Fraser Beattie

West Perth-based oil and gas explorer Orca Energy has been forced to abandon a $20 million capital raising after concerns were raised by the Australian Securities Exchange.

West Perth-based explorer Monto Minerals has joined the wave of backdoor listings, with the company announcing plans to acquire a US tech company for $13 million.

Nedlands-based sandalwood producer TFS Corporation will buy two US pharmaceutical companies for $US23.4 million ($A30.3 million) in cash and shares.

MGC Global, which is currently the takeover target of Perth-based Erin Resources, has signed a $60 million agreement to sell its cosmetic cannabis product to a European cosmetic production company.

Local IT business Empired has secured a $10 million conract to provide infrastructure managed services to an unnamed global oil and gas company, under a three-year term.

Perth online screening and verification company CVCheck will soon lodge a prospectus on the ASX, detailing plans to raise up to $10 million in an initial public offering.

Fortunis Resources has received positive news about its planned backdoor listing, while Basper and Aziana have had to make amendments to their proposals.

Saudi Arabia and Oman-focused copper-gold explorer Alara Resources has flagged the possibility of a scrip merger with an unnamed party, while also announcing the appointment of a new managing director.

Two telco companies that provide roaming services have begun their first day of trading on the ASX today, with Norwood Systems making solid gains while Flexiroam closed flat.

A Subiaco-based piping company led by businessman Andrew Haythorpe has announced plans to buy a New Zealand tech company, in a backdoor listing worth about $5.5 million.

Amcom Telecommunications shareholders have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a $1.2 billion tie-up with rival Vocus, defying TPG Telecom's attempts to block the deal.

For the first time in 25 years, Monadelphous Group plans to institute legal proceedings against a customer, after revealing today the scale of its dispute with Queensland customer Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal.

The state government has awarded contracts worth a combined $104.6 million to local builders Broad Construction Services, Pindan and Emco Building.

Accounting firm RSM Bird Cameron will be taking part in the re-branding of the business by its international parent company, which plans to rename all factions of the global firm to a single entity, RSM.

Oil and gas company Citation Resources is seeking to diversify its business by acquiring an initial 40 per cent interest in an unlisted firm that converts rubber waste into clean fuels, for a cash and share package worth about $7 million.

Perth-based scooter manufacturer and retailer Vmoto has received firm commitments for an $8.9 million capital raising to fund its various investment initiatives.

Construction of the $360 million St John of God Midland Public Hospital has been completed on time and on budget, with Brookfield Multiplex handing the keys to the state government and the hospital operator today.

Engineering and construction contractor Monadelphous Group has placed its shares in a trading halt pending an announcement regarding a contractual dispute.

Uranium miner Toro Energy will pay off its $12 million debt with Macquarie Bank after striking a deal with one of its substantial shareholders.

Claims of a massive cost blowout for Perth's new stadium have been denied by the state government, which says the latest estimate of $1.6 billion simply reflects a different way of presenting the numbers.

Three consortia comprising local and international design firms will compete for the design and construction contract for the new $430 million WA Museum, set to be built at the Perth Cultural Centre.

The unemployment rate across Australia, and especially in Western Australia, has recorded a surprising fall, with the local number affected by a special adjustment by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Pacific Energy has won a contract to build, own and maintain a 14 megawatt power station at Saracen Mineral Holding’s Thunderbox gold project near Leinster for an undisclosed sum.

Australia's corporate watchdog has launched an inquiry into TPG Telecom's planned $1.6 billion takeover of iiNet, after saying the deal may lead to a substantial lessening of competition.

Contractor Serco has had to pay about $1 million in penalties for failing to achieve certain performance targets at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Listed Perth company AnaeCo has achieved a significant milestone at its waste-to-energy plant in Shenton Park, with Western Power approving its connection to the electricity grid.

Subiaco-based iron ore explorer Nemex Resources has announced plans to buy all the shares it doesn’t already own in Wavefront Biometric Technologies.

Forge Group founder Peter Hutchinson is planning to move into agribusiness, with ASX-listed Style announcing the $20 million acquisition of Nor-West Seafoods.

General Mining Corporation shares fell sharply today after the company announced revised terms for the acquisition of an interest in Galaxy Resources' Mt Cattlin tantalum project near Ravensthorpe.

Shares in Nedlands-based Proteomics International Laboratories skyrocketed on news it had produced and validated a predictive test for the diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease.

Mining giant BHP Billiton’s spin-off, South32, has announced it will delay plans to restart operations at its Samancor Manganese joint venture in response to a slide in the price of alloy.

Gold miner Newcrest Mining had to shut its Lihir operations in Papua New Guinea for 36 hours over the weekend after a dispute with members of the local community.