Mark Beyer

One of the buzz phrases of the 1980s and 1990s was “the now generation”.

Technology companies typically emerge from universities and other research institutions, but one WA success story that evolved away from the limelight was ThinkSmart.

An informal survey of investment bankers and corporate advisers has highlighted Wesfarmers’ $20 billion takeover of Coles Group as the top deal of 2007.

The crisis in the US housing market has led to mounting concerns about the global economic outlook, but recent analyses have concluded that Western Australian exporters have little to worry about.

The holiday season is usually a slow news period, but one very important announcement that came out between Christmas and new year was the state government’s mid-year budget review.

Oil and gas producer Chevron is planning to seek environmental approval for an additional gas production train on Barrow Island, after deciding to expand the capacity of its proposed Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project by 50 per cent.

NewGen Power and Rick Stowe's Griffin Energy have signed long-term electricity supply contracts with state-owned retailer Synergy, paving the way for major new gas and coal-fired power stations to proceed.

Plans to build a $400 million lumber project at Albany have effectively come to an end after Subiaco company Lignor Ltd said it had failed to raise $350 million, triggering the resignation of its managing director Glyn Denison.

Shipbuilder Austal Ltd announced today that its United States subsidiary has finalised a funding agreement with the US Navy, under which a portion of the costs of its planned manufacturing facility in Alabama will be reimbursed.

Woodside Petroleum has awarded the engineering contract for its Pluto gas plant to a FosterWheeler WorleyParsons joint venture, continuing the run of success Sydney-based WorleyParsons has had in Western Australia.

Prime minister Kevin Rudd and the premiers have agreed at today's Council of Australian Governments meeting to set up several working groups to drive policy reform.

Base metals miner Herald Resources this month became the latest of many Western Australian mining companies to be the target of a takeover offer, as big international groups seek to secure access to resources.

The corporate sector’s focus on sustainable business practices has been reflected in the attention paid to environmental management, occupational health and safety and corporate governance awards.

Mining services companies dominated the major business awards programs in Western Australia in 2007, which was a fitting reflection of the economic drivers during the year.

This week’s property trust rout has highlighted the way in which an unexpected ‘x’ factor can change economic and market trends.

Ten years ago this month, Perth entrepreneur Graeme Morgan collected a giant payout when he and his fellow shareholders agreed to sell one of Perth’s great business success stories for $272 million.

The state Liberal Party has put forward a radical plan to phase out commercial shipping activity at Fremantle harbour in favour of a new port at Kwinana adjacent to the private port planned by private company James Point Pty Ltd.

Female business executives came to the fore in 2007, winning recognition in some of Australia’s most prominent business awards.

Political corruption scandals, the continuing China boom and corporate takeovers have been the dominant themes of 2007.

Engineering company Clough Ltd's contract dispute over the G1 project in India has deepened after its client ONGC submitted a counterclaim worth US$1.2 billion (A$1.3 billion), a figure Clough insists ignores the limits of liability.

The number of Western Australian companies listing on both the Australian Securities Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange has risen to 20, after West Perth-based gold producer Troy Resources NL lodged a preliminary prospectus in Canada.

With world leaders gathered in Bali for this week’s climate change summit, it is instructive to look closer to home to see what is happening on the ground.

The Australian Small Scale Offerings Board has started to become a significant source of new capital for small Western Australian companies, with Live Technologies Ltd the latest to raise capital through this market.

Indonesian mining company PT Bumi Resources Tbk has announced plans to make a $455 million cash takeover offer for West Perth-based Herald Resources Ltd, which is seeking to develop a zinc/lead project in Sumatra.

Fairstair Resources Ltd has increased the value of its hostile takeover offer for iron ore developer Golden West Resources Ltd to $290 million, lifting its scrip offer to seven shares for every one Golden West share.

Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto has outlined plans for the national launch of an autorickshaw that incorporates Orbital Corporation Ltd's direct injection technology.

Creditors of failed biotechnology company Chemeq Ltd are facing losses approaching $40 million after its receivers failed to sell its land and buildings in Rockingham, which are its main asset.

Shares in takeover target Midwest Corporation Ltd rocketed 12 per cent higher today after the company disclosed that it was in discussions with "parties interested in pursuing corporate transactions".

The state government has responded to the acute shortage of industrial land in and around the Perth metropolitan area by allocating $1million for the development of an industrial land planning strategy.

Wesfarmers has become Australia’s largest sector employer, but like all employers it has to grapple with labour shortages.

State opposition leader Paul Omodei has proposed the development of “major sustainable cities” at Karratha and Derby as part of a long-term plan to foster development in the north of Western Australia.

When Coogee Chemicals boss Gordon Martin addressed a WA Business News breakfast last month, he said one of his golden rules was that there was no room for politics in running a business.