PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN STOCKS NEWS: A consortium led by funds manager Barings is reportedly negotiating to acquire Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport from Goodman Group (GMG AT) for more than AUD 1.5bln
ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ AT) - Co. is reportedly moving to buy out Worldline’s stake in their AUD 925mln payments joint venture after a year-long review found the partnership unworkable. (AFR)
Australian Rare Earths (ARR AT) - Co. was selected to provide feedstock for a US Department of Energy minerals-to-materials supply chain research facility consortium. (Newswires)
BHP Group (BHP AT) - Private equity is reportedly orchestrating a bid for the Co.’s suspended Nickel West operations, led by a high-profile mining figure widely speculated to include Fortescue’s billionaire founder. (AFR)
Fonterra Co-operative Group (FCG NZ) - Co. said CEO Miles Hurrell has resigned and will remain during a six-month notice period while the Co. conducts a process to appoint a new CEO. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Goodman Group (GMG AT) - A consortium led by funds manager Barings is reportedly negotiating to acquire Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport from the Co. for more than AUD 1.5bln. (AFR)
Guzman y Gomez (GYG AT) - Co-CEO Hilton Brett requires a kidney transplant later this year and will continue in his role while undergoing treatment, while founder and Co-CEO Steven Marks will continue leading the Co. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Lynas Rare Earths (LYC AT) - Co. signed a binding letter of intent with the US Defense Department for rare earths supply, with the US government allocating USD 96mln for offtake including a floor price of USD 110/kg for NdPr oxide over a four-year supply period. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Macquarie Group (MQG AT) - Co. is reportedly backing logistics property managers linked to its former warehouse platform sale as it seeks to re-enter the warehouse investment sector. (AFR)
Myer Holdings (MYR AT) - The Co.’s Melbourne CBD building is reportedly set to be sold for around AUD 450mln to a private buyer. (AFR)
Peet (PPC AT) - A mystery non-property buyer is reportedly emerging as the leading bidder in the AUD 865mln takeover battle for the Co. after Stockland exited the process. (AFR)
Perpetual (PPT AT) - Co. agreed to sell an Australian wealth-management business to Bain Capital for more than USD 349mln. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Perseus Mining (PRU AT) - Co. agreed to sell a 70% interest in the Meyas Sand Project in Sudan to a Matrix Resources (Zhejiang) unit for USD 260mln, comprising a USD 10mln deposit and USD 250mln payable on completion expected April 22, with proceeds to strengthen the balance sheet and potentially fund shareholder returns. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
South32 (S32 AT) - Co. placed the Mozal Aluminium smelter on care and maintenance from March 15 after failing to secure sufficient affordable power supply, with one-off costs of about USD 60mln and ongoing costs of about USD 5mln per year, while alumina from the Worsley refinery previously supplied to Mozal will be sold to third-party customers at index-linked prices. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Telix Pharmaceuticals (TLX AT) - Co. resubmitted a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for TLX101-Px, an investigational PET imaging agent for the characterisation of recurrent or progressive glioma. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Other News
Australian Treasurer Chalmers said Australian households are likely to face increased cost-of-living pressures, with inflation set to rise above 4.5% amid rising oil prices. (Newswires)
The reported negotiations for Barings to acquire Moorabbin Airport from Goodman Group for over AUD 1.5 billion indicate a strategic move as private interest in infrastructure assets remains robust in Australia. This acquisition could signal further consolidation in the sector and impact related equities, particularly Goodman Group's share price if the deal proceeds, as it may free up capital for their core operations and investments.