Mark Beyer

KARRATHA-BASED Carr Civil Contracting has readied itself for expansion by negotiating an equity investment and strategic alliance with South African engineering and construction company WBHO.

Crescent Gold has announced plans for a $45 million capital raising pitched at 11 cents per share, to bring a second gold mine into production and strengthen its balance sheet.

Jack Cowin and Frank Romano should have a lot in common – they are two of the largest players in Australia’s fast-food franchise industry – yet they sit on opposite sides of a debate that has split the sector.

There is an elephant in the room whenever labour shortages in Western Australia are discussed, and that is the offshoring of work.

A contentious proposal to strengthen regulation of the franchising industry is expected to be referred to a parliamentary committee for review but the bill's sponsor says he still has significant support.

The owner of the Red Rooster and Chicken Treat fast food chains has reported its third successiuve annual loss, and also revealed the price it paid to acquire 40 CHOOKS stores.

AS debate over franchise reform heats up in Western Australia, 58 per cent of franchisors participating in a national study have reported having a formal dispute with a franchisee.

Diversity in the business world is surprisingly rich and one of the sector’s great strengths.

Engineering and construction group Marine & Civil has gone into administration after incurring losses on the Gorgon gas project on Barrow Island.

Business groups are divided over the merits of a private members bill introduced to the WA parliament, designed to protect the interests of franchise operators from rogue franchisors.

Sphere Minerals has reiterated its support for Xstrata's $3.00 per share takeover offer, after disclosing that Chinese group Sin-Tang Development is believed to be pursuing an alternative $130 million capital raising pitched at $3.25 per share.

Imdex Ltd subsidiary AMC has won the top prize at the state government's Innovator of the Year Awards, with other winners including Firstphysio, Metro Power Company,Flexipole Industries and engineering group JP Kenny.

MAIN Roads has awarded the first of seven new-style maintenance contracts as industry players finalise their pitch to win the remaining multi-million dollar deals.

Interest rate increases are never welcome but the Reserve Bank’s track record needs to be respected.

Investment bank UBS has stepped up its presence in WA with the appointment of experienced company director Neil Hamlton as a senior adviser and Tim Day as co-head of its Perth office.

The planned merger of the Australian and Singapore stock exchanges highlights a global trend to which Perth businesses need to adapt.

WESTERN Australia’s public universities have secured 7.8 per cent of the Australian Research Council’s latest round of grants, continuing the long-running pattern whereby WA is underweight on a per capita basis.

The real gem in the prime minister’s economic reform speech was her commentary on social media.

THREE Perth technology companies involved in drug development, secure data storage and education software have shared in $760,000 worth of grants under the federal government’s Commercialisation Australia scheme.

A likely ministerial reshuffle later this year would enable the state government to lift its focus on infrastructure.

The Reserve Bank has offered borrowers a small reprieve from higher interest rates but there are bigger issues to worry about.

THE Commonwealth’s history may lie in politics but its future lies in business, Commonwealth Business Council director general Mohan Kaul has told local industry leaders.

The rising value of the Australian dollar is a game changer for many businesses in the west.

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has stirred debate with his forthright advocacy of action on climate change.

The newly formed federal government needs to be tested on policy scrutiny and accountability.

Proposed resource projects will test the state government’s decision-making prowess.

Surging resources sector investment is great for WA, but local industry could be doing better.

UGL Limited, formerly United Group, has announced that deputy chairman Bruno Camarri will be retiring at the company's next annual meeting.

Private businesses in WA are selling again after last year’s slump, but the valuations are short of the boom time levels.

The federal election outcome could improve the quality of government in Australia.

DELOITTE has overtaken KPMG as the third largest accounting practice in Western Australia, research for WA Business News Book of Lists has found.

For WA businesses, the key issues heading into the election are mining taxes and broadband.