Merchant Group

Local tech company Sky and Space Global has tapped investors for $10 million and has launched a $5 million share purchase plan, with funds to be spent on the design and construction of its first batch of nanosatellites.

Perth finance executives Andrew Frazer and Simon Lill have agreed to a strategic alliance between their respective businesses.

Perth-based tech company Velpic has struck a deal to sell its primary business to Damstra Technology for about $3.8 million, weeks after most of its staff were made redundant.

A Perth technology startup backed by mining entrepreneur Kerry Harmanis has developed an artificial intelligence platform it believes can be applied to nearly any industry.

Cancer-focused medical technology company BARD1 Life Sciences has raised around $7.5 million via a share placement and rights issue, and has appointed two non-executive directors to its board.

Perth-based Merchant Group is now the largest shareholder of medical cannabis company AusCann Group Holdings, after it acquired an 11.43 per cent stake worth around $11.6 million.

AusCann Group Holdings chair Mal Washer and director Cheryl Edwardes have advised they will retire from the medical cannabis company's board, with major shareholder Merchant Group planning to nominate one new director.

West Perth-based Sky and Space Global has revised its previously announced plans for a $15 million capital raising, with the funds to be raised through a placement and rights issue at 0.5 cents per share.

Venus Metals Corporation has entered into an underwriting agreement with Ord Minnett to exercise $5.7 million worth of options to progress exploration activities at its base metal projects in Western Australia.

With uncertainty surrounding global share markets, Business News has taken a close look at the strategies of six Perth-based fund managers.

Perth-based fund managers beat the market last financial year but are divided on future investment strategies.

Medicinal cannabis company AusCann Group Holdings has bought in to the animal health sector after announcing its acquisition of NSW business CannPal Animal Therapeutics.

Perth-based Marketech has launched an upgraded ASX trading platform targeting high-volume traders, after tapping national investors to fund its development.

Perth equity fund managers are having to look harder for value after generating very strong returns during the past year.

Peter Meurs and Perth-based Merchant Group have invested $9.5 million in biopharmaceutical company Dimerix, as part of a broader capital raising to fast-track clinical studies.

The volatility of the stock market towards the end of the financial year has been further illustrated by results reported well after the June 30 cut-off date by specialist funds operating from Western Australia.

A $250 million venture capital initiative launched by the Forrest family seeks to leverage the millions of dollars of health-related R&D funding by governments and bridge the commercialisation 'valley of death' faced by many startups.

The commercial side of life sciences may have reached a critical mass in WA.

Investors get the pick of about 50 WA-based funds, which have mostly enjoyed a better year.