Shares in Ryman Healthcare weakened for a second day on the expectation New Zealand’s largest listed retirement village operator will post slower earnings growth in coming years as its costs increase. Christchurch-based Ryman yesterday posted an 18 percent rise in underlying earnings to $118.2 million for the year ended March 31. Increased costs from adding staff and boosting wages for its …

Singapore-based Wilmar International and Hong Kong-listed investment firm First Pacific Co have sweetened their takeover bid for Australasian food ingredients maker Goodman Fielder by A$100 million, but won’t go any higher without a rival offer. Wilmar, the world’s biggest palm oil processor, and First Pacific are offering to pay 70 Australian cents a share, or A$1.37 billion, for full control …

Meridian Energy, the country’s largest listed power company, sold its Californian solar plant for an undisclosed sum, wrapping up its exit from the US energy market. The Wellington-based company sold its CalRENEW-1 plant to California-based SunEdison, it said in a statement. The plant was the biggest asset of Meridian’s US subsidiary, which owed the parent $27 million in related party …