Xero backs itself with $413m convertible notes
Cloud-based accounting company Xero has backed itself to continue growing strongly, raising $US300 million ($413 million) in five-year convertible notes with an exercise price 70 per cent above its share price on Thursday. Capital raising via the issue of convertible notes is relatively commonplace among US technology companies – NASDAQ-listed Atlassian raised $US850 million this way in April – however Xero chief executive Steve Vamos said it was “groundbreaking” for an Australasian company. “If we think we’ve got strong growth potential in the future, we don’t want to issue stock at current prices and dilute our shareholders,” Xero chief financial officer Sankar Narayan said. “We were well placed to raise in […]
Home owners willing to accept bitcoin for property despite volatility
Despite a sharp fall in bitcoin prices over the past eight months, some bullish investors are still willing to accept the cryptocurrency instead of Australian dollars for the sale of their multimillion-dollar homes. One bitcoin is currently trading at $US6448, down from its peak in December 2017 of $19,535.70.Now with one bitcoin worth $A8786, a prime piece of real estate in Sydney’s inner-city has hit the market with the option to buy in the cryptocurrency. It is a risky move given a property deal is yet to be struck in Australia using bitcoin, despite several properties being offered for sale last year with vendors willing to accept payment in that […]
OnMarket celebrates significant milestone: 100 transactions in 1,000 days
Digital investing platform OnMarket BookBuilds has recently completed their 100th transaction. OnMarket launched its B2C platform in October 2015, approximately 1,000 days ago. OnMarket, which is now approaching 50,000 members, provides retail investors with access to over one third of all IPOs on the ASX. OnMarket also offers equity crowdfunding after being granted an equity crowdfunding licence by ASIC in January this year, enabling its members access to innovative early stage and growth stage companies. OnMarket has raised over $65.7 million across the 100 transactions it has successfully completed. OnMarket CEO Ben Bucknell stated “Never before have Australians had access to investing into early stage companies and IPO companies like […]
When ‘it’ happens, SocietyOne urges us not to reach for the credit card
Australia’s pioneering and leading marketplace lender, SocietyOne, has launched an integrated marketing campaign to capitalize on the fast-approaching holiday season, where demand for consumer credit typically jumps with increased expenditure on festivities and gifts. The campaign, entitled “When ‘it’ happens”, highlights how even positive situations can put financial strain on even the most savvy Australians. It tells the story of ‘regular guy’, Dave, who is financially in control until a series of unexpected events blows his budget out of the water. SocietyOne saves the day by rewarding Dave’s good credit rating with a low-rate personal loan, saving him from resorting to a credit card – which can often become a […]
Are Exchange-Traded Fund flows creating the mother of all opportunities?
A common excuse given by fee-charging active fund managers that have battled to beat their benchmarks has been the ever-rising popularity of exchange-traded funds. ETFs effectively allow investors to track an index – anything from the S&P 500 to obesity-related stocks – by simply buying a listed security tacking the index or a basket of stocks. The global market has grown from 580 products totalling $US728 billion of assets to more than 5000 funds with more than $US5.6 trillion of assets. But some have argued that this created multibillion-dollar flows of brainless money simply buying and selling stocks based on predetermined rules rather than any thoughtful analysis. This, it has […]
The app increasing your super while you spend
A new phone app is helping people get big returns on their retirement savings, and Nine News has revealed how you can start earning NOW with as little as five dollars. A new app called Raiz is helping consumers use their spare change to boost retirement savings through an easy-to-manage investment account. And former financial advisor Nathan Martyn said he has already saved hundreds. “I wanted to start paying attention to where my super was and how it was likely to generate over time,” Martyn told Nine News. Say Martyn uses his debit card to buy a coffee for $3.50, the figure is rounded up to the nearest dollar. In […]
Affinity takes Scottish Pacific on first trip into the $4s
Affinity Equity Partners is offering more than $600 million for debtor finance company Scottish Pacific. Street Talk understands the private equity firm’s indicative bid values Scottish Pacific in the “mid to high $4s” a share range, and was made subject to due diligence, funding and the sorts of approvals usually seen when a buyout firm knocks on a listed company’s door. For Scottish Pacific, it means there is no real rush to do anything. If there is to be a takeover, it would be months away. Nothing it says or does in the next 24-hours is expected to move the dial, now that Affinity has made its approach. Scottish Pacific […]
Fintech 101: Core concepts for the future of banking
Everyday it feels like someone, somewhere has coined a new banking term. But as Australia continues to take big steps towards innovation, the average Aussie might feel left in the dark when it comes to understanding what’s in store for the future of banking. So to keep you in the loop with all the latest in fintech, we thought it might be worth getting the basics down first. What is fintech? Put simply, fintech stands for ‘financial technology’ and can refer to any technology that is used in the finance industry to provide products and services. Just remember that fintech usually refers to newer, innovative products and services. For example, […]
