... Show More
With M&A activity hitting a seven-year high in 2014, we're officially in the midst of a merger boom. New research from Goldman Sachs Group Inc.GS -0.38% shows the acquisition frenzy is being fueled more by the rallying stock market than by the piles of cash sitting in corporate coffers. So... Show More
Is there going to be a surge in tech mergers in 2014? Tech giants like Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), and Google (GOOG) regularly snap up small companies to add to their tech portfolio. However, Google set the bar higher with a major acquisition this week, spending $3.2 billion on Nest... Show More