PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCK NEWS: Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) began shipment of 12-layer HBM4E samples to major global customers

AUSTRALIA

BHP Group (BHP AT) - Co.’s landmark Pilbara pay offer received a mixed union response. (AFR)

Bubs Australia (BUB AT) - Co. expects FY26 revenue of AUD 105mln-AUD 115mln, reported EBITDA in a AUD 2mln loss to AUD 2mln profit range, underlying EBITDA of AUD 4mln-AUD 8mln, is on track to achieve ranging in more than 10,000 US stores in July and said FY26 sales and earnings will be affected by external factors including the Middle East crisis. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Insurance Australia Group (IAG AT) - Co. settled proceedings brought by Greensill and its insolvency administrator, said the settlement will not have a material impact on its financial position or FY26 results, noted the terms are confidential, and added proceedings by Credit Suisse and White Oak against IAL remain ongoing and continue to be defended. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Iren (IREN AT) - Co. borrowed about USD 3.6bln to provide computing capacity to Microsoft, including about USD 2.1bln of bonds in a private placement and USD 1.5bln of project finance loans to help fund Nvidia GPU purchases for a Texas data centre. (Bloomberg)

Tourism Holdings (THL AT) - Trouchet brothers and BGH lobbed a higher bid for the Co. (The Australian)

Webjet (WEB AT) - Co. appointed Layton Shannos as Acting CEO effective June 1 and said the search for a permanent CEO is progressing. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

JAPAN

Hitachi (6501 JT) - Co. plans to install AI that automatically fixes production line malfunctions by rewriting code at its plants next fiscal year. (Nikkei)

Nikon (7731 JT) - Co. is focusing on a comeback in semiconductor photolithography equipment by offering lower prices than ASML. (Nikkei)

Nomura Holdings (8604 JT) - Co. raised its FY2030/31 profit target by 50% to at least JPY 750bln in income before income taxes (prev. at least JPY 500bln) and now targets ROE of 10%-12% or more (prev. 8%-10% or greater). (Newswires)

Toyota Motor (7203 JT) - Co. will halt development of a next-generation Lexus EV model and focus on SUVs and other vehicles amid a global slump in EV sales. (Nikkei)

Energy - Nine Japanese power companies raised rates from the previous month, while four major city gas companies also raised rates. (Newswires)

SOUTH KOREA

HMM (011200 KS) - Co. completed plans to repair one of its vessels that was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. (Yonhap)

Korea Electric Power Corp. (015760 KS) - Co. completed construction of a power plant in Guam. (Yonhap)

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. began shipment of 12-layer HBM4E samples to major global customers. (Newswires)