Western Areas

David Southam has resigned as the executive director of Western Areas to succeed Peter Muccilli as the managing director of Mincor Resources.

The final months of 2018 hit investors in Western Australian stocks hard, with the Business News index of 30 local ASX-listed companies falling 13.3 per cent.

Gold miners with Western Australian operations are providing a strong return to investors, making up 35 per cent of the top 20 performing stocks in the S&P/ASX 200 for the past three months.

Telecommunications provider Swift Networks has won multiple contract extensions and expansions, as well as a new contract, in the resources industry.

Ausdrill has won contracts in Western Australia worth a combined $171 million, including for underground mining services at Regis Resources’ Rosemont project.

High-level iron ore, lithium and gold projects set pace for more than 50 developments in fresh commodities boom.

US company Civeo has acquired Kewdale-based Action Industrial Catering, which counts Fortescue Metals Group, Pilbara Minerals and Western Areas among its major clients.

Western Areas has struck an offtake sale and purchase agreement with Sumitomo Metal Mining for product from its Forrestania nickel operation.

The number of women in executive leadership positions across Australia’s largest listed companies is slowly increasing according to a new report, with Emeco Holdings, Wesfarmers and South32 the top performers for Western Australia.

First Quantum Minerals has reached a new milestone as it moves closer to re-opening its Ravensthorpe nickel project, while fellow nickel miner Western Areas has signed new offtake contracts with BHP and Jinchuan.

Western Areas says it remains on track to meet its full-year production guidance after reporting steady nickel production and sales over the March quarter along with a healthy financial position.

Renowned geologist and company director Terry Grammer has passed away after a short-term illness, with former colleagues and industry figures highlighting his role in some of Western Australia's biggest mineral discoveries.

Panoramic Resources has edged closer to the restart of its Savannah nickel mine in the East Kimberley after launching a $90 million capital raising, with Western Areas to emerge as a new strategic investor.

Atlas Iron chief executive Sanjiv Manchanda was among the biggest fundraisers in Australia for this year’s CEO Sleepout, helped by a sizable donation from Atlas' owner, Gina Rinehart.

Shares in Western Areas closed up 16 per cent today after the nickel producer released results from its first drill hole at the Sahara prospect, located at the company’s Gawler project in South Australia.

Mineral Resources has achieved record iron ore production for the June quarter, while Western Areas says its nickel output fell just below the company’s full-year guidance.

Western Areas’ net profit has more than doubled to $31.9 million for the full financial year, with the nickel miner also reporting strong sales revenue.

Perenti subsidiary Barminco has secured a $200 million, five-year development and production contract at Western Areas’ Odysseus nickel mine.

Shares in Western Areas fell sharply today after the nickel miner said it expected lower production volumes and higher costs this financial year.

Metal Hawk’s share price closed up 30 per cent on its first day of trading, while fellow gold explorer Medallion Metals has sought an ASX listing before Christmas.

Perenti has won a series of new contracts and extensions in WA, including at sites held by Gold Fields, Western Areas and Consolidated Minerals.

Nickel miner Western Areas has secured $85 million to complete the development of its Odysseus project in the northern Goldfields while announcing plans to raise a further $15 million.

Nickel miner Western Areas has posted a 20 per cent rise in quarterly production, as the company looks to bolster its WA operations with the development of its Odysseus project.

IGO has confirmed it is in discussions with fellow nickel miner Western Areas over a potential takeover worth more than $800 million.

Andrew Forrest’s Tattarang has bought $38 million of Western Areas shares since March, revealed a day after IGO confirmed the nickel miners were in takeover discussions.

Nickel miner Western Areas has incurred a full-year loss on the back of “mine production issues” at its Forrestania operations near Kalgoorlie.

Listed business GR Engineering Services has secured work on Western Areas’ Cosmos nickel operations near Leinster.

A potential takeover between IGO and Western Areas could still be on the table after the companies offered the market their first update in weeks that due discussions were continuing.

Perth nickel company IGO has continued to push its clean energy strategy confirming it will acquire rival Western Areas in an all cash takeover, ending months of speculation.

BHP is mounting a legal claim against Western Areas after it was forced to fork out more than $1 million in compensation because of an alleged insurance bungle.

Wyloo has stepped up its stake in WA nickel play Western Areas to just over 9 per cent, despite the target agreeing to a $1.1 billion takeover with IGO six weeks ago.

Strengthening commodity prices have helped conclude a smooth quarter for IGO and braced Pilbara Minerals through a period of lower production and labour shortages.

With its Western Areas acquisition still in progress, IGO has responded to media speculation surrounding a copper mine deal with Glencore.

Western Areas co-founder and former managing director Julian Hanna said he was excited to return to a promising nickel and base metals exploration story.

Western Areas and its independent expert are reviewing terms for a planned takeover from IGO in light of volatile nickel pricing.

IGO’s proposed acquisition of Western Areas has hit a snag amid claims that an independent report prompted the WSA board to potentially reconsider its endorsement of the $3.36 per share offer.

IGO has won back endorsement from the Western Areas board for a proposed takeover after bumping up its offer price from $3.36 to $3.87 per share.

Western Areas shareholders have voted largely in favour of a friendly takeover from IGO, drawing the $1.26 billion deal near to a close.

IGO said today its scheme of arrangement, to acquire 100 per cent of Western Areas, was legally effective, with the deal scheduled to complete later this month.

Renowned Western Australian mining veteran Terry Streeter, who started investing in resources stocks more than 40 years ago using funds from his grocery business, has passed away aged 80.