The stapled securities of Asciano Group (AIO) have been placed in a trading halt, after the company's shares fell by almost 60% this morning. Asciano last traded at 69c, down $1.03 or 59.9%. AIO securities have been place in a trading halt at the company’s request pending its response to an Australian Securities Exchange price query.
Coffey International Limited (COF) said its subsidiary Coffey International Development had, in the last month, been awarded more than US$140 million ($208.6 million) of aid contracts in Iraq, Sudan and Peru by the Millennium Challenge Corporation and US Government. The company said the substantial pipeline of committed work was on top of Coffey’s strong first quarter financial performance, in which revenue reached almost $191 million on improved margins. These contracts brought the total value of Coffey International Development’s current work to over $1.4 billion on 170 contracts in more than 80 countries.
Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SGT) said the group’s combined mobile customer base reached 216.7 million as at 30 September 2008. Year-on-year, its aggregate mobile customer base in the eight markets - Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – rose 37%. Compared to a quarter ago, the growth was 9.6%. The proportionate mobile customer base reached 77.14 million, an increase of 36% from a year ago or 9% from a quarter ago. Optus’ mobile customer base rose to 7.42 million as at 30 September 2008, a 7.6% increase compared to a year ago. During the quarter, it continued to build scale, attracting 182,000 new customers including a record 128,000 postpaid net adds.
Wattyl Limited (WYL) said Urs Meyerhans had resigned as finance director to take up another business opportunity. The company said a search had begun for a successor to ensure an orderly transition. Wattyl said Mr Meyerhans would continue in his current role until a chief financial officer had been appointed.
Babcock & Brown (BNB) confirmed, in response to a number of queries, that the interest payment on the Babcock & Brown subordinated notes (BBSN) would be paid on 17 November 17 as detailed to the market in a release on 15 May 2008. The company said the interest rate for the next six-month period would be released to the market on 17 November 2008.
