Edited announcement

NeuroDiscovery Ltd, a neurology-focused biotechnology research and development company, is pleased to announce its 100 per cent subsidiary, NeuroSolutions Ltd, has entered into a one year Master Services Agreement with a US biopharmaceutical company.

West Perth-based Midwest Corporation Ltd has announced plans to raise $66.9 million through a placement to fund development of its iron ore projects.

West Perth-based Kimberley Diamond Company Ltd has appointed former Rio Tinto Diamonds managing director Gordon Gilchrist as an executive director, after completing a $14.4 million capital raising, the company announced today.

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has signed a short term arrangement with Leederville-based transdermal drug delivery company OBJ Ltd to carry out studies into the use of its technology on a range of nonprescription applications.

WA-based fuel additive manufacturer and Western Force sponsor Firepower Ltd will bring a defamation action against the Sydney Morning Herald after claims allegedly made by the newspaper that Firepower marketed a sham technology and made false claims.

Premier Alan Carpenter has named 12 members of the State's new Science and Innovation Council, which he says will play a major role in positioning science and innovation as one of the key drivers of the State's economy.

West Perth-based Oilex Ltd has raised $67.5 million through a placement to Hartleys Ltd to raise funds for exploration of oil wells in India and Oman, as well as Australia and East Timor.

Perth-based Resolute Mining Ltd has called an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders after declining a request for the appointment of David Matthew Guy to the company board.

South Perth-based biodiesel producer Australian Renewable Fuels Ltd expects to receive $5.4 million in grants this month under the Commonwealth's Biofuels Capital Grants Program, after winning departmental approval for the payment.

West Perth-based Moly Mines Ltd has signed on to purchase $45 million of capital equipment for its Spinifex Ridge molybdenum/copper project from ThyssenKrupp subsidiary Polysius, the company announced today.

Fisheries Minister Jon Ford plans to halve the daily bag and boat limits for blue swimmer crabs to a maximum of 10 and 20 respectively after allocating $600,000 to a research program into maintaining stocks.

Subiaco-based Lignor Ltd will receive log residues from the State Government's Forest Products Commission for use in its engineered strand lumber products until December 2013, Forestry Minister Kim Chance announced today.

West Perth-based Jupiter Energy Ltd plans to appoint Kasakh engineer Erkin Svanbaev to its board to assist its expansion plans into Kazakhstan, the company announced today.

West Perth-based nickel and gold explorer Australian Mines Ltd will acquire leasehold and mineral rights over 86 sqkm of nickel tenements in Kalgoorlie for $3 million in cash, the company announced today.

Bibra Lake-based energy storage facilities manufacturer ZBB Energy Corporation has received a $3.1 million grant from the Federal Government's Advanced Electricity Storage Technologies program.

West Perth-based Apex Minerals NL will spend $28 million to acquire three separate gold tenements in Western Australia's eastern goldfields through cash and scrip issues, the company announced today.

Commonwealth and State governments should put their differences aside and co-operate for the benefit of the nation as a whole, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia.

Perth-based ISP iiNet managing director Michael Malone today called on the federal government and the ACCC for greater consultation with industry on Australia's broadband future.

Bunbury-based Impressive Group Ltd will be acquired by Hills Industries Ltd subsidiary Orrcon Pty Ltd under a combined $10 million acquisition drive by the South Australian company.

Fremantle-based marine services company Mermaid Marine Australia Ltd will launch a share purchase plan later this month to fund the purchase of an Anchor Handling Tug vessel, the company announced today.

Perth-based seafood company Australis Aquaculture Ltd has opened a level one American depositary receipt program - to be managed by the Bank of New York.

Pre-budget announcement number two came out today as Premier Alan Carpenter announced the State Government would spend $18 million over the next four years to add almost 1,500 extra bays to car parks on the Northern Suburbs Railway line.

Lead miner Magellan Metals Pty Ltd has appeared before the Western Australian parliamentary inquiry into the Esperance lead contamination issue, explaining how lead was exported from the town's port facility.

Sydney-based WCP Resources Ltd has raised $10 million through a placement, with investors invited to participate in the company's $8 million initial public offer of uranium spinoff Uranoz Ltd.

West Perth-based Murchison Metals Ltd has completed the baseline study for its Oakajee Iron Ore and rail project, forming part of its overall stage 2 feasibility study for its Jack Hills iron ore project.

Perth-based Amadeus Energy Ltd has budgeted around $25 million for exploration expenditure for the 2007 calendar year, announcing plans to drill a minimum of 13 new deep wells and enter four new projects by December 31.

Health Department budget strategy director Wayne Salvage has been appointed acting director-general of the new Department for Communities, due to come into existence on July 1.

Subiaco-based uranium explorer Newera Uranium Ltd has acquired an 80 per cent stake in the rights to two Northern Territory uranium tenements through a cash and scrip issue.

A Libyan government delegation will be in Western Australia this week to discuss biosecurity and co-operative research and training with senior officers of the Department of Agriculture and Food and local universities, WA Agriculture Minister Kim Chance h

Welshpool-based contracting group Macmahon Holdings Ltd has signed $180 million worth of new rail and civil construction contracts, taking its order book to the record level of $1.8 billion, the company announced today.

Northbridge-based VDM Group Ltd has merged its Western Australian civil engineering consultancies - Van Der Meer Consulting and Ewing Consulting Engineers - to be re-badged as Ewing VDM.

Kwinana-based Alcoa of Australia Ltd's global Technology Delivery Group yesterday unveiled method of capturing carbon dioxide in its bauxite residue, locking up the gas in a greenhouse sink.