Tag: CFO

journalism

Cut costs, not staff

There are ways to improve revenue performance, if only CFOs had time to look for them. CFO. 01 May 2006 For the first time since 1987, companies are starting to see annual productivity gains slow. Dr Frank Gelber, chief economist at BIS Shrapnel, said last year that Australian companies have cut back the fat to the point that there were no more efficiency gains to be had. He said this means companies face cost increases and either rising prices or […]

journalism

Hybrid markets: Raising the capital bar

After Orica’s success, it seems like hybrid capital raisings are driving the whole M&A market this year. CFO. 01 May 2006 The Australian stockmarket is at an all-time high. The mergers and acquisitions business is booming, and the boom is bringing a wave of new capital-raising to the market. But if 2006 is to be known for anything, it will be the year of the hybrid step-up preference security (SPS). The twist that has caught the market’s interest is that […]

journalism

FX clients turn

Foreign-exchange providers are giving the big banks a run for their money in the quest to help smaller businesses manage their offshore currency risks. CFO 1 April 2006

journalism

CFO: Don’t bank on it

From CFO Take time to review your financing arrangements but be prepared to pay for peace of mind. With interest rate hikes on the horizon, together with economic uncertainty, companies should review their property finance. Keith Rodwell, the managing director of GE Commercial Finance, says: “I think that one of the things that you’ve seen recently is a number of the banks talking about preparing for rising interest rates, preparing for potential tougher economic times, and I think that it […]