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Simon Evans

Yesterday

Adelaide businessman Ed Peter is restructuring part of his business empire.

Ed Peter’s Duxton empire in pain as it cuts jobs, sells properties

The former bank executive has built a considerable asset management business with wealthy backers. But tough times have forced it to restructure – and shrink.

Original Juice chairman Jeff Kennett (left) and SPC chairman Hussein Rafi in Melbourne on Wednesday. A three-way merger will create a food and drinks group with revenues of $400m in 2024-25.

SPC heads back to the ASX for the first time in two decades

The century-old agribusiness group which began life as a farmer co-operative is merging with listed Original Juice Co and expanding into dairy products.

September

Boral chief executive Vik Bansal has also been chairman of ASX-listed LGI for two years. The stock is up 83 per cent since its IPO.

Investors in Vik Bansal’s biogas side hustle are up 85pc

The Boral CEO is also chairman of ASX-listed biogas group LGI, which has 32 waste landfill sites and supplies electricity into the grid when returns are highest.

The Essential Ingredient sells a range of food ingredients, cookbooks and cookware. PwC has been appointed administrator.

Gourmet grocer The Essential Ingredient falls into administration

The high-end retailer, which has three stores and a big online operation, failed to recover from a difficult trading period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Whyalla steelworks is running at a loss. Owner Sanjeev Gupta is under serious pressure as some creditors go unpaid.

BlueScope sounded out as Whyalla steelworks rescuer

Sanjeev Gupta’s empire is showing further signs of distress as creditor defaults tick up against his other businesses in Australia, InfraBuild and Tahmoor coal.

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Solomon Lew.

Premier Investments delays Smiggle spin-off

Almost $500 million in market value vanished from Solomon Lew’s retail group on its soft trading update on Wednesday.

BYD - Build Your Dreams - is the No.2 selling electric vehicle brand in Australia, behind Tesla.

Federal government warned of Chinese EV software security risk

The federal government is being warned that a timid approach to risks from Chinese vehicle software could undermine national security.

MRI scans and CT scans are a core part of the Lumus business sold by Healius to Affinity.

Tanarra Capital says at $835m the price is right for Healius

Shares in the pathology company jumped 7.5 per cent after it achieved a robust price for Lumus, which does MRI, X-rays and CT scans.

Fabrizio Jorge is the chief executive of Beston Global Food, which called in administrators on Monday.

Cheese and milk producer Beston goes bust as Japanese suitor walks

The company behind the Edwards Crossing Cheese Company and Mables brands has called in administrators, owing more than $55 million to National Australia Bank.

Fletcher Building expects a downturn of between 10 to 15 per cent in market volumes in both Australia and New Zealand for 2024-25, compared with a year ago.

Fletcher warns of construction slump as it pursues $641m raising

The building materials giant says it expects volumes to slide by as much as 15 per cent this financial year, and the Auckland-based company will cut more costs.

A shopper selects a yoghurt at a Woolworths store. Demand has grown 11 per cent in the past year.

Yoghurt sales close on fresh milk amid health kick, helping Bega

The country’s largest producer added $700 million to its market capitalisation this year, as new high-protein and low-sugar products send sales soaring.

The Lumus business conducts X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and ultrasounds.

John Wylie’s Tanarra urges Healius to halt $700m imaging business sale

The country’s second-largest pathology group has been considering selling its Lumus division. But the outspoken investor says it’s going too well to offload.

Sanjeev Gupta, head of the global steel and industrial manufacturing group GFC Alliance.

GFG Alliance’s bills mount as the Whyalla Steelworks begins to strain

The South Australian government says it is important not to “create a panic” even as some suppliers to the Sanjeev Gupta-run business lodge default notices.

Chris Kelly, founder of East Can Canning, which has 48 staff and has dozens of beer companies as customers.

Seven times unlucky beer creditor backs ATO workers’ push for change

When small companies go bust, unsecured creditors end up with very little. A beer can company and the ATO union are unlikely allies in a push to overhaul insolvencies.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag.

The Sydney-born astronaut who learnt Russian in eight weeks

Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first person to train and qualify as an international astronaut under the Australian flag. She’s doing it all for her late mum.

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Social media comedians Matt Ford (left) and Jack Steele, aka The Inspired Unemployed. They are the largest shareholders in zero carb brand Better Beer, with a combined 46 per cent. The collapsed Mighty Craft has a 25.5 per cent stake in Better Beer.

ATO labels Mighty Craft payout a ‘token’

The Tax Office wanted administrators of collapsed drinks group Mighty Craft to pursue a better deal than one where unsecured creditors get less than 1¢ in the dollar.

Solomon Lew, John Cheston and Brett Blundy.

The stoush over Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments gets dirty

For decades, the billionaire has been the king of retailing in Australia. But a carefully leaked document shows not all is well in his sprawling empire.

The late Ken Block founded Hoonigan Industries, which supplied unique automotive clothing.

ARB jumps after buying Hoonigan’s 4 Wheel Parts

The Australian 4WD parts specialist is buying into retail group 4 Wheel Parts, which caters to Ford F-150 and Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts.

A boy at dentist.

Pacific Smiles CEO exits after just eight months and failed takeover

Co-founder and large shareholder says July trade was strong in part because some dentists cut back on the usual skiing holidays and worked instead.

Athlete star power drives 600pc rise in undies company’s share price

Step One, a bamboo underwear producer for “bigger blokes”, had a difficult start on the ASX, but a new women’s fitness range has reversed the slump.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/simon-evans-j7gbc