Mighty River Power says it has extended an option to increase its stake in US-based geothermal company EnergySource from 20 percent to 33.3 percent. In its first quarterly update since 49 percent of the state-controlled electricity company floated on the NZX and ASX on May 10, MRP says its original option expired last month, but had been extended to the …

The New Zealand government reported a smaller operating deficit than predicted in last month’s Budget forecasts as improving corporate profitability underpinned a bigger company tax take. The operating balance before gains and losses (obegal) was a deficit of $3.99 billion in the 10 months ended April 30, smaller than the $4.65 billion shortfall projected in the Budget Economic and Fiscal …

Snakk Media, which aggregates publishers’ ad space on mobile devices and matches it to advertisers’ demand, boosted annual sales 83 percent and is on the prowl for investment opportunities with its new $6.5 million war chest. Sales rose to $3.65 million in the 12 months ended March 31 from $1.99 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a …