Mark Beyer

Perth-based Mineral sands miner Base Resources has launched a scrip takeover offer for ASX-listed World Titanium Resources, which owns the Toliara Sands project in Madagascar, after securing extra funds for its Kwale project.

US company Hess Corporation has moved closer to developing its large Equus gas field off the WA coast, after striking an agreement to process the gas through the North West Shelf venture’s Karratha plant.

Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart has agreed to invest in WA business Bannister Downs Dairy, to support a planned $20 million-plus expansion of the niche dairy producer.

The state government will hit the business sector with increased payroll tax bills and make further cuts in public sector spending after confirming that its annual budget will plunge to a $1.29 billion deficit in the current financial year.

There are not many mining projects on the cards for WA, but there are still opportunities in the sector for engineers and contractors.

The ASX-listed parent company of law firm Rockwell Olivier has been placed in administration, opening up the possibility of its partners buying back the business.

Monadelphous Group has disclosed that its MMM joint venture in Queensland is embroiled in a contractual dispute with major client, Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal.

Plans to upgrade a major Perth highway using proceeds from a trucking toll have drawn widespread criticism, with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Labor Party and the Greens all finding fault with the project and its funding.

Kerman Contracting has continued its run of success this year, securing a contract to develop new infrastructure at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations and in the process lifting its work in hand to $290 million.

Woodside Petroleum has substantially reshaped its project portfolio after buying a minority interest in Chevron’s half-built Wheatstone LNG plant, postponing its planned Browse LNG project and acquiring a stake in a Canadian LNG development.

Mining contractor Barminco Holdings has taken advantage of the falling Australian dollar to repurchase $US36.9 million of its US high-yield bonds, through a transaction that did not require the use of cash reserves.

After two weeks of controversy over Transport Minister Dean Nalder’s “perceived” conflicts of interest, a government report released today made it clear why Premier Colin Barnett stripped Mr Nalder of the finance ministry.

West Perth-based Red Fork Energy, which has raised $125 million from investors over the past three years to support its shale drilling program in the US, has collapsed after losing the support of its major lender.

Australia’s free trade agreement with China is likely to deliver significant benefits to agricultural exporters but the gains will be mainly indirect and apparent over the longer term, a report by Rabobank has concluded.

Energy infrastructure business APA Group has announced the purchase of the QCLNG pipeline in Queensland for $US5 billion ($A5.41 billion).

There is very weak correlation between remuneration levels at WA’s major contractors and the performance of their underlying businesses.

The tougher business climate has prompted some WA companies to cut executive salaries, but most have held the line and some have even awarded pay rises.

Clive Palmer’s private company, Mineralogy, has backed off from threats to terminate its agreements with China’s Citic Pacific, after Citic went to court seeking injunctions against its estranged business partner.

Shares in Bradken have soared to a two-month high on the back of a conditional takeover proposal, as the heavy equipment manufacturer continues to close its factories and shed jobs across Perth.

Indian-owned miner Griffin Coal has resumed operations at Collie, two days after its main contractor walked off the job, but there is uncertainty about how many people will be employed at the mine.

Collie coal miner Griffin Coal is endeavouring to hang onto its staff and satisfy its customer commitments after its main contractor Carna Civil & Mining walked off the site late yesterday.

Mid-tier accounting firm ROCG Perth has expanded with the acquisition of specialist research and development tax consultants Insight Business.

Some of Perth’s top company directors and dealmakers, including Michael Smith, Ian Cochrane, Michael Ashforth and Tony Iannello have been recruited to help run prominent family companies.

Twenty years after Wesfarmers bought Bunnings in a contentious takeover, we reflect on the family that started one of Australia's biggest retail successes.

Our inaugural Business Dynasties feature analyses WA’s oldest family businesses, including some that have been running for more than 100 years, profiles Bob and Gavin Bunning 20 years after their family business was bought by Wesfarmers, and looks at the role of ‘outsiders’ like Neil Hamilton, Michael Smith and Ian Cochrane in some of WA’s most notable family enterprises. Also, see our new WA Business Dynasties list.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Group has recruited finance executive Aaron Hood to take charge of its expanding commercial investment activities.

The Woodside Petroleum-led North West Shelf venture has agreed to proceed with its $1.2 billion Persephone gas project off the Western Australian coast.

The Woodside-led North West Shelf joint venture has struck a new supply agreement that will deliver a small increase in the amount of gas coming into the local market but there is still no word on the future of contracts that account for more than half the state’s domestic supply.

WA Police have confirmed reports they are investigating allegations of fraud against billionaire Clive Palmer, using material supplied by his estranged business partner Citic Pacific Mining.

The completion of a $65 million infrastructure upgrade at Fremantle harbour is designed to boost the amount of freight carried on rail, but the key players are coy on how much difference the recent investment will make.

Chief Justice Wayne Martin has thrown his support behind the establishment of a commercial arbitration centre in Perth, which is designed to win a greater share of the dispute resolution work that is often sent overseas.

Wesfarmers attracted a record 1,700 shareholders to its annual meeting today, where it marked 100 years in the business, but it was also the subject of protests and criticism.