This Month
MYOB’s Slate Super sale in the offing
Street Talk understands the Flare HR-controlled fund, which put its exit plans into gear in 2022, has turned the process over to the trustee.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
KKR’s MYOB refinancing drags while bolt-on payday looms
The private equity giant is still to pin down a price and structure to its liking, leading to questions on whether it would press ahead or park the big-ticket refinancing.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
March
- Exclusive
- Funding
Former stockbroker, Afterpay alumni raise $16m for fintech start-up
Former Wilsons stockbroker and Australian national swimmer Luke Trickett has raised $16 million for his invoice payments start-up Marmalade.
- Tess Bennett
NAB chases MYOB and Xero with new Bookkeeper software
It is the bank’s first foray into the accounting tools market dominated by the two Australian companies, with its new product aimed at sole trader customers.
- James Eyers
February
‘Deadset nightmare’: Why small business failures are soaring
MYOB CEO Paul Robson fears small businesses may not enjoy the soft landing tipped for the rest of the economy.
- Patrick Durkin
July 2023
MYOB’s PayGlobal in crosshairs of offshore suitors
Prospective buyers were told the business made about $30 million revenue and $15 million at the cash earnings line.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
May 2023
Cannon Brookes, Quinbrook to take control of massive Sun Cable project
The company’s other major investor, Andrew Forrest, said he remained unconvinced of the commercial viability of plans to export power to Singapore.
- Elouise Fowler
Tight employment market puts heat on small business
Small business will be included in electricity bill relief measures announced in Tuesday’s federal budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed.
- Tom McIlroy
March 2023
How Xero’s start-up buyout went from $31m to zero within three years
Xero’s total write-down in the value of its recent acquisition of Waddle, shocked some – not least Commonwealth Bank – but a buyer could still be found.
- Adir Shiffman
MYOB allegedly manipulating users into joining its sub-par super fund
The government is already reviewing how companies could be circumventing laws on stapling workers to single super funds.
- Hannah Wootton
February 2023
Inside Bill Gates’ $200 billion private dinner
The Microsoft founder secretly met with Australia’s richest tech billionaires to discuss how to give away their money.
- Mark Di Stefano
January 2023
- Exclusive
- Australian recession
‘There will be pullback’: hospitality, retail lead SME recession fears
More than half of small and medium business expect a recession this year, though Generation Z – those aged 18 to 24 – are most optimistic.
- Ronald Mizen
September 2022
- Exclusive
- Funding
NAB takes on accountants by backing Xero rival
The new accounting software player called Thriday says it will be cheaper and more efficient for small and medium-sized businesses than Xero and MYOB.
- Yolanda Redrup
The Aussie who can make the sun shine after dark
John Lasich started concentrating solar power in his backyard in 1975. Now AGL, Chevron and Norway’s Equinor reckon he can deliver it after dark.
- Peter Ker and Lap Phan
How a $1m robot solved this company’s labour shortage
Investing in automation is the only way to keep up with strong customer demand in the face of dire labour shortages, manufacturers say.
- Tess Bennett
MYOB buys Flare in big shift into financial services
The CEO of the payroll software provider says it is expanding into fintech to provide an opportunity to “connect with businesses in new and deeper ways”.
- James Eyers
July 2022
Taps open on public to privates as PE gets mojo back
It’s poaching season for Australian and offshore private equity firms set to unleash a bidding spree targeted at ASX-listed companies.
- Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood
Talent debate faces the make-or-buy dilemma
Outsourcing tech jobs is an easy and flexible solution, but skills shortages are persuading many businesses to insource talent development.
- Nicki Bourlioufas
ANZ to decide on ‘painting Queensland blue’
ANZ is ready to paint the town blue, but investors are conscious of the timing and cost.
- Ayesha de Kretser and James Eyers
- Opinion
- Mergers & acquisitions
Why ANZ’s $4.5b MYOB acquisition plan always looked a non-starter
ANZ’s pursuit of Suncorp gave it a nice reason to pull the pin on a planned $4.5 billion deal for MYOB.
- Adir Shiffman
