Mark Beyer

Limited energy supplies in Western Australia are starting to have a significant impact on new resource projects, with at least two projects battling to secure their preferred supply arrangements.

Perth accountant Geoff Kidd believes the business model employ-ed by most accounting firms has passed its use-by date, and he has put his money where his mouth is.

Wesfarmers has emerged as a new player in Western Australia's deregulated electricity market, competing against the likes of Griffin Group and Alinta to supply industrial customers.

Albany-based law firm Hudson Henning & Goodman has continued the expansion of its Perth operation by acquiring long-standing West Perth practice, Wheatleys Legal.

The release last week of two detailed reports on the state tax review has given an insight into the kinds of far reaching reforms the state government could have pursued, if it chose to.

Capricorn Society Ltd, the centralised buying arm of the automotive repair industry, has taken the final step in its transition from a co-operative to a public company by offering shares to its members.

West Perth-based Moly Mines Ltd has appointed local firm Azure Capital as corporate finance adviser for its $600 million Spinifex Ridge molybdenum project, effectively replacing United States merchant bank Taylor-DeJongh.

The chairman of the state government's tax review reference group has delivered a highly critical assessment of the reform process, saying there had been a failure to pursue visionary reform of the state tax system.

One year after its change of ownership, national computing business ComputerCORP Ltd is close to completing a major restructuring and about to embark on a series of acquisitions.

Minerals testing business Genalysis Laboratory Services Pty Ltd has joined the large number of private Western Australian businesses to have been sold for a premium price after achieving rapid growth during the current resources boom.

Alinta Ltd can expect a substantial protest vote from small shareholders when it holds its meeting in August to approve the proposed Babcock & Brown Ltd-Singapore Power takeover.

After working for five years to win an $80 million waste treatment project in Perth, engineering company WorleyParsons Ltd has pulled the plug on its consortium partners, including Macquarie Bank.

Perth researchers who have achieved major advances in minerals processing and the treatment of saline grazing lands have won awards at the annual conference of the Cooperative Research Centres Association.

Alinta can expect a substantial protest vote from small sharehodlers when they mneet in August to approve the proposed Babcock & Brown Ltd-Singapore Power takeover.

Kerry Stokes' Seven Network has emerged as the surprise buyer of the 10.4 per cent stake in engineering and infrastructure company GRD Ltd that was sold early this week by GRD founder Brettney Fogarty.

a.i. Limited subsidiary aiConstruciton is planning to diversify into the booming iron ore sector and pursue acquisitions after listing on the Australian Securities Exchange under the name of Forge Group Ltd.

BankWest has commenced a seach for a new managing director after the incumbent Rodger McArthur advised that he plans to retire later this year.

Private businesses are being sold at higher earnings multiples in the current market compared with recent years, according to West Perth firm Mergers & Acquisitions Pty Ltd.

Most companies pursue acquisitions so they can accelerate their growth and build on their existing business; Neptune Marine was different.

The booming equities market has allowed several mid-cap companies in Perth to go on an acquisition spree.

The centrepiece of the state government's 2007 budget, handed down last week, was a $433 million tax relief package targeted at first-home buyers, property owners and motor vehicle buyers.

Perth company ThinkSmart Ltd has lodged a prospectus for its long-awaited initial public offering, which will raise $85.6 million and allow existing shareholders led by founder Ned Montarello to substantially reduce their stake in the business.

The WA Liberal Party has engaged former City of Perth town planner Max Hipkins, engineer Peter Bruechle and architect Andrew Storey to help it develop a plan for development of the City of Perth.

The state government has sprung a surprise by selecting a second desalination plant as Western Australia's next major water source, instead of developing the Yaragadee underground aquifer.

Perth-based exploration company United Minerals Corporation Ltd has reached a memorandum of understanding with Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro to assess development of a $4-5 billion bauxite mine and alumina refinery in the Kimberley region.

Western Australia's economic growth rate is expected to revert to the long-term average of about 4.6 per cent per year after the boom conditions experienced this year.

The state government has suspended or deferred capital works projects worth $565 million to make room for its preferred projects in areas like health, power and water.

The centrepiece of the state government's 2007 budget is a $433 million tax relief package targeted at first home buyers, property owners and motor vehicle buyers.

Economic Regulation Authority chairman Lyndon Rowe has praised the state government's contentious increase in water tariffs even through the government did not fully accept the ERA's advice.

The state government has backed away from plans to merge its key science and technology advisory bodies, preferring instead to make only small changes to the structure of its Science and Innovation Council.

Reforms to improve the handling of commercial disputes in Western Australia's court system have had a very positive impact, Chief Justice Wayne Martin said this week.

This year's $US32 billion ($A40 billion) takeover of US power utility TXU was famous for being the world's biggest private equity deal, but it has also become renowned for the role of environmental activists.