The general election in New Zealand next year is starting to weigh on the nation’s equity market and is also likely to weaken business confidence and the exchange rate, brokerage First NZ Capital said. The election, to be held between September and November 2014, is expected to be an extremely close result between a National-led government and a Labour/Green coalition, …

James Hardie Industries, the Australian building materials supplier, settled legal action with the New Zealand government over leaky school buildings. While the terms of the deal are confidential, Sydney-based James Hardie said in its second quarter financial statements in November that it faced potential costs of up to US$47.6 million related to a slew of leaky building claims, including provision …

Talley’s Group, the privately-held maker of foods ranging from frozen fish to ice cream, agreed to buy up to 14.99 percent of Open Country Dairy from Singapore’s Olam International for as much as $46.5 million. The deal would lift Talley’s holding of the dairy company to as much as 70.5 percent from 55.5 percent, increasing its control of a business …