BRIEFS

PMP retained the contract to print catalogues for Woolworths — a contract it has held for about 10 years and is believed to be one of the largest commercial print contracts in Australia. For investors, the win is positive news because it preserves a major customer relationship and ongoing printing work for PMP.

IAG agreed to sell its UK commercial insurance broker business, Independent Commercial Brokers, for about £10 million (roughly A$15.4 million). The buyer is the business's existing management team, though some sale details were still to be finalised.

The sale is part of IAG's strategy to exit its loss-making UK businesses. The company is divesting these operations as it streamlines its international exposure.

Elders' subsidiary APT Projects will sell 30,000 hectares of pulpwood timber plantations in the Ord River irrigation area. The standing timber, owned by MIS investors in schemes, will be sold to entities associated with Santanol. The agreement also provides for the conditional sale of MIS-grower-owned Indian sandalwood standing timber.

No. Elders said it is not selling any of its own assets. Instead, it will receive a fee for facilitating the sale of the standing timber owned by MIS investors.

ANZ sold its Eftpos terminal leasing unit in New Zealand to global payments company VeriFone Systems for an undisclosed sum. Eftpos NZ employs 160 staff who will be transferred to VeriFone. ANZ said the transaction was not material to earnings and follows broader streamlining plans, including merging its National Bank brand with ANZ.

Brambles bought container supplier Pallecon for €135 million (about A$170 million). Pallecon operates mainly in Europe, Australia and New Zealand supplying bulk containers for transporting food, cosmetics and chemicals. Brambles said the purchase would be funded from existing bank borrowing facilities.

These deals highlight several strategic themes investors often watch: retaining large customer contracts (PMP), exiting loss-making operations (IAG), monetising investor-owned assets (Elders/APT), streamlining business units (ANZ), and acquiring complementary businesses (Brambles). Such moves can affect future revenues, costs and company focus, so investors may want to monitor company announcements and results for any material impact.