United States food giant Kraft - which purchased Cadbury for $US19.5 billion ($NZ27.4 billion) in February - has received consent from the Overseas Investment Office to buy Cadbury's Auckland and Dunedin assets, which are valued at more than $100 million.
Oceana Gold has bought back its forward gold hedging contracts for $102 million, allowing it to sell all its gold on the daily international spot gold market.
The closure of Fisher and Paykel Appliances' Mosgiel plant and loss of 430 jobs in early 2008 prompted a reduction in Dunedin's gross domestic product for 2009, and the city remains dogged by low population growth.
Listed Dunedin-based Scott Technology yesterday posted a $973,000 after-tax profit for the six-months to December, continuing a turnaround of previous losses, as its outlook brightens with an order book near capacity.
Listed Australian company Bathurst Resources Ltd has entered into a joint venture agreement to buy L&M Coal Holdings' hard-coking coal exploration assets in Buller.
East Otago-based Oceana Gold has completed its $C86.3 million ($NZ119 million) capital-raising programme which will allow it to buy out its contracted forward hedge book and sell all its gold on the daily international spot market.
Port Otago's log exports could double this financial year as Chinese and Korean demand for southern radiata pine surges, in turn boosting prices more than 60% for the hard-hit forestry sector.
Triple-listed Oceana Gold has raised $C86.3 million ($NZ123 million) in ordinary shares and chess depository interests, which it will use to buy out its contracted forward orders hedge book.
Port Otago's 100% owner, the Otago Regional Council, favours discussion continuing over a proposed merger with rival Lyttelton Port of Christchurch - preferably with a decision made by the end of 2010.
Investors in failed Dunedin boutique company St Kilda Finance have received $1.7 million in disbursements since its receivership in November 2008 - but for the second time have been told the overall payouts would be lower than indicated earlier.
The Government remains tight-lipped on the contents of its wide-ranging "stocktake" mineral report - likely to be one of the more contentious environmental issues this year - which is due to be released by the end of the month.
South Canterbury Finance's plans for its owner Southbury Corporation to list on the stock exchange faces headwinds on several fronts, while the listing remains crucial for it to maintain its Standard and Poors rating in coming months.
Southern lending giant South Canterbury Finance's six-month loss of nearly $155 million was worse than market expectations and gives little detail of overall recapitalisation plans or pending loan repayments of more than $1 billion this year.
The landmark 90-year-old Majestic Mansions apartment block at St Clair has been sold for an undisclosed sum, and leased back to former owner and local developer Stephen Chittock.
Port Otago's up to $100 million plans for deepening 13km of the its shipping channel is its largest single capital expenditure project. Dredging began in 1866 and has since removed about 34 million cubic metres of spoil. Port reporter Simon Hartley looks at the reasoning behind, and the likelihood of opposition to, Port Otago's latest plans.
Embattled South Canterbury Finance has made its final payment to American investors - $24.3 million - a month early in order to exit a $100 million loan whose terms it yesterday described as "disadvantageous".
The respective state of the economies of New Zealand and Australia were brought into sharp relief during the listed-companies reporting season. Business Reporter Simon Hartley and Craigs Investment Partners broker Peter McIntyre consider the two economies' effects on company fortunes and outlooks.
Information on plans for a restored beach near Harington Point, a $10 million wharf extension and a $100 million channel-deepening project was released by Port Otago yesterday.
United States-based giant Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is to contribute $US30 million ($NZ43.1 million) towards exploration of oil and gas prospects about 65km off the coast of Dunedin - with the possibility of a deep-water oil rig arriving next year.
Tourism Holdings Ltd's revenue rose 15% in first half trading to deliver a turnaround result for the period, a $1.4 million after-tax profit compared with a $300,000 loss a year ago.
