CBD
Picture serried ranks of pinstriped executives, marching lockstep into the oriental interior. Stopping only for a sip of water and a mouthful of gruel, the grim-jawed MBAs stride onward, ever onward, as they strike ever further into the heart of China.
The visionary picture belongs to Crown chairman James Packer, who addressed the Asia Society in Sydney on Thursday on the topic of Australia making a great leap Beijing-ward.
"You cannot possibly afford to be in a position of power and not have visited mainland China," Slim Jim said. "It should almost be compulsory for all senior executives and government officials to make the trip to gain an appreciation of the incredible rise of Western commerce."
CBD reckons Crown could make a few extra pennies by flying the execs in on its private planes, including the one previously allegedly used as a torture jet by the CIA.
Myer, darlink
Upbeat shopkeeper Bernie Brookes hit the phones on Thursday to spruik some of the wins he's racked up at Myer.
Addressing the calculator brains during an analyst briefing, Brookes said highlights included this week's announcement that cosmetics entrepreneur Napoleon Perdis (who describes himself as a "wog boy" who grew up in western Sydney) would come to Myer.
Brookes said he had been practising his "air kisses" for the flamboyant Perdis, who is at the centre of the store wars because his contract with rival David Jones expires in July. Brookes also mentioned he took some of Myer's top designers out for dinner the other week. A perfect opportunity for air kisses - just don't mention Kym Ellery.
What can't he do?
He's a ferocious litigator who has stoushed all over the land, representing corporates and the government in class actions, inquiries, and royal commissions.
But when he's not fighting in court Jones Day partner John Emmerig has another passion: painting. His two loves collided on Thursday when his portrait of High Court judge Stephen Gageler was shortlisted for the prestigious portrait prize, the Archibald.
Emmerig's oil and acrylic portrait is up against works by the likes of Sarah Hendy, who's painted Jasper Knight, and Jasper Knight, who's painted the late Adam Cullen (who won in 2000 with a portrait of David Wenham).
Oh, and in between painting and litigating, Emmerig is also a winemaker.
Grand sale
Still in the art world, international investors are lining up for a slice of a collection put together by an Australian medical entrepreneur.
No, this has nothing to do with disgraced former doctor, Geoffrey Edelsten. The artworks in question belong to Sydney doctor Colin Laverty and his wife Elizabeth, who built up a formidable array of modernist and Aboriginal art over 40 years of collecting. Laverty, a gynaecological specialist, sold his pathology business in 1998 to the business that later became Primary Health Care.
Now in their 70s, the couple are trimming their thousands-strong collection by flogging off more than 260 works through auction house Bonhams.
The works, including pieces by Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Peter Booth, can be viewed at fortyfivedownstairs in Melbourne from Friday to Sunday and at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art from March 22, where they'll be auctioned on March 24.
Bonhams expects the collection to fetch between $3.88 million and $5.57 million.
Carlton sugar
Speaking of Edelsten, the sugardaddyforme.com user was made a life member of AFL club Carlton on Thursday, along with pokies kingpin Bruce Mathieson.
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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
James Packer told the Asia Society in Sydney that senior executives and government officials should visit mainland China to appreciate the country’s commercial rise. The article frames this as Packer hailing a push toward Beijing and encouraging business leaders to engage directly with China.
The article notes CBD joked Crown could make a few extra pennies by flying executives to China on its private planes — including one reported to have been used previously as an alleged CIA 'torture jet.' While presented in a tongue-in-cheek way, investor readers may want to watch for any increased travel or corporate hospitality expenses tied to international expansion.
Bernie Brookes told analysts Myer has secured cosmetics entrepreneur Napoleon Perdis to join the store, a move framed as a retail win. Brookes also mentioned taking some top Myer designers out to dinner as part of broader merchandising and partnership efforts that could be relevant to Myer investors.
Napoleon Perdis is a well-known cosmetics entrepreneur who described himself in the article as a 'wog boy' from western Sydney. His contract with rival David Jones expires in July, and his decision to go to Myer is highlighted as part of a competitive 'store wars' dynamic—something retail investors often watch as brands seek exclusive product partnerships to drive sales.
Dr Colin Laverty and his wife Elizabeth are selling more than 260 works from their modernist and Aboriginal art collection through Bonhams. The works will be viewable at fortyfivedownstairs in Melbourne from Friday to Sunday and at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art from March 22, with the auction scheduled for March 24.
Bonhams expects the Laverty collection sale to fetch between $3.88 million and $5.57 million, according to the article.
Colin Laverty is a Sydney gynaecological specialist who sold his pathology business in 1998 to the company that later became Primary Health Care, as reported in the article.
Yes. The article reports that a user linked to sugardaddyforme.com (referenced in relation to Geoffrey Edelsten) and pokies figure Bruce Mathieson were made life members of the Carlton AFL club on Thursday.
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