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The article examines whether Australia-based Allco Private Equity's listed status help or hinder in the company's competition with unlisted private equity firms. Chief executive officer Peter Yates explains that being a public company is no hindrance to Allco's financial peformance and achievement of its growth plans.

The article profiles Village Roadshow, a theme-park and film-production conglomerate in Australia. It includes background information on the company and its stock performance, as well as its efforts to remedy its credibility problem with investors. The firm has sought to improve its market position through a cleaning-up strategy for its film production division and improvements in the profits of its theme-park business.

Investigates the misleading accounting practices adopted by big companies to meet analyst and shareholder expectations. Examples of techniques for the manipulation of earnings; Analysis of the accounting practices of several Australian companies; Factors that must be evaluated by investors in annual reports. INSET: Tricks of the trade.

Reports the reorganization at BT Financial Group with its negative market performance in Australia. Strategy employed by the company to improve market performance; Skepticism on the capacity of BT; Factors influencing the issues of the company.

Features a number of luxury resorts in Australia. Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Resort in the Northern Territory; Bederra Island in Queensland; Laguna Keys Resort in Queensland.

Offers advice for Australian companies on achieving savings on travel costs. Estimated worth of the business travel industry in Asia; Business travel activities by Australian companies; Total spending by Australian companies on business travel; Importance of making a travel policy containing guidelines and procedures and compliance expectations; Benefits of having a travel agent. INSET: Big companies opt for an `implant'..

The article advises Australian companies on how to free up working capital tied up in daily operations and use it to improve business. According to Ernst & Young analysts, the amount of liquid cash that gets stuck up in firms' receivables, payables and inventory totals $30 billion. Strategies include assigning someone to take overall accountability for managing the whole process of sales contracts, payments and logistics and the use of supply-chain financing.

The article reports on the problems of Australia-based Asciano. The company's share price was down in March 2008 to a third of its $11.84 high and it was trading below asset value. This is because of disappointing interim results and concern about Asciano's ability to service its $4.2 billion debt. Another problem is Asciano's identity with investors.

The article focuses on the Toll Holdings Ltd., largest Logistics and Transportation solution provider in Australia. It claims that the development of the institution regarding its trade volume was given by the Australian customers. Moreover, Toll also plan to expand its trade capacity from China to destination around the world's largest corporations.

The article reports that while banks in Australia are not exposed to the worst of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the U.S., they will have to manage their business in a much more difficult environment. There is no such sub-prime mortgage market in Australia. However, Australian banks will have to use global credit pools, which are under stress as banks attempt to reallocate up to $30 trillion in loans.

The article reports that Australia-based travel company Flight Centre Ltd. founder and chief executive Graham Turner remains sanguine about the failure of the deal with Pacific Equity Partners (PEP). Turner is confident that the collapse of the PEP deal will not prevent Flight Centre from pursuing its growth strategy through acquisition.

The article profiles George Boubouras, head of investment and consulting at Australia-based financial services company UBS Financial Services Inc. His career milestones include launching UBS wealth management program in Singapore in 2003 and starting an alumni program in Singapore in 2004. The paper provides information on his management style and business philosophy.

The article presents an interview with Emilio Gonzalez, group executive of global executives at the Australia-based Perpetual. He shared some insights into the strategies and operations and investment style of the company. He talked about his career influences, achievements and industry contributions.

The article forecasts Qantas Airlines, the world's leading long distance airlines in Australia. It claims that the aircraft carrier is on the line to come up with the 40% prediction increased in earnings of $1.4 billion. Moreover, it is also mentioned that the firm's stock had decreased to $4.70 lower than the value of $5.45 per share proposed by the Texas Pacific Group and Macquarie Bank.

The article reports that a number of private equity firms, investment bankers and industry players are looking at how to reengineer the private health insurance industry in Australia. The possibility of a merger has combined the unique value of the health sector and illiquid stocks to increase the value of listed private health insurance companies such as NIB.

Discusses the importance of studying the market for companies in order to best take care of their travel needs. Issues to consider in approaching a travel agent; Comment by Carol Murphy, managing consultant at Travelsearch; Issues to consider when choosing an agent.