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On March 31, the State Administration for Market Regulation released a report on the progress of the 2025 "Quality Certification Improvement Action for Small and Micro Enterprises." According to statistics, a total of 1,816 supporting incentive policies were introduced nationwide, providing approximately 123.5 billion yuan in financial credit support such as "certification loans," and implementing 930 million yuan in fiscal subsidies. 488 certification bodies reduced or waived certification fees by approximately 100 million yuan, provided free training to 722,000 enterprises, provided targeted assistance to over 79,000 enterprises, resolved approximately 48,000 key quality issues, cultivated approximately 138,000 quality management talents, and indirectly created approximately 143,000 new jobs. Small and micro enterprises participating in the improvement action saw an average annual revenue increase of approximately 14.8%, an average profit margin increase of approximately 6.8%, and an average quality cost decrease of approximately 12.2%. Meanwhile, enterprises continued to increase their investment in innovation, with R&D investment as a percentage of revenue increasing by an average of 7.6%.March 31st - Both WTI and Brent crude oil prices continued to decline, falling more than 1% intraday, currently trading at $104.23/barrel and $106.82/barrel respectively. In related news, reports indicate that Trump is willing to end the war while the Taiwan Strait remains closed.March 31 - On March 30, local time, a village on Qeshm Island in southern Iran was attacked by the United States and Israel, resulting in eight deaths. Qeshm Island is Irans largest island and the largest island in the Persian Gulf, located north of the Strait of Hormuz.Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama: We are prepared to take all necessary measures in the foreign exchange market.Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama: Foreign exchange rate fluctuations are due to speculation.

After A Record Loss, Star Entertainment Raises $545 Million And Suspends Dividends

Skylar Williams

Feb 23, 2023 13:54

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Star Entertainment Group Ltd. announced that it would raise A$800 million ($545 million) to repay debt and suspend dividend payments, as it reported a record statutory loss for the first half of the year due to challenging business conditions in Sydney.


Star, Australia's second-largest casino operator, has seen its profits eroded by regulatory restrictions on its Sydney operations beginning in mid-September and intense competition from larger competitor Crown Resort, which began operations in Sydney in August.


The capital raising, which consists of a A$685 million 3-for-5 rights offer and a A$115 million institutional placement, will enable Star to repay debt and increase liquidity, the company announced Thursday. End of 2022, it had a net debt of A$1.11 billion.


Capital-raising shares are being sold at $1.20 each, which is 21% below Star's most recent closing price of $1.50.


Star stated that major shareholders Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium have exercised their rights and committed $80 million to the capital raise.


Star reported a record statutory net loss after tax of A$1.26 billion for the six months ended December 31, compared to a loss of A$74,2 million a year earlier.


Star had previously warned of an impairment charge of up to A$1.6 billion in the first half as a result of a proposal by the New South Wales government to increase taxes on casino poker machine operators. Sydney is the state's capital.


Tax resolution with the New South Wales government remains the most important catalyst for investors, according to Jefferies analysts.


In the first half, the casino operator wrote down the goodwill of its Sydney casino from A$851 million to zero.


In an effort to reduce its debt, the company announced it would suspend dividend payments, and its casino licences were in full operation.


The company posted a normalised nett profit after taxes of $43,6 million, compared to A$73,7 million in losses in the prior year.


Thursday is a trading suspension for Star shares while the capital raise is in progress.