Meridian Energy and Rio Tinto-controlled New Zealand Aluminium Smelters have extended their electricity agreement for another month, giving the Tiwai Point smelter owner a little more time to sort out its electricity needs. Wellington-based Meridian agreed with NZAS last night to extend the date the smelter owner can terminate their agreement until Aug. 3, while keeping all other terms unchanged, …

Veteran corporate raider Ron Brierley is bringing his latest investment vehicle, Mercantile Investment, to the NZX, with a listing scheduled for next week. The Sydney-based investment firm has been approved by stock market operator NZX for a compliance listing on July 6, it said in a statement to the ASX yesterday. The move makes it easier for New Zealand investors …

New Zealand’s largest primary sector businesses, including meat companies Silver Fern Farms and Alliance Group, seafood groups Sanford and Sealord, and milk processors Fonterra Cooperative Group and Miraka, are on a bootcamp in the US this week to work together on ways to add value to the country’s primary goods exports. The group of 50, which includes chief executives of …

Kathmandu shares soared to a four-month high after Briscoe Group acquired a 19.9 percent stake and said it plans to make a full takeover, raising the prospect that managing director Rod Duke could use his skills to revive the struggling outdoor equipment and clothing chain. Kathmandu stock rose as much as 29 percent to $1.80, the price Briscoe paid institutions for most of the …

Briscoe Group, the retailer controlled by managing director Rod Duke, has acquired 19.9 percent of Kathmandu and said it plans to make a full takeover offer for the outdoor equipment and clothing chain. Auckland-based Briscoe said it picked up 4.99 percent of Kathmandu over time and has subsequently acquired 14.9 percent of the target from institutional investors for $1.80 a share. That …

Several Milford Asset Management funds are invested in beleaguered Australian law firm Slater & Gordon, whose share price dropped 25 percent yesterday after it said errors had been uncovered in the financial reporting of historical cash flow at its UK business. The ASX-listed law firm is in the middle of a A$1.3 billion acquisition of UK-based Quindell Plc, whose shares were suspended last week as regulators …

Equities dropped, while US Treasuries rose amid a safe-haven search, on concern Greece is headed for default and exit from the euro zone. Greece closed its banks and imposed capital controls, after negotiations between Greece and its international creditors imploded after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras issued a stunning call for a July 5 referendum on the latest bailout conditions. The …

New Zealand’s 2014/15 wool season ended this week with what is expected to be the smallest percentage of the clip sold through auctions in at least seven years, as more farmers were attracted to the premium prices and protection from commodity price volatility offered in private sales. The auction system’s share of wool is expected to continue to shrink. An estimated 464,000 bales are expected to come …

New Zealand shares rose as Meridian Energy and MightyRiverPower rebounded from recent lows. Diligent Corp and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare advanced as the kiwi dollar fell. The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 22.16 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5755.45. Within the index, 25 stocks rose, 15 fell and 10 were unchanged. Turnover was $118 million. Energy companies rallied after coming under selling pressure on concern the possible closure …

The New Zealand dollar rose to a seven-month high against the euro on concern deposit holders in other weak euro-zone nations could face a Cyprus-style hit, spurring a flight of capital. The kiwi climbed to 65.58 euro cents, the highest since August last year, from 65.20 cents at 5pm in Wellington yesterday. The New Zealand dollar traded at 83.70US cents …