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PeopleIN improved underlying earnings and reduced leverage in FY26 despite a statutory loss, as Queensland’s infrastructure demand drove a sharp recovery in its core workforce division. The company is now betting that a leaner portfolio, Infrawork’s trans-Tasman labour channel and Brisbane 2032-related work can sustain the upturn.

Equus Energy has secured a binding conditional 10-year gas sales agreement with Alcoa covering about 50 TJ a day, while receiving US$1.5 million to fund the next stage of project partnering. The milestone strengthens the commercial case for the Equus Gas Project, but the development remains pre-FID and requires substantial capital, partners and approvals.

IPD Group closed FY26 with record revenue and earnings, a higher fully franked dividend and leverage of about 0.3 times underlying EBITDA. The electrical infrastructure provider enters FY27 with its data centre pipeline and Platinum Cables integration carrying much of the growth narrative.

Swoop Holdings has agreed to sell its Sydney-based Fibre assets to Xenith for approximately $4.5 million, extending a portfolio simplification drive aimed at reducing debt. Completion remains subject to FIRB approval and other conditions, with settlement expected in Q3 FY27.

Paradigm’s administrators have asked the Supreme Court of Western Australia for up to three more months to assess sale and recapitalisation proposals. Without the extension, they say they would have no alternative but to recommend winding up the biotech.

Hawthorn Resources is nearing a financial investment decision on a larger Anglo-Saxon open pit after upgrading the project’s resource to about 200,000 ounces. The opportunity is advancing alongside a wider FY2026 loss, falling cash and pending exploration results at Pinjin East.

Acusensus has secured a five-year ACT Government traffic enforcement contract valued at approximately $63 million, with extension options that could lift the total to $210 million. The deal broadens its role from specialist detection to a territory-wide enforcement platform, although rollout is not expected until mid-2027.

Proteomics International will take Promarker D and Promarker Eso nationwide through Healius from 26 October, extending its first commercial release beyond Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The tests will initially be offered privately at $495 and $997, while revenue remains too uncertain to forecast.

Zip delivered strong first-quarter growth, with total transaction volume up 18% to A$4.6 billion, but a US fraud event cost A$10.1 million and pushed group net bad debts higher. The company nevertheless reaffirmed its A$340 million FY27 cash EBTDA target, with September momentum offering an early test of whether the disruption was temporary.

Peet delivered record FY26 earnings as its proposed sale to Ingenia moves through the approval process. Profit rose 77% to $103.4 million, while contracts on hand climbed to $850.7 million and the fully franked dividend increased to 13 cents per share.

Black Cat Syndicate maintained its FY27 production and cost guidance despite a capital-heavy quarter that pushed cash and liquid investments down by A$27.7 million. Paulsens remained steady, while Kal East’s ramp-up and a new A$30 million cash improvement program now dominate the execution story.

Dreadnought Resources is preparing to move Star of Mangaroon into mining and processing while advancing Metzke’s Find as a second potential gold development. The company ended September with A$11.6 million in cash and term deposits after a quarterly cash outflow of A$4.1 million.