BRIEFS

Printing and distribution company PMP retained the contract to print Woolworths catalogues — a deal it has held for about 10 years and which is believed to be one of the largest commercial print contracts in Australia. The article describes the outcome as a contract boost and welcome good news for PMP.

IAG agreed to sell its UK commercial insurance broker business, Independent Commercial Brokers, to the existing management team for about £10 million (roughly A$15.4 million). The sale is part of IAG’s broader exit from its loss-making UK businesses, though final details were still to be confirmed.

Elders’ subsidiary APT Projects will sell 30,000 hectares of pulpwood timber plantations in the Ord River irrigation area. The standing timber is owned by MIS investors and will be sold to entities associated with Santanol; Elders said it is not selling its own assets but will receive a fee for the sale. The agreement also provides for a conditional sale of MIS-grower-owned Indian sandalwood standing timber.

ANZ sold its Eftpos terminal leasing unit in New Zealand to global payments company VeriFone Systems for an undisclosed sum. About 160 Eftpos NZ staff will transfer to VeriFone. ANZ said the transaction was not material to its earnings.

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.

The article names several buyers and acquirers: the existing management team is buying IAG’s Independent Commercial Brokers business; entities associated with Santanol are buying the MIS-owned standing timber in the Ord River sale; VeriFone Systems is buying ANZ’s Eftpos terminal leasing unit; and Brambles is buying Pallecon.

ANZ explicitly said the sale of its Eftpos terminal leasing unit in New Zealand was not material to its earnings, indicating the bank does not expect a significant impact on its reported financial results from this transaction.

The article covers a range of corporate actions — contract renewals (PMP/Woolworths), divestments (IAG’s UK broker sale, ANZ’s Eftpos unit), asset sales (Elders/plantations), and acquisitions (Brambles/Pallecon). Everyday investors may want to note these moves as they reflect companies reshaping operations, focusing on core businesses or expanding into new areas; monitoring follow-up announcements and financial updates can show how these actions affect company performance.