Business News

Sheena Eckhof has been appointed non-executive director of Taruga Gold. Dan Smith has resigned as non-executive director but will remain as company secretary.

Gold junior Orinoco has tapped investors for a near-$5 million capital raising and a $3 million investment by AngloGold Ashanti, as it progresses development of its Cascavel operation in Brazil.

MEC Resources has advised that current non-executive director Darryl Moore has appointed Matthew Battrick as his alternate director.

NRW Holdings' recently acquired east coast business, Golding Contractors, has been hired to provide its services to a coal mine in Queensland under a $25 million contract.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has landed its first commercial deal in Taiwan after being hired to build two vessels, with the contract valued at $44 million.

Esports Mogul Asia Pacific has appointed Travis Howle as principal software engineer, Robert Connolly III as product director and Tobias Guse as senior front-end software engineer.

AUSTRAC's civil penalty proceedings against Commonwealth Bank of Australia won't appear in the Federal Court until April next year.

Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi has been disqualified from holding any office for 18 months after failing to disclose gifts and travel, but her lawyer will seek to halt the penalty pending an appeal.

Paul Thomson has signed a new service agreement with A-CAP Resources and will transition from his current role of managing director to chief executive.

Former Horizon Power chair Brendan Hammond and MercyCare director Rebecca Tomkinson have been appointed to chair the Pilbara and Wheatbelt development commissions, respectively.

Metals X says the recent closure and subsequent reopening of its Nifty copper mine will dent production for the quarter, but it has maintained its full-year target.

Qantas will conduct a 12-month trial of discounted airfares for six regional centres in Western Australia, following a similar move by Regional Express in July.

Marine technology company VEEM has delivered its first full-year results since listing on the ASX in October, with a better-than-expected normalised profit.

Tony Walsh has resigned as company secretary of Atlas Iron.Michael Anderson has resigned as non-executive director of Base Resources.

Heavy equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has its sights set on a positive year ahead, after narrowing its net loss to $180 million following a year of write-downs and the completion of a three-way merger.

Blackham Resources has locked in a $72 million funding deal with US-based investment group Lind Partners, which will be used to progress expansion plans at its Matilda gold mine.

Junior explorer Lithium Australia has announced plans to acquire a Brisbane-based battery cathode developer in an all-scrip deal worth about $7.3 million.

Doray Minerals has flagged a $71.7 million net loss for the 2017 financial year, on the back of a large impairment charge.

Coventry Group has advised that current chief executive Robert Bulluss will join the board as managing director and chief executive.

Perth-based Tox Free Solutions has announced a slightly lower full-year profit result while increasing its dividend payout to shareholders.

Copper-gold miner Sandfire Resources has announced a record dividend payout after a profitable 12 months.

Nationals WA leader Mia Davies has accused the state government of draining funds from the Royalties for Regions program into the $3 billion Metronet plan, saying an internal directive banning future use of the rural fund's logo was the beginning of its winding-up.

Sam Diep has resigned as chief executive of VDM Group.

Northern Minerals has locked in a $US30 million ($A38 million) research and development loan facility with a US-based financier, as it progresses development of its Browns Range heavy rare earths project.

Special transport plans are being developed to handle expected crowds at Perth Stadium early next year, which will include an NRL double-header two weeks before the opening round of AFL games, and an Ed Sheeran concert that is now tipped to fill the venue. But the venue will not be able to host week-night AFL games before June 30.

Peter Hildebrandt is the new chief executive of Advanced Braking Technology.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has returned to the black with a profitable 2017 financial year, driven in large part by a turnaround in its US operations.

Poseidon Nickel has entered into an agreement with Northern Star Resources to explore the use of its Black Swan operation to process gold ore.

PwC has appointed Michelle Tremain as the next managing partner, Perth. She will replace Justin Carroll in the role from the beginning of next year.

Mark Hohnen has been appointed non-executive director of Rift Valley Resources.

GR Engineering Services says it will continue to pursue legal action against Eastern Goldfields over its work at the Davyhurst operation, while also revealing it would defend Wolf Minerals' $12.2 million claim notice over a project in England.