Technology & Telecommunications
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A beautiful trade… on your dime
Scott Shuttleworth
October 15, 2014
One of the requirements for the Coalition’s Multi-Technology Mix National Broadband Network (the NBN) is the takeover of Telstra Corporation Ltd’s (ASX: TLS) copper network. The Government and Telstra are currently in contract negotiations, but the telco has already provided (in principal) agreement for a deal with a present value of approximately $11 billion. continue…
by Scott Shuttleworth Posted in Insightful Insights, Takeovers, Technology & Telecommunications.
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Updates on TPM & the National Broadband Network
Scott Shuttleworth
September 25, 2014
Yesterday we attended TPG Telecom Limited’s (ASX: TPM) FY14 full-year results presentation. I’ve compiled some short notes on their results below, as well as some more comprehensive thoughts on the expansion of their fiber-to-the-basement (FTTB) network. continue…
by Scott Shuttleworth Posted in Insightful Insights, Technology & Telecommunications.
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More questions than answers…
Scott Shuttleworth
September 11, 2014
Continuing on our NBN theme, the ACCC today announced their findings on the first of several reviews on TPG Limited (ASX: TPM). They were investigating a complaint that TPG – via its plans to deliver fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) infrastructure – would be in breach of the ‘NBN level playing field’ provisions in the Telecommunications Act. These provisions are intended to give a monopoly-like status to NBN Co. continue…
by Scott Shuttleworth Posted in Insightful Insights, Technology & Telecommunications.
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Looking at: Vocus Communications
David Buckland
September 3, 2014
I was reading the Independent Report on the merits of the proposed acquisition of FX Networks by Vocus Communications Ltd (ASX: VOC), and thought I would provide the following points made by KPMG, that haven’t previously been articulated in past posts. continue…
by David Buckland Posted in Companies, Technology & Telecommunications, Value.able.
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Show me the money
Tim Kelley
August 28, 2014
Michael Lewis’ 2003 book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, describes the approach taken by the Oakland Athletics baseball team in the early 2000s. Essentially, the approach involved determining which performance measures contributed the most to the outcome of a baseball game, and recruiting players that rated highly against those measures. continue…
by Tim Kelley Posted in Insightful Insights, Technology & Telecommunications, Value.able.
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An update on: AGI
Roger Montgomery
August 27, 2014
A number of investors have posted requests for us to look at Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd (ASX: AGI) following the sell-off in the market price yesterday. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Insightful Insights, Technology & Telecommunications.
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The internet of (almost) everything
Scott Shuttleworth
August 4, 2014
Last week, I came across an interesting article on Yahoo! Finance that presents examples of where Warren Buffett has done well – and not so well – in the retail sector. It attributes Buffett’s Achilles’ heel to the way that “the Internet is rapidly reshaping shopping habits and affecting Berkshire-owned retailers in ways they didn’t expect”. continue…
by Scott Shuttleworth Posted in Consumer discretionary, Technology & Telecommunications.
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Real estate chess: Buckle up!
Roger Montgomery
July 29, 2014
This is intriguing on so many levels. Game theory is being played out live over at REA Group’s realestate.com.au, and we are glued to our screens. Can a business with possession of several competitive advantages, including monopoly power, network effect and the most valuable competitive advantage – the ability to raise prices without a detrimental impact on unit sales volumes – lose its competitive advantage? continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Property, Technology & Telecommunications.
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Amcom: Wins Contract with The University of Melbourne
Ben MacNevin
July 28, 2014
Amcom Telecommunications (ASX: AMM) has secured a contract with The University of Melbourne to provide its Unified Communication solutions to around 13,000 users. While the number of users is impressive, we believe that the deal will contribute modestly to earnings.
Unified Communications has the potential to be a key growth driver for Amcom as it provides a number of revenue streams such as handset sales, licensing fees and rental of data networks.
However, we understand that the University of Melbourne already has the devices that are compatible with Amcom’s unified solutions platform. What’s more, the University of Melbourne does not require a data network, as it is a member of AARNet – a high-speed fibre network that connects 38 Australian universities and the Australian CSIRO.
This means that Amcom is only receiving a fraction of the revenue it would otherwise receive from a new client.
The contract is certainly a step in the right direction for Amcom, as the more that Amcom can change professional behaviour towards unified communication, the more demand will ultimately flow to vendors over time. Amcom’s addressable market with AARNet is 200,000 users, so securing the first contract with The University of Melbourne will go some way in encouraging the other members to follow suit.
But if management is seeking to extract maximum value from its Unified Communications division, then it will need to acquire infrastructure in the eastern states. They certainly have the means to do so after raising $40 million of equity in June.
by Ben MacNevin Posted in Technology & Telecommunications.
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Aristocrat buys Video Gaming Technologies
Russell Muldoon
July 16, 2014
As already announced to the market, Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) is preparing to undertake the biggest acquisition in its history, with an AU$1.494 billion all-cash takeover of US-based Video Game Technologies (VGT). continue…
by Russell Muldoon Posted in Companies, Technology & Telecommunications, Value.able.