New Zealand manufacturing grew at the fastest pace in eight months in January, with the strongest growth in Canterbury/Westland probably reflecting demand for building materials, but employment in the sector is shrinking. The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Manufacturing Index climbed 4.8 points to 55.2 last month, the highest since May last year and the highest for the month of …

Australian wool merchant Lempriere has reached the 90 percent target of Wool Services International, allowing it to mop-up the remaining shares. The Melbourne-based company reached 90.9 percent of acceptances yesterday, according to a substantial security holder notice, meeting its minimum acceptance and letting it compulsorily acquire the remaining shares in the company. Lempriere launched the takeover last year, offering 45 …

American computer network provider Emulex Corp says it had received acceptances for 88.4 percent of the shares of New Zealand-based, London AIM exchange-listed Endace, and will extend its offer to Feb 26 to allow it to mop up remaining shares, if possible. If Emulex reaches 90 percent acceptances, it has the option to trigger the compulsory acquisition provisions of the …