Ebos Group shareholders approved the company’s $1.1 billion purchase of the Symbion pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributer in Australia. All six resolutions were passed at the meeting in Christchurch, paving the way for Ebos to triple annual sales to more than $6 billion as it looks to become Australasia’s biggest pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor. “The increased scale and complementary nature of …

Turners & Growers, New Zealand’s largest integrated fruit and vegetable marketer, named its international markets general manager Alastair Hulbert as new chief executive. He replaces Geoff Hipkins, who left the company in March after media reports of a breakdown in his working relationship with the group’s senior management. Hulbert and chief financial officer Harald Hamster-Egerer have led the company in …

The New Zealand dollar gained as signs of an improving US economy prompted investors to take on more risk, boosting equity markets and damping demand for gold and silver. The kiwi rose to 80.86 US cents from 79.20 cents at the 5pm market close in Wellington yesterday. The trade-weighted index advanced to 74.76 from 73.51 yesterday. Reports in the US …