Beleaguered APN News & Media, the Australasian publisher of the New Zealand Herald, has increased write-downs on the value of goodwill and its newspaper mastheads in its end of year result, to produce a net loss to Dec. 31 to A$455.8 million. The decision to add a further A$151 million on non-cash impairments to the A$485 million already announced at …

Specialty chemicals maker Nuplex Industries missed expectations as its net profit more than halved and the company cut its forecast for annual earnings, blaming the strength of the currency and weak trading conditions in Australia and Europe. Net profit sank to $11.5 million, or 5.8 cents per share, in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $24.1 million, or 12.3 …

Finished wood products manufacturer Tenon says it’s on the cusp of profitability as the prolonged slump in the US housing market comes to an end, but its cost-cutting and efficiency investments in New Zealand have been completely eroded by the high kiwi dollar. Tenon reported a reduced US$2 million loss in the six months to Dec. 31, down from US$6 …