Business News

Sat Oct 31

ABC Bullion wins production rights for the prestigious Emirates Melbourne Cup Trophy

Written by Kelly Drew

31 October 2015: ABC Bullion, the bullion division of Pallion (Australasia’s largest precious metals services group), has today announced its appointment to manufacture the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy.

As part of a new partnership with The Victoria Racing Club (VRC), Pallion under the ABC Bullion brand will produce the coveted 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy in addition to a number of other trophies and the Harry White Whip.

As a result of the new partnership, the Emirates Melbourne Cup will be produced using gold that has been mined, refined, and crafted wholly in Australia for the first time in its 150-year history.

Valued at $175,000, the trophy contains 1.65kg of gold and 44 pieces that are hand spun over a 250-hour production process.

The appointment follows a competitive tender process where Pallion subsidiary ABC Bullion was selected as the most outstanding applicant for the prestigious contract.

Pallion CEO Andrew Cochineas said that the appointment is both an honour and a privilege.

“The Emirates Melbourne Cup is the most legendary and beloved trophy in Australian racing. As an Australian company with a rich heritage in locally sourced and produced precious metals, we’re elated to partner with the VRC for this special event on the international racing calendar.

“We look forward to using our technical expertise in precious metal to produce truly beautiful Melbourne Cups. It is a true international treasure that we are very proud to now hold within our production portfolio,” added Mr Cochineas.

VRC Chief Executive Simon Love said that the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy has a long and proud history, as does the race itself, so the tender process to appoint the next manufacturer was taken very seriously.

“Pallion and ABC Bullion had a vision to partner with Australia’s premier racing brand and presented an exciting commercial proposition to the VRC. We are looking forward to working with ABC Bullion moving forward.”

Affectionately known as the “Loving Cup”, the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy’s three handles symbolise the relationship between the winning jockey, trainer and owner and its timber base is hand turned from Australian Black Wattle.

ABC Bullion is Australia’s largest independent bullion dealer and ABC Bullion branded gold is widely considered a cornerstone of the Australian physical gold trading system. As part of the broader Pallion group of companies, ABC Bullion brings with it a history of precious metal refining, fabrication, trading and storage since 1951.

About Pallion

Pallion designs, manufactures and distributes precious metal products and related services. Commencing operations in 1951, today it is the largest fully integrated precious metal services group in Australasia. Maintaining its headquarters in Sydney Australia, it is a privately owned group of companies, with manufacturing facilities and offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth as well as Hong Kong (SAR) and mainland China. Pallion is comprised of eight entities: ABC Bullion; ABC Refinery; Palloys; AGS|PJW; A&E Metals; Regentco; Goldenage International; and Custodian Vaults. This group of leading precious metal brands offers the following services: Bullion; Refining and Minting; Casting and Jewellery; Fabricated Metals; Findings; and Vaulting.

Fri Oct 30

Broadband Solutions on the lookout for investment opportunities

Written by Tom Davey

30 October 2015: A fast launch is one thing and continued success is another, but ongoing rapid expansion is a business rarity. Last night, upon the announcement of the SmartCompany Smart50 winners, Broadband Solutions entered historic territory becoming the only company to have been recognised in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 BRW Fast100 as well as the 2014 and 2015 Smart50.

Broadband Solutions was awarded number 31 in this year's BRW Fast100 and number 15 in SmartCompany’s Smart50, reinforcing its status as one of Australia’s fastest growing companies. The company was also inducted into the Smart50 hall of fame, taking home the prestigious Smart and Lasting award.

“This is recognition of the quality of our business model. Three years of recognition in a row proves that this growth isn't just luck. It's proof of the value that Australian businesses find in great customer service and competitive pricing,” said Sam Bashiry, Managing Director of Broadband Solutions.

“Many businesses talk about customer service and listening to their customers, but few actually walk the walk as well as they profess. Our growth can be directly attributed to our ability to follow through on our promises.” said Mr Bashiry.

2015 saw Broadband Solutions’ revenue jump from $10 million to $15.5 million following a two pronged campaign designed to attract new customers and maximise product penetration with existing clients.

“This year more of our customers are using more than one of our products. This is an area in which we shine. The way our products have been designed means that they complement each other well. One of the key ways we develop new products is by asking our customers what will help them do business more effectively. The result is a suite of products that integrate seamlessly with our clients’ business models.

The future is looking bright for Broadband Solutions. The company has an exciting project in the works that will see the company enter a brand new market.

“We have developed a very exciting new advertising platform that is ready to roll out. We are currently in the final stages of testing and are expecting to have the product available in early 2016. We don’t want to ruin the surprise but I can say that a recent announcement by one of the big media players has reinforced the viability of this product,” said Mr. Bashiry.