Fraser Beattie

MZI Resources has officially achieved first production at its Keysbrook mineral sands project near Serpentine, three weeks ahead of schedule.

Shipbuilder Austal has built on its relationship with the US Navy, winning a $US53.5 million ($A75.3m) contract to procure materials for a new vessel.

Engineering contractor Calibre Group has announced a radical restructuring that includes a partial buyout of minority shareholders, delisting from the ASX, and the purchase of Sydney-based company Diona for $45 million.

Gindalbie Metals is handing over leadership of Karara Mining, with the venture's major shareholder, Chinese steelmaker AnSteel, appointing a new chief executive.

Tame inflation figures have given the green light to the Reserve Bank of Australia for an interest rate cut, but it remains unclear whether the central bank is inclined to step on the accelerator at its next monthly meeting.

Uranium hopeful Bannerman Resources is looking to take full ownership of the Etango project in Africa and become debt free, through a deal with its two major shareholders.

Local explorers Burey Gold and Excelsior Gold a raising a combined $6.7 million to fund ongoing work at their respective gold projects.

Australian businesses are settling their invoices at a ‘record-setting pace’ of 45.1 days on average, according to a quarterly report by Dun & Bradstreet.

The state government has named a consortium led by Leighton Contractors as the preferred proponent for construction of the $500 million Roe 8 highway project, which is the first leg of the contentious Perth Freight Link.

ANZ Banking Group subsidiary Esanda has agreed to compensate more than 70 borrowers who took out car loans worth $1.38 million through Victoria Park-based broker Get Approved Finance.

Byrnecut subsidiary Murray Engineering has expanded interstate with the acquisition of electrical and mechanical engineering business SRO Group for an undisclosed sum.

MZI Resources will raise up to $45 million to repay loans and fund ongoing work, as its Keysbrook mineral sands project moves into production.

Oil and gas company AWE has sold its stake in the Cliff Head offshore oil project to Elixir Petroleum, for an upfront payment of $1 million.

Aspen Group’s battle for ownership of Aspen Parks Property Fund has intensified, after Discovery Holiday Parks put forward a $135 million takeover offer for the business.

An independent panel has endorsed the proposed development of a liquefied natural gas precinct at James Price Point near Broome, but the recommendation may have little impact as project developers led by Woodside Petroleum have shifted their focus to floating LNG developments.

Specialist materials technology company Alexium International Group has been selected to develop fire-retardant products for the US Department of Defense.

Metals X’s $82 million takeover offer for embattled copper miner Aditya Birla Minerals won’t succeed after the target’s largest shareholder said it wouldn’t be accepting the offer.

Fremantle Ports chairman Jim Limerick has been appointed to the board of the Environmental Protection Authority.

A consortium including Programmed Maintenance Services has been named the preferred bidder for the ACT’s $150 million Law Courts Public Private Partnership, while the state government has signed a contract for Western Australia’s first schools PPP.

Iron ore miner BC Iron has continued its run of cost saving initiatives at its Nullagine operation by awarding a $40 million road haulage contract to QUBE Holdings.

Subiaco-based Nemex Resources has abandoned plans to wholly acquire Wavefront Biometric Technologies, but will instead raise capital and secure a majority stake in the target.

Local explorer RNI has sold its shareholding in Metals X for $23.4 million to pay off all its debt and fund new drilling work on its copper tenements in the Bryah Basin.

Atlas Iron says it achieved its annual production rate target four months early while reducing costs during the September quarter, and has started working towards a new iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Shares in Santos have jumped after the struggling energy giant revealed it has rejected a $7.1 billion takeover bid this week.

The state government has released plans to formalise a ‘protection area’ around the Western Trade Coast industrial area, pleasing existing industry but disappointing land developers.

Investors have welcomed news that engineering and contracting firm Monadelphous Group has teamed up with a family-owned company in the US to target work in the shale gas industry.

The competition watchdog has raised concerns regarding Automotive Holdings Group’s $43 million sale of its Covs Parts business to GPC Asia Pacific, which already operates the Repco chain.

The Di Latte family has cancelled plans to buy all the shares it doesn’t own in Diploma Group and privatise the business.

Perth-based GR Engineering Services has won a $7 million contract for work at Eldorado Gold Corporation’s Olympias project in Greece.

Max Bergomi has left his executive position at engineering group Clough to take the helm as chief executive of Tempo Australia.

Regenerative medicine company Avita Medical has raised $10 million from investors to support the commercialisation of its ReCell device, which is being trialled by a US government agency.

New retail trading laws for WA will affect businesses as varied as Bunnings, Masters, stallholders at short-term markets and even shops on Rottnest Island as the state government moves to widen trading hours and remove anomalies in current regulations.