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Retail giant David Jones has confirmed it received a merger offer from rival Myer in October last year.  
David Jones revealed it received the “confidential, conditional and non-binding and indicative” offer from its rival on October 28, which saw Myer offer 1.06 shares for every David Jones share.  
However the offer, investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, was rejected on the grounds it had “substantial commercial, market, and regulatory risks” including a review from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.  
“The board formed the view that the potential transaction did not have sufficient merit for David Jones shareholders to warrant engaging in discussions and providing the access and information requested by Myer,” David Jones said.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.StartUpSmart.com.au" target="_blank">StartUpSmart.</a>
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Myer discussed a merger with David Jones last year

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Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has officially confirmed it is looking to sell its Australian refineries and petrol stations, along with its $7.4 billion stake in Woodside Petroleum.  
The sale process, overseen by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, has reportedly gained the attention of Macquarie, Glencore Xstrata and oil trading firm Vitol.  
“We are making hard choices in our worldwide portfolio to improve Shell’s capital efficiency,” Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden says.  
“Our ambitious growth drive in recent years has yielded a step change in Shell’s portfolio and options, with more growth to come, but at the same time we have lost some momentum in operational delivery, and <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.theage.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/shell-puts-petrol-stations-woodside-stake-on-the-block-20140131-31q70" target="_blank">we can sharpen up in a number of areas</a>.”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.StartUpSmart.com.au" target="_blank">StartUpSmart.</a>
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Shell confirms Australian assets are on the market

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China’s manufacturing sector recorded its first decline in six months, according to the latest HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) figures.  
The final PMI for January came in at 49.5, down from a score of 50.5 last month, where a reading below 50 points indicates a deterioration in conditions.  
“A soft start to China's manufacturing sectors in 2014, partly due to weaker new export orders and slower domestic business activities during January,” HSBC chief China economist Hongbin Qu says.  
“Policy makers should pay attention to downside risks and pre-emptively fine tune policy to <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-30/final-hsbc-pmi-confirms-chinese-manufacturing-decline/5227892?section=business" target="_blank">steady the pace of growth if needed</a>.”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.StartUpSmart.com.au" target="_blank">StartUpSmart.</a>
 
 
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Chinese manufacturing declined in January

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The NBN Co has issued a statement saying small businesses in 15 localities across Australia will have copper phone services, ADSL and Telstra cable switched off on May 23.
The suburbs and towns affected are <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Armidale</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Minnamurra</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Kiama Downs</a> in New South Wales; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">South Morang</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Brunswick</a> in Victoria; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Townsville</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Aitkenvale</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Mundingburra</a> in Queensland; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Deloraine</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">George Town</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Kingston Beach</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Sorell</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">St Helens</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Triabunna</a> in Tasmania.
The NBN Co also warns other towns and suburbs are scheduled to have fixed-line services switched off over the coming months.
These include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Toowoomba</a> (August) and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Aspley</a> (September) in Queensland; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Coffs Harbour</a> (July) and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Gosford</a> (October) in New South Wales; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Bacchus Marsh</a> (October) in Victoria); <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer">Gungahlin</a> (July) in the ACT; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">South Hobart</a> (September), <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Midway Point</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Scottsdale</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Smithton</a> (October) in Tasmania.
NBN Co notes transitions to the national broadband network aren’t automatic, and has posted maps of the <a href="https://www.nbnco.com.au/about-us/media/news/tasmanias-final-copper-countdown">affected areas on its official website</a>, where business owners are urged contact their internet service provider to discuss their options.
Businesses using an EFTPOS terminal, fax or alarm system are asked to contact the provider of that service (for example, their security company for an alarm) in order to find out which NBN services support their device.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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NBN switching off copper phone and ADSL services in 15 communities on 23 May

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Apple could be looking at releasing its own platform for smart home appliances at its World Wide Development Conference next week.
According to reports in the <a href="https://www.ft.com/cms/s/1bef71b8-e433-11e3-a73a-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F1bef71b8-e433-11e3-a73a-00144feabdc0.html%3Fsiteedition%3Duk&amp;siteedition=uk&amp;_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2014%2F05%2F26%2Fapple-said-to-be-prepping-smart-home-software-platform-for-wwdc-reveal%2F#axzz32plUeY1I" target="_blank">Financial Times</a> and <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/26/apple-said-to-be-prepping-smart-home-software-platform-for-wwdc-reveal/" target="_blank">TechCrunch</a>, the platform will allow iPhone, iPad or Apple TV owners to control their “smart” home appliances using an iOS device.
Devices able to be controlled through the smart appliance platform include lights, security systems and other household appliances.
Control of home appliances would be built into the users’ iOS device rather than through a string of third-party apps, with third party appliance makers such as Dropcam, Google/Nest and Philips able to gain official certification for their appliances from Apple.
The platform will allow users to do things like automatically switch their lights on when they arrive home or switch on an alarm system when they leave in the morning.
The news comes less than a week after Korean media outlets circulated rumours that Apple’s key rival, <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/42096-samsung-dumps-secret-app-platform-project-with-microsoft-rumours-circulate-of-smart-home-and-vr-research-focus" target="_blank">Samsung Electronics</a>, is working on a smart home platform of its own, with the company demonstrating a single app <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/information-technology/33396-samsung-to-demo-single-app--smart-home-solution--at-ifa--alongside-galaxy-gear-smartwatch" target="_blank">smart home platform at IFA last year.</a>
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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Apple to join Samsung in creating smart home platform

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The ACT government and internet service provider iiNet are the latest in a growing number of telcos, as well as state and territory governments, to announce the rollout of public Wi-Fi programs.
The joint iiNet-ACT government initiative will see 300 Cisco outdoor wireless access points in high traffic areas, with 400 access points set to be rolled out in businesses across Canberra as part of a network called CBRfree.
The initiative also includes a 12-month Wi-Fi trial on five Action Canberra buses, with a further rollout under consideration, depending on passenger response.
The first stage will be rolled out across Civic by October, with further rollouts in Belconnen, Dickson, Woden, Tuggeranong, Bruce, Manuka-Kingston, Gungahlin, Weston Creek and key tourist hotspots to be completed by June 2015.
The initiative is the latest in a growing trend of telcos, state and territory governments announcing public Wi-Fi rollouts.
In March, the Victorian government announced a free public Wi-Fi program around the <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/36012-victorian-premier-says-free-wi-fi-program-for-melbourne-s-cbd-will-help-boost-businesses">Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo CBDs</a>, followed by a $40 million to program to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.startupsmart.com.au/growth/innovation/victorian-state-government-to-invest-40-million-in-mobile-blackspots-free-wi-fi-country-trains/2014040812075">provide free Wi-Fi services on key V/Line train services</a>.
Aside from the ACT network, iiNet operates a free public Wi-Fi service in the Adelaide CBD called AdelaideFree, which sees an average of about 200,000 unique users each month.
Meanwhile, iiNet’s rival, Telstra recently announced a $100 million public Wi-Fi network for its broadband customers, with businesses <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.startupsmart.com.au/technology/telstra-asks-small-businesses-to-hand-over-their-wi-fi-for-hot-spots/2014052112351">offered the opportunity of hosting a hotspot</a>.
It follows recent research from Telsyte showing Australia’s mobile broadband market grew by just 3% in the year to December, with many customers preferring to <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/42003-growing-use-of-wi-fi-and-smartphone-tethering-slows-wireless-broadband-growth">connect their laptops and tablets to Wi-Fi networks</a>.
Telsyte senior analyst Alvin Lee told StartupSmart the rollout of public Wi-Fi networks is increaingly popular with operators, government and local communities as the number of devices capable of using the technology grows.
"Wi-Fi networks provided by local businesses will potentially increase foot traffic and keep customers around for longer," Lee says.
"Wi-Fi can also be strategically positioned by operators or businesses to enable enhanced customer analytics and providing location-based services or targeted advertising."
This story originally appeared at <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/">StartupSmart</a>.
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New business opportunities as ACT and iiNet jumps on the free Wi-Fi bandwagon

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An additional 6,000 premises in 26 rural and regional Australia localities can now sign up for the national broadband network.
In NSW, towns gaining access to the NBN include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Boambee</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Woolgoolga</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Marshdale</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Barrington</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Stratford</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Wallangarra</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Tarcutta</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Gumly Gumly</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Oura </a>and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Alfredtown</a>.
South Australian localities gaining access to the broadband network include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Yankalilla</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Allendale East</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Moorak</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Port MacDonnell</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Tarpeena</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Worrolong</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Yahl</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Lucindale</a>, and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Kybybolite</a>.
NBN services are also now available in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Aspley</a> in Victoria, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Edgcumbe Beach</a> in Tasmania, as well as the Queensland towns of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">East Greenmount</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Millmerran</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Clontarf</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Nobby</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Mount Julian</a>.
Small businesses and property owners are being urged to contact their internet service provider or phone company in order to arrange switching their services over to the NBN.
The news comes as Ericsson Australia won a major contract to control the operation of the NBN fixed wireless service and manage the ground systems for the NBN satellite service. As part of the contract, the Swedish telecommunications equipment maker is mandated to subcontract services to local small businesses.
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26 rural and regional communities gain NBN access

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Hundreds of electricians are out of work after a major national electrical contracting firm with annual revenues of $350 million collapsed into receivership on Monday. 
At its peak, Pacific Services Group employed 1300 staff nationwide, across 40 active project sites and 14 offices, however the group's headcount fell to around 700 employees by the time of its collapse.
Major projects overseen by Pacific Services Group included works at the Chadstone Shopping Centre and Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, the NBN rollout in Tasmania and the Lotus Glen Correctional Facility in Queensland.
The group, based in North Melbourne with offices across Australia, was created through an initial investment by Wolseley Private Equity in 2006 in a bid to become the nation’s largest electrical, data and communications engineering company.
Between February 2006 and October 2009, Pacific Services Group went on a buying spree, acquiring Elecraft in Victoria, Russell Smith Electrical in Tasmania, Boffa Russo in South Australia, Richard Flanagan &amp; Co in Queensland and RSE Electrical in NSW.
However, the electrical firm soon hit financial hurdles, with <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/opinion/kordamentha_takes_control_of_pacific_lDV8jauszuDjsyWGRvareL">The Australian Financial Review</a> reporting Pacific Services Group had lost a major maintenance contract with retail giant Woolworths.
In July of last year, then-chief executive Peter White announced Pacific Services Group had received a $10 million injection from investors, and had secured a deal to restructure its debt from lenders.
“The recapitalisation will inject fresh money into PSG and restructure the group’s debts in a manner that will significantly strengthen the group’s financial position. You will all see the practical impact of this over the following weeks and months,” White said at the time.
“Thank you all for your support over the past few months; it has been a challenging time for us all. The recapitalisation provides us with a robust platform on which to move forward and to bid for the projects that are in the market. We look forward to continuing to work closely with you on both existing and new opportunities.”
Despite the cash injection, by September, Pacific Services Group announced it had appointed former Tyco Fire Protection Services APAC operations director Jeffrey Bretz as its new chief executive.
However, Bretz was unable to turn the company around, with PPB Advisory partner Craig Crosby appointed as an administrator, while Scott Kershaw, Michael Brereton and Craig Shepherd of KordaMentha were appointed as receivers earlier this week.
The Victorian state secretary of the Electrical Trade Union, Troy Gray, blasted the company’s management in a statement provided to SmartCompany, saying the company’s electricians, who had made millions of dollars for the company, including 200 in Victoria, would be left without an income.
“It's not just 200 workers. It's the families of these 200. They don't have an income. They can't get their entitlements, we're told by the government, for 40 weeks. We call on the government to fast-track that,” Gray said.
“Many of these workers will not get re-employed. The construction industry in Victoria isn't fantastic at the moment and they need those entitlements. The annual leave, banked RDOs, they need to live on, to buy food with.”
In a statement, Crosbie told SmartCompany he was still investigating Pacific Services Group's finances, and would report back to creditors by the end of the month.
"We are mindful of the impact on employees and are working with the Electrical Trades Union, the receivers and managers and PSG management to ensure entitlements are calculated as a matter of urgency," Crosbie says.
“We understand the receivers and managers have ceased to trade the businesses. At this stage it is unlikely that funds will be available to meet unsecured creditor claims. In the event the PSG companies are wound up and there are insufficient funds to pay employees, they will be entitled to lodge a claim under the federal government’s Fair Entitlement Guarantee scheme. The administrators will facilitate this process."
“We have notified the Department of Employment that a Fair Entitlements Guarantee claim is being prepared and we will do everything in our power to secure FEG funding and process employee claims as quickly as possible.”
The collapse follows the administration of another multimillion-dollar electrical contracting business called Global Electrotech in <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/32891-leading-wa-electrical-services-contracting-business-collapses--industry-is-shot">July of last year</a>.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany.</a>
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Short circuit as $350 million electrical contractor collapses

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Baked potato franchise Spudbar is having a second bite at expanding beyond its Victorian base, after two stores previously closed in Western Australia.
In its hometown of Melbourne, the baked potato chain has grown to 11 stores since its initial launch in 2000.
This growth had previously led to Spudbar opening two company-owned stores in Western Australia in a bid to expand its brand, with outlets in the Perth suburbs of Cannington and Joondalup.
However, both stores eventually closed, with the first going out of business 18 months ago, and the second closing in January of this year.
Despite the closures, the company is planning to embark on a second round of national expansion.
SmartCompany understands the company is working with a franchisee in Western Australia ahead of a future store opening.
In addition to the Perth-based store, the company <a href="https://www.franchisebusiness.com.au/c/SPUDBAR/opportunities" target="_blank">is also advertising franchise opportunities</a> in Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney.
According to the advertisements, an investment of between $230,000 and $290,000 will be required to open each store.
The chain is one of a number of rapidly expanding Melbourne-based fast food retailers in Australia, including <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/profiles/34482-roll-d-gold-how-bao-hoang-delivered-rice-paper-rolls-to-the-masses" target="_blank">Noodle Box</a> and <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/profiles/34482-roll-d-gold-how-bao-hoang-delivered-rice-paper-rolls-to-the-masses" target="_blank">Roll’d</a>.
However, there are clear risks to the national expansion of a fast food franchise.
Back in 2010, fast food chain <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/17745-20101203-fast-food-franchise-souvlaki-hut-collapses-into-administration--but-buyers-waiting-to-pounce" target="_blank">Souvlaki Hut collapsed into administration</a> just 10 months after being named one of Australia’s fastest growing franchises.
SmartCompany attempted to contact Spudbar, however, no official comment was available prior to publication.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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Melbourne’s Spudbar taking another bite at the Western Australian market

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The mining boom, and the resulting increase in fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers, has led to housing shortages across Australia. It’s a problem an innovative new website hopes to solve – by turning spare rooms into cash.
Founded by brothers Daniel and Chris Del Borrello, <a href="https://www.fifohousemate.com.au/" target="_blank">fifohousemate</a> is a new website that aims to connect FIFO workers with spare rooms for hire.
Meanwhile, because FIFO workers are looking for places to stay away from their mining or job sites, fifohousemate is open for property listings across Australia.
Co-founder and director Daniel Del Borrello told StartupSmart the service was inspired by his brother’s experiences in trying to rent out a spare room.
“My brother was looking for a housemate – he has a small two-by-one apartment. It’s a small space, and he doesn’t want to have someone living there permanently and cramping his style,” Del Borrello says.
“He came up with the idea of splitting the rent by having a FIFO worker rent a room. But there’s nowhere specifically where you can find a FIFO worker, so he came to me with the idea for the site.”
Del Borrello says fifohousemate can help alleviate the housing shortage by unlocking new properties that can be rented out.
“It connects rentals with FIFO workers, effectively creating new rooms for them to rent,” he says.
“So, for example, a young family with a spare room is probably not going to look for a full-time housemate. But they might be open to having someone use the room one week out of four.”
While the website has been online for just three weeks, Del Borrello says it has already attracted 10,000 visitors and 350 listings.
Around 80% of its visitors currently come from the traditional mining state of WA, although interest is growing rapidly in the other states.
Victoria has already overtaken Queensland as the state with the second-most visitors. Del Borrello predicts the number of listings will only increase as awareness grows across Australia.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au">StartupSmart</a>.
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Andrew Sadauskas

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