Fonterra Cooperative Group, which raised $525 million through a unit trust for external investors last month, has hiked its forecast payment to farmers and expects to see more gains in global dairy prices next year. The dairy cooperative increased its forecast farmgate milk price by 25 cents to $5.50 per kilogram of milksolids and held the expected dividend payment of …

Warehouse Group, the country’s biggest listed retailer, bought consumer electronics and appliance chain Noel Leeming Group for $65 million from Gresham Private Equity. The Auckland-based retailer’s acquisition will be completed today and is expected to add to the company’s earnings immediately, contributing between $4 million to $6 million to earnings before interest and tax in the six months ended Jan. …

A consortium of Wellington business brahmans, including former top executives at Brierley Investments, has taken a majority share in fast-growing syrups maker Shott Beverages, with the intention of expanding its production and export sales. The investing group, Beverage Holdings Ltd, is led by former Brierley executive Andrew Meehan and comprises the same team as bought the pet food brand, Masterpet, …