Dan Wilkie

UK finance group Standard Chartered has bought into Perth-based livestock exporter Wellard Group for $83 million, in a move Wellard says will boost its growth ambitions throughout Asia.

Nickel giant Minara Resources has lodged a 21 per cent full year profit increase on the back of an improved nickel outlook and has flagged an increase in output over 2011.

Besieged property developer Luke Saraceni has been ordered by the Supreme Court to place $1.3 million transferred out of Westgem Investment's accounts the day before receivers were appointed into a trust managed by his lawyers.

Mineral Resources has reported a 121 per cent increase in net profit for the half year ended December 31, on the back of record-high iron ore prices and improved performance from its contracting operations.

Shares in gold miner Ramelius Resources have jumped after it flagged a three-fold half year pre-tax profit increase.

Amcom Telecommunications says it has fast-tracked its entry into the growing cloud computing sector after entering into a strategic partnership with data backup firm BlueFire Corporation.

Toro Energy has entered an agreement to purchase additional uranium tenements adjacent to its Wiluna uranium project from Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel for $4.5 million cash and a conditional royalty.

Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers has finalised rail transport deals with WestNet Rail and QR National for its $3.5 billion urea manufacturing plant near Collie.

Iron ore junior Territory Resources has entered a non-binding agreement with its major shareholder, Hong Kong commodities trading house Noble Group, for a $20.9 million debt to equity conversion.

Radhika Oswal will argue in the Supreme Court of Victoria that ANZ invalidly appointed PPB Advisory as receivers and managers over Burrup Fertilisers, because she believes Burrup was never in default of its debt repayments to the bank.

Perth-based Atlantic has settled its issue of $US335 million ($A334.26 million) of notes to fund the completion of the Windimurra vanadium mine in Western Australia.

Diversified Perth-based explorer Rox Resources says it will acquire the Mt Fisher operation from Avoca Resources, in a conditional all-scrip offer that values the gold-nickel project at around $1.2 million, on today's share price.

Privately owned development group Ascot Capital says it expects to begin construction on its ambitious plans to redevelop the WACA ground in August.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman says Western Meat Packers' new $7 million headquarters, officially opened in Osborne Park today, signal confidence in the state's beef industry.

Engineering and construction group Clough says it expects significant growth over the next financial year on the back of rapid expansion of its marine construction order book, after reporting a $10.9 million dip in profits.

Panoramic Resources has flagged an interim profit of $18 million, down from $23.1 million in the previous corresponding period on the back of reduced nickel production.

Aspen Group has finalised a deal to acquire a $183 million office development in Adelaide from one of its part-owned funds, which had previously been unable to secure a pre-sale of the building.

Tanami Gold says a 40 per cent increase in the mineral resources at its Central Tanami project has paved the way for a resumption of mining operations.

Reed Resources and joint venture partner Mineral Resources have agreed to amend the ownership structure of the Mt Marion lithium project to achieve a greater alignment of interests for the downstream processing of the minerals for use in batteries.

Perth-based advanced materials group Alexium has announced a six-month extension to its US Air Force research and development agreement, and says it is working on a new multi-year contract to expand applications for its surface treatment technology.

Nickel miner Mincor Resources has posted it's second ever period in the red, with a $2.1 million first half net loss on the back of unexpected operational issues at its Kambalda mines.

Perth-based clean technology firm EcoQuest has signed a deal with independent New South Wales grocery store chain Franklins to stock its biodegradable disposable nappy products.

Steel fabrication and engineering group G&G Mining has been fined $60,000 over an incident in which a worker from a labour hire firm was crushed and left a paraplegic.

Poseiden Nickel says it will restart its Mt Windarra nickel mine after it entered an $8 million agreement with GSM Mining to complete the refurbishment of the underground project.

The state government has released detailed design plans for the Perth waterfront redevelopment, and has set aside $270 million in the 2011-12 state budget to kick off construction early next year.

Medical devices and technologies group bioMD has announced a friendly takeover bid for Allied Medical, an unlisted public company backed by Andrew Forrest and led by Ian Frazer.

Embattled property developer Luke Saraceni has filed a writ in the Supreme Court to have KordaMentha removed as receivers for troubled $500 million office development Raine Square.

Resources sector equipment and parts provider ADG Global Supply has reported a 25 per cent increase in interim operating revenue which underpinned a $339,000 profit, bouncing back from a $40,000 loss in the previous corresponding period.

Perth-based parts manufacturer Automotive Technology Group has entered into an agreement with a Malaysian components fabricator to assess the viability of establishing a joint venture factory in Malaysia.

Receivers for embattled office development Raine Square have seized another Saracen Properties asset in Subiaco, after the sale of Saracen's neighbouring property was settled last Thursday in deal worth around $67 million.

Northern Star Resources says it has acquired the 668,000 ounce Ashburton gold project from Sipa Resources in exchange for royalties on future production.

Western Australia's environmental watchdog says it is unlikely to support any further development on the Whicher Scarp, near Boyanup, after it knocked back Bemax Resources' proposal to develop a new mineral sands mine.