Mark Beyer

The recently appointed boss of BHP Billiton’s Nickel West division has presented a rare positive message for the unloved business, saying there was “nervous excitement” after a series of internal changes.

Perth-founded online design company Canva has raised $US15 million ($20.8 million) from venture capital investors and Hollywood stars in a deal that values the business at $US165 million.

KPMG’s Energise accelerator has delivered an immediate return for the eight start-up companies participating in the program, with pilot projects and prizes worth more than $650,000 being awarded.

South Africa’s Sibanye Gold is poised to acquire Aquarius Platinum, which has been struggling for several years to deal with weak commodity prices.

NRW Holdings has had a legal win over Samsung C&T, with the Supreme Court upholding a $17 million adjudication in favour of the Perth-based contractor.

Thirteen peak industry groups in Western Australia have backed the establishment of an infrastructure advisory group, in a move designed to give the business sector a unified voice and more weight in policy setting.

The surge in backdoor listings on the ASX hit new highs in the September quarter and is attracting more entrepreneurs with Silicon Valley experience.

A series of major trade sales and the prospect of one of WA’s biggest-ever IPOs were highlights in what remained subdued capital markets in the September quarter. Also in our special report, how a surge in backdoor listings is attracting Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

Business groups in WA are taking the lead on forming a peak infrastructure council after state government failure to support the concept.

Karratha has become the second regional centre in Western Australia after Onslow to complete a major airport upgrade this year, with Busselton and Port Hedland set to commence projects that will lift total spending to about $240 million.

Former Sirius Resources managing director Mark Bennett said there has been a “tidal wave” of offers from other groups wanting to work with his new exploration company, as he seeks to replicate the

Struggling miner Mirabela Nickel has been placed in the hands of administrators, 15 months after the company completed an innovative restructuring to emerge from its first stint in administration.

Building materials manufacturer Brickworks has disclosed that intense competition in the local market meant Western Australia was the only state where it was unable to lift prices for bricks during the past year.

BGC has returned to its traditional position as Australia’s largest home builder, with the latest data from the Housing Industry Association showing six Perth-based builders among Australia’s top 20.

Kerry Stokes’ private company and three property investors are among five bidders shortlisted for the privatisation of Perth's major fruit and vegetable market, which includes the largest land development site in Canning Vale.

A Bentley biotech company led by Graham Melrose is planning a $5 million initial public offering, after six years of research on the development of synthetic antibiotics.

The slowdown in mining project work has resulted in a 26 per cent fall in the number of environmental professionals employed at the state’s biggest consulting firms over the past year.

Fortescue Metals Group has set an ambitious target of having Aboriginal workers fill 20 per cent of all trades positions in its workforce, on the back of an apprenticeship program launched today.

Motorsport in WA faces a pivotal moment next month when the WA Sporting Car Club holds an extraordinary general meeting.

Style chairman Peter Hutchinson has boosted his fledgling seafood business with the recruitment of experienced agribusiness executive David Lock as managing director.

The legal fallout from big resources and infrastructure projects continued to mount this week, when Downer terminated its contract on a $1 billion-plus ammonium nitrate plant in the Pilbara.

Gold miner Regis Resources has posted a strong rise in earnings, with net profit after tax hitting $86.9 million for the year to June 2015.

Downer has terminated its contract with Spanish construction company Tecnicas Reunidas on the Burrup ammonium nitrate project, joining a string of contractors to be hit by contractual disputes on big projects over the past year.

Rob Cole has resigned as managing director of Adelaide-based Beach Energy, after taking leave to attend to family matters in Perth. His resignation comes just six months after commencing with Beach.

Perth entrepreneur Andrew Hopkins has struck a lucrative deal in the most unlikely of sectors, agreeing to sell his Gemini panel beating business to listed company AMA Group for $100 million.

Six years on from the collapse of the big managed investment scheme promoters, stable new ownership and a low currency are boosting the state’s woodchip industry, despite the number of plantation hectares remaining almost unchanged.

Perth security company Threat Protect Australia marked its listing on the ASX today with news it has completed due diligence on one of two planned acquisitions.

Gold miner Doray Minerals has painted a positive outlook for its expanding operations after reporting a small increase in underlying profit for the year to June 2015.

Woodside Petroleum’s ambitious play for Oil Search is a rare example of a Perth-based company being the bidder in a big takeover. Click through to see Business News’ listing and analysis of $1 billion-plus M&A deals in WA over the past 20 years.

Woodside Petroleum has spent the past 60 years focused on the development of its own projects in Australia, but in the space of one year, two major takeover deals collectively worth $15 billion look set to reshape the Perth-based energy giant.

The final step in TPG Telecom’s takeover of iiNet is due to happen today, when iiNet shareholders will be paid $9.55 per share, however, staff and customers face an uncertain future.