The Australian Finance Group Ltd (ASX: AFG) share price has leapt 16% this morning following the announcement the ACCC will grant clearance for its merger with rival Connective. Both businesses will become better positioned to invest in digital technologies and innovation in the face of digital disruption faced by the sector. 

What does AFG do?

AFG is one of Australia’s largest mortgage broking groups and was established in 1994. It began as a mortgage aggregator which provides mortgage brokers access to products and support. It now offers business finance, insurance products, and AFG-branded and securitised products throughout Australia. 

What is the Connective merger?

AFG proposed to merge with competitor, Connective. The combination would create Australia’s largest mortgage aggregator by a significant margin, accounting for almost 40% of Australia-operating mortgage brokers. More than half of all home loans written each year are initiated through the broker channel. 

After the merger, the AFG and Connective brands intend to operate separately. The transaction is also subject to court approval with a final decision likely in the second half of FY20. 

How is the AFG share price performing?

The AFG share price has more than doubled from its March low of 92 cents with shares currently trading at $1.96. AFG entered the S&P/ASX 300 (ASX: XKO) in the most recent quarterly rebalance due to this increase.   

AFG announced in its most recent update that April operating results had been strong. However, COVID-19 is expected to create some economic uncertainty. Lodgements and settlements could experience adverse effects on 1H FY21. Lodgements in the March quarter were up 33% on the previous corresponding period, driven by record-low interest rates. 

Nonetheless, residential settlements are expected to fall in coming months driven by a slowdown in broader economic activity. This will result in upfront commissions payments softening. Operating cash flow from existing trail commission arrangements on AFG’s $151.7 billion trail book will, however, continue. 

Foolish takeaway 

AFG’s merger will provide a strong base to benefit from an eventual recovery, despite the Australian mortgage market being expected to feel a downturn as a result of COVID-19. 

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Motley Fool contributor Kate O’Brien has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX: INF) share price is skyrocketing today after the company provided a European funding update.

At the time of writing, Infinity Lithium shares are flying 91.67% higher to 11.5 cents per share. With this rise, Infinity Lithium’s current market capitalisation stands at around $27 million.

Infinity Lithium is a minerals company focused on developing its 75%-owned San José Lithium Project and produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Spain.

The San José deposit is an advanced, previously mined brownfield development opportunity located in Extremadura, Spain. It is the second-largest JORC hard rock lithium deposit in the European Union (EU).

Why is the Infinity Lithium share price skyrocketing?

This morning, Infinity Lithium announced it has executed binding agreements for multi-stage funding from the EU-backed public-private partnership EIT InnoEnergy.

While Infinity Lithium revealed details of the funding in March, back then the deal was only at the memorandum of understanding stage.

Infinity’s San José Lithium Project is the first lithium project in Europe to secure funding from EIT InnoEnergy. The funding includes a staged amount of up to €800,000 to support the project’s first phase of feasibility study test work.

Following this, EIT InnoEnergy will leverage the European Battery Alliance (EBA) network to facilitate the funding for phase two, with an investment of up to €2.4 million. Phase two involves the construction of the pilot plant at San José.

This funding also comes with an assistance agreement to support fundraising activities for up to €300 million in debt and equity to fund the development of the San José project.

Commenting on today’s update, managing director Ryan Parkin said:

“The Board of Infinity is delighted to announce the completion of these multi-level agreements, highlighted by the financial endorsement of the San José Project through the funding by EIT InnoEnergy.”

“This multi-level collaboration will see San José benefit through exposure to EIT InnoEnergy and the EBA’s vast European network as the EU focuses on the essential requirement to secure lithium chemicals and develop an integrated lithium-ion battery value chain.”

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Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) share price is on the move again this week, continuing the resurgence of the blue-chip building material and construction juggernaut since it bottomed out at $1.68 in March. Despite being down 2.79% at the time of writing, Boral’s current share price of $3.66 represents a 117% gain on its March low.

There’s no denying the company has underperformed in recent years, exemplified through multiple earnings downgrades and the ‘financial irregularities’ scandal of its American windows business. Despite this, here are 3 reasons why I remain bullish that Boral will turn the corner in FY21.

Management shake-up

In my opinion, the role management plays in the overall success or failure of a business is crucial. This is strongly endorsed by Jim Collins in his renowned management book Good to Great. Collins argues that getting the right people in the right seats on the bus – and getting the wrong people off the bus – is essential for a company’s broader financial success.

Boral is going through significant changes in management, as the old guard under current CEO Mike Kane departs and a new era is ushered in. Various changes to the management team of its troubled North American operations were announced last month.

This week, the highly anticipated appointment of Zlatko Todorcevski as the incoming CEO was also confirmed. In its statement to the market, the company revealed Todorcevski has 3 decades of experience in finance, business planning and strategy across several industries, and has maintained senior positions in Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB), Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH), and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Furthermore, the recent 10% stake taken in the company by Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) is likely to include a fresh face in Boral’s boardroom. Overall, I’m optimistic these changes may provide the company with reinvigorated energy to navigate the present economic environment. To extend the Jim Collins’ metaphor, Boral seems to be making the necessary management changes to get the bus back to full speed, and that will likely enhance the company’s financial performance in the coming years. This period of transition may be an ideal buying opportunity for prospective investors.

Shoring up its liquidity

The COVID-19 pandemic has reiterated the importance of robust company cashflow in all industries, but the construction and materials sector has been one of the hardest hit. Consequently, Boral’s liquidity has faced substantial scrutiny, leading to the company bolstering its balance sheet through various debt mechanisms.

These encompass a US private placement note issue of US$200 million, as well as various bilateral bank loan facilities including a $365 million, two-year debt obligation. These additional debts have allowed the company to bolster its balance sheet, which now holds $1.3 billion of cash and undrawn funds combined. Coupled with its expanded debt-financing campaign, Boral has been proactive in mitigating its capital expenditure by 15–20% this financial year, a strategic decision estimated to save up to $330 million.

With debt at relatively inexpensive levels due to the low interest-rate environment in Australia and globally, I like Boral’s decision to increase its cash on hand and improve its liquidity on the books. And as an added bonus for shareholders, the company’s decision not to utilise an equity capital raising has ensured no further dilution of its share price.

Having boosted its short-term cash flow, Boral seems well-placed to emerge from COVID-19 relatively unscathed financially. This should enable the company to maximise its profitability from new government projects heading its way.

Government-led infrastructure projects

Having recognised the lull in the construction industry, the federal government’s new JobMaker economic recovery plans will arguably send the Boral share price higher yet.

Earlier this week, prime minister Scott Morrison announced 15 key infrastructure projects that are being prioritised to facilitate jobs growth and spur economic productivity. According to an ABC article, these projects include the Snowy Mountains 2.0 scheme and a $10 billion inland rail project from Melbourne to Brisbane.

The government has also provided a $25,000 incentive for people to build or renovate their homes. This will further boost a national construction sector lagging in 2020 thus far.

As the premier supplier of construction materials, I think plenty of government and household work might be heading Boral’s way in FY21. At a time when large-scale projects are drying up left and right, Morrison’s infrastructure plans may be the lifeline the company needs to increase its revenue and unlock further returns for shareholders in the year ahead.

Foolish takeaway

Having watched this company’s share price claw back the majority of its losses in the past month or two, some prospective investors may feel they’ve missed the chance to get on the Boral bus.

Nonetheless, I think the shake-up in management may bring with it new ambition to take the company in a new direction, and this may favourably coincide with post-COVID government infrastructure projects being accelerated.

Overall, I think Boral has the necessary liquidity and successful track-record to deliver for shareholders in FY21 and beyond.

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Motley Fool contributor Toby Thomas owns shares of Boral Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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