Caltex Australia Ltd said Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc has raised its buyout offer to A$8.80 billion ($5.93 billion), in a final attempt to sway the oil refiner and convenience store firm after interest from Britain's EG Group.
Blackmores Ltd scrapped its dividend on Wednesday and said it expects this year's profit to more than halve as the coronavirus hits its supply chain, sending the Australian vitamin maker's shares down by the most in nearly a year.
* No provision made for lower sales outside China (Recasts and updates throughout with shares, analyst comment, coronavirus context)
Australia's Boral Ltd said on Monday delays to building projects due to bushfires will likely cause a plunge in its second-half results, while revealing an investigation had found inflated earnings at its North American window-making business.
* Closure of Macau casinos and slide in tourism hitting industry
The new coronavirus epidemic has claimed its first big M&A deal, with Macau casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd pulling the plug on a stake purchase in Australia's Crown Resorts Ltd , citing a plunge in traveler numbers and casino closures.
* Tourism, travel stocks rise after sharp falls earlier this week
* Mining, energy stocks hit hard as oil, commodity prices fall
Village Roadshow Ltd on Friday said it has received an unsolicited buyout offer from a private equity firm that valued the Australian movie theater and theme park operator at A$777 million ($531 million), about 2% more than a earlier rival bid.
SYDNEY/HONG KONG Australia's Westpac Banking Corp named a former Barclays boss as chairman on Thursday, entrusting veteran banker John McFarlane with the task of steering it through the country's biggest money-laundering scandal.
The number of reported new cases of coronavirus in China's Hubei province rose on Monday after two days of falls, as authorities imposed tough new restrictions on movement to prevent the spread of the disease which has now killed more than 1,700 people.