Wellington / Bloomberg Vodafone Group Plc’s New Zealand business and the country’s largest pay-television provider, Sky Network Television Ltd., agreed to a NZ$3.44 billion ($2.4 billion) merger as they grapple with increasing competition. The global mobile-phone operator will own 51 percent of the combined entity, the companies said in a joint statement Thursday. Sky Network is issuing new stock …

  Paris / Bloomberg Airbus Group SE is close to selling off its remaining holding in Dassault Aviation SA as the European aircraft maker disposes of assets to focus on its core businesses, people familiar with the matter said. Airbus is working with advisers, and a sale could come as soon as this week, the people said, asking not to …

  Dubai / AFP Bahrain’s struggling carrier Gulf Air said on Thursday it reduced losses by 62 percent last year as a result of the company’s restructuring. Losses fell from 62.7 million dinars ($166.29 million) in 2014 to 24.1 million dinars ($63.92 million) last year, Gulf Air said in a statement. “I am delighted with these results. 2015 delivered the …