Mark Beyer

Energy infrastructure business APA Group has announced the purchase of the QCLNG pipeline in Queensland for $US5 billion ($A5.41 billion).

There is very weak correlation between remuneration levels at WA’s major contractors and the performance of their underlying businesses.

The tougher business climate has prompted some WA companies to cut executive salaries, but most have held the line and some have even awarded pay rises.

Clive Palmer’s private company, Mineralogy, has backed off from threats to terminate its agreements with China’s Citic Pacific, after Citic went to court seeking injunctions against its estranged business partner.

Shares in Bradken have soared to a two-month high on the back of a conditional takeover proposal, as the heavy equipment manufacturer continues to close its factories and shed jobs across Perth.

Indian-owned miner Griffin Coal has resumed operations at Collie, two days after its main contractor walked off the job, but there is uncertainty about how many people will be employed at the mine.

Collie coal miner Griffin Coal is endeavouring to hang onto its staff and satisfy its customer commitments after its main contractor Carna Civil & Mining walked off the site late yesterday.

Mid-tier accounting firm ROCG Perth has expanded with the acquisition of specialist research and development tax consultants Insight Business.

Some of Perth’s top company directors and dealmakers, including Michael Smith, Ian Cochrane, Michael Ashforth and Tony Iannello have been recruited to help run prominent family companies.

Twenty years after Wesfarmers bought Bunnings in a contentious takeover, we reflect on the family that started one of Australia's biggest retail successes.

Our inaugural Business Dynasties feature analyses WA’s oldest family businesses, including some that have been running for more than 100 years, profiles Bob and Gavin Bunning 20 years after their family business was bought by Wesfarmers, and looks at the role of ‘outsiders’ like Neil Hamilton, Michael Smith and Ian Cochrane in some of WA’s most notable family enterprises. Also, see our new WA Business Dynasties list.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Group has recruited finance executive Aaron Hood to take charge of its expanding commercial investment activities.

The Woodside Petroleum-led North West Shelf venture has agreed to proceed with its $1.2 billion Persephone gas project off the Western Australian coast.

The Woodside-led North West Shelf joint venture has struck a new supply agreement that will deliver a small increase in the amount of gas coming into the local market but there is still no word on the future of contracts that account for more than half the state’s domestic supply.

WA Police have confirmed reports they are investigating allegations of fraud against billionaire Clive Palmer, using material supplied by his estranged business partner Citic Pacific Mining.

The completion of a $65 million infrastructure upgrade at Fremantle harbour is designed to boost the amount of freight carried on rail, but the key players are coy on how much difference the recent investment will make.

Chief Justice Wayne Martin has thrown his support behind the establishment of a commercial arbitration centre in Perth, which is designed to win a greater share of the dispute resolution work that is often sent overseas.

Wesfarmers attracted a record 1,700 shareholders to its annual meeting today, where it marked 100 years in the business, but it was also the subject of protests and criticism.

The state government has committed to pay $7.3 million per year in fees to the manager of an accommodation village in South Hedland, irrespective of occupancy levels, after tipping in $53 million to support the original development.

Mining services contractor Viento Group has forecast a trading loss in the current half year after disclosing that recently acquired subsidiary HVLV has run into problems on one of its contracts.

BGC is still WA’s largest private company, but Hancock Prospecting looms large.

Rail infrastructure company Aurizon is positive but cautious about the West Pilbara iron ore project, with chairman John Prescott saying today that, on balance, he expects the development to proceed.

A Perth technology company that boasts a track record of sales growth and annual profits is planning to list on the ASX after launching a $2 million initial public offering.

Canning Vale-based seafood producer Kailis Bros has maintained its status as one of Western Australia’s largest private companies, with annual sales of $433 million last financial year.

Leaner times in the junior mining and exploration sector have resulted in widespread cuts to chief executive pay, but the restraint has not been shared equally across the sector, with some actually lifting salaries.

Macmahon Holdings shareholders have registered their displeasure with the company’s poor finance performance, with nearly half voting today against the granting of performance rights to managing director Ross Carroll.

Privately owned construction, engineering and property development company Georgiou achieved a bumper result last year, lifting revenue by 54 per cent and budgeting for continued strong growth.

Wesfarmers has appointed Maya vanden Driesen to the position of group general counsel, putting her in charge of a national team of 42 in-house lawyers.

The top end of the accounting profession in Western Australia has nearly doubled in size over the past decade, whereas the state’s major law firms have recorded minimal growth, according to employment data compiled by Business News.

Global private equity group Denham Capital has teamed up with former Karara Mining chief executive Steve Murdoch to establish a venture that will invest in a handful of new and established mining projects.

Pluton Resources has disclosed that its joint venture partner at the Cockatoo Island iron ore mine wants it removed as manager of the project and has called for it to halt mining operations.

The price that Empire Oil & Gas will pay, to buy out joint venture partner ERM Power from their Perth Basin assets, has been cut to $15.1 million.