Shares in Hellaby Holdings fell 2.7 percent after the trading halt for a $40 million placement to institutional investors was lifted. The stock shed 9 cents to $3.20 after trading resume, keeping a 6.3 premium to the $3 placement price. A range of local institutional investors bought 13.33 million, and will also be eligible for the 5 cents per share …

Scott Technology, the industrial automation firm, lifted first-half profit 5.6 percent even as its sales dropped on the strength of the strong New Zealand dollar. Net profit rose to $2.2 million, or 6.2 cents per share, in the six months ended Feb. 28 from $2.1 million, or 5.7 cents, a year earlier, the Dunedin-based company said in a statement. Sales …

Fonterra Cooperative Group plans to slash its consumer brands in Australia to restore profitability as competition intensifies for both milk supply and retail sales. The company’s ANZ division, which produces consumer products and ingredients in Australia and New Zealand and runs the RD1 rural supplies chain, posted a 32 percent decline in normalised earnings before interest and tax in the …