Z Energy is on track to beat its pre-float prospectus earnings forecasts and is rated a “buy” up to $4.21 a share, says Deutsche Bank, a lead manager in the mid-August Z listing whose research is now public after a statutory “black-out” period. Z shares closed yesterday at $3.81, compared with the issue price at listing on Aug 19 of …

AWF Group, New Zealand’s largest provider of temporary staff, has agreed to buy Madison Group for as much as $36 million to expand into the recruitment of professional workers from its core business of recruiting labourers. Madison Group had sales of more than $56 million in the year ended March 31, compared with AWF’s revenues of $131 million. AWF expects …