Industry Focus

WELCOME Welcome to Industry Focus: Natural Resources, Westpac's publication for the natural resources sector We are delighted to bring you the first edition of Westpac's Industry Focus: Natural Resources. This edition will provide meaningful thought-leadership topics, as well as in-depth analysis of key issues and the changing dynamics relevant to the natural resources sector. There have been a number of discussions over the past 12 months that highlight the headwind changes impacting the sector, with major projects about to peak and a move to a production boom. Commodity prices are fluctuating widely and the Australian dollar is volatile. The result is that mining companies are looking more closely at the cost of doing business and scrutinising the natural resources supply chain. In this publication, you'll find articles that cover the important issues in the natural resources sector and offer potential solutions to ensure your business remains successful in the current environment. We consider the outlook for the sector as it moves from capital expenditure to an operational phase and the challenges and opportunities that await. We also discuss a benchmarking tool that enables engineering and mining services firms to obtain a deeper understanding of the financial position of the company and identify key metrics that can allow comparisons with their peers. Continuing on the technology theme, we'll explore the concept of cloud computing and how companies in remote locations, or with remote workforces, can adopt the technology to their advantage. Finally, we would like to confirm that Westpac is truly committed to assisting our natural resources customers through the industry's cycles. We welcome any feedback you have, so please chat with your Relationship Manager or contact me directly via my email: gburgess@westpac.com.au. Gavin Burgess National Head of Natural Resources Westpac Retail and Business Banking Natural Resources • Issue 1 1

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