Daily Roundup

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XRF Scientific Ltd Delivers Strong First Half Results

XRF Scientific Ltd has reported a standout first half performance, with revenue, profits, and cash flow all seeing significant increases compared to the prior year.

The company saw strong demand from its mining and industrial customers, driving a 9% jump in revenue to $31.3 million. Profit before tax climbed 8% to $7.5 million, while net profit after tax rose 5% to $5.3 million. Operating cash inflow surged 44% to $6.4 million, demonstrating the strength of XRF's business model.

The Consumables division generated a healthy $3 million in profit before tax, while the Precious Metals division had an exceptional half, with revenue of $12.6 million and a record $2.5 million in profit. The Capital Equipment division also delivered a solid $2.2 million in profit before tax.

Looking ahead, XRF expects the second half to be positive as it focuses on growing international sales, releasing new products, and pursuing strategic acquisitions. The company's Managing Director, Vance Stazzonelli, expressed confidence in the company's ability to sustain its growth trajectory.

Austco Healthcare Reports Record 1H26 Results

Austco Healthcare has delivered a stellar set of first-half results, with revenue soaring 30.7% to $48.2 million and EBITDA surging 60.1% to $8.3 million.

The strong performance was driven by the successful integration of recent acquisitions, which expanded Austco's regional footprint and product capabilities, particularly in Australia/New Zealand and North America. The company also continued to see robust organic growth, reflecting the strong tailwinds in the global healthcare market.

Austco's operating leverage was on full display, with EBITDA margins improving to 17.1% from 14% in the prior period. The company maintained a rock-solid balance sheet, ending the half with $15.2 million in cash and no debt, providing ample financial flexibility.

Looking ahead, Austco remains focused on driving continuous innovation, expanding its recurring revenue base, enhancing margins through operational efficiency, and selectively pursuing value-accretive acquisitions to strengthen its capabilities and market presence.

Caterpillar to Acquire RPMGlobal Holdings

In a significant industry development, Caterpillar Inc. has announced plans to acquire 100% of RPMGlobal Holdings Ltd (ASX: RUL) through a Scheme of Arrangement. Under the deal, RPM shareholders will receive A$5.00 cash per share.

The acquisition will see Caterpillar, a global leader in construction and mining equipment, expand its software and digital solutions capabilities by integrating RPM's suite of mining and resources-focused enterprise software products.

Trading in RPM shares has been suspended, and the company intends to apply for removal from the ASX official list in the coming weeks, marking the end of its tenure as a publicly traded entity.

Technology One Upgrades Guidance on AI Momentum

Technology One, Australia's largest ERP SaaS company, has upgraded its FY26 guidance, driven by the strong performance of its SaaS+ offerings and the excitement around its new AI products.

The company now expects Profit Before Tax (PBT) growth of 18-20% and Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth of 16-18% in FY26. This represents a significant increase from the company's previous guidance, reflecting its ability to consistently deliver on its targets.

Technology One has been strategically investing in the development of its AI Showcase products, which are expected to drive strong growth in the second half of FY26. The company's confidence in its customer pipeline across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK underpins its upgraded outlook.

Superloop Expands Fibre Footprint with Lightning Broadband Acquisition

Superloop Limited has announced the acquisition of Lightning Broadband, a move that significantly expands the company's national fibre-to-the-premises network and retail broadband operations.

The $165 million deal includes Lightning Broadband's wholesale FTTP network with approximately 54,000 secured lots, as well as its retail and wholesale broadband operations with around 14,000 services in operation. This acquisition will expand Superloop's Smart Communities division to a total contracted footprint of 170,000 lots.

The combination of Lightning Broadband with Superloop's existing portfolio, including the recent acquisition of Frontier Networks, creates a formidable challenger to incumbents in the fibre broadband market. Superloop expects the deal to be earnings-accretive in FY27, with the company maintaining a low leverage ratio of around 1.4x EBITDA.