Mark Beyer

Western Australia’s biggest biotechnology stock, pSivida, is planning extensive changes over the coming year, including the establishment of a second spin-out company to target the food industry.

Perth-run company CustomVis plc has reported its third successive annual loss and launched a new capital raising, continuing the long and expensive journey to commercialise surgical laser technology developed in Western Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has stepped up the legal pressure on the militant Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.

Investment manager Great Southern Plantations has boosted its board of directors with the appointment of Peter Mansell as a non-executive director.

The number of Western Australian chief executives earning more than $1 million increased to 37 last financial year, helped in most cases by bonuses and share options.

Alcoa's expansion of its Pinjarra alumina refinery has joined the growing list of big construction projects to suffer a blow-out in costs.

WA Business News' third annual salary survey has idesntified a growing pool of millionaire executives but found it is necessary to go beyond the headline numbers to understand remuneration trends. Mark Beyer reports.

The top executives at emerging biotech company Regenera had a bumper year in 2005 courtesy of performance shares, which are rarely used in Australia.

Australian chief executives are guaranteed half of their income, irrespective of performance, a national survey has found.

Shareholders in engineering and mining contractor Macmahon Holdings gave the company a bloodied nose at its annual general meeting this month, with shareholders who hold 19 per cent of shares voting against the company’s remuneration plan.

Failed beef processor EG Green Group received three proposals from industry investors in the weeks before it went into administration but was unable to finalise any of the deals.

Wesfarmers broke with widely accepted industry practice when it negotiated the salary package for its new chief executive Richard Goyder earlier this year.

The salary package paid to Health Department director general Neale Fong continues to attract a lot of comment because it is substantially higher than any other public sector salary, yet it also highlights the disparity between private sector and public s

Biotechnology is a lucrative sector for chief executives, judging by the remuneration paid by Perth-based companies such as pSivida, Regenera and Stirling Products.

The role of chairman of a board of directors is normally a part-time position, yet the chairmen at some of Western Australia’s biggest companies earn more than most chief executives.

Powerful company directors don’t normally visit the ‘down and out’ with religious charity workers but that is one experience that has helped to shape Tony Howarth’s values.

The top management ranks at Western Power are set for big changes, with expectations Energy Minister Alan Carpenter will soon announce the chief executives of its four successor companies.

Plantation forestry has contributed to the decline in Western Australia’s farming population but overall has provided an economic and population boost to affected regions, a new report has found.

Working directors of public companies will no longer be able to obtain workers’ compensation insurance under reforms implemented this week by the Gallop government.

The Gallop government has agreed to spend $22 million over the next two years upgrading roads between Kewdale and Henderson to accommodate large transport loads.

Special Report in WA Business News this week Monadelphous Group is looking to spend up to $100 million on an acquisition to strengthen its maintenance and services business.

Curtin and Murdoch universities are aiming to increase collaborative activities after deciding to not proceed with their proposed merger.

The year 1991 was a bad time to be in business. It was the year Australia had “the recession we had to have”, to quote the immortal words of then Prime Minister Paul Keating.

Monadelphous Group is one of Western Australia’s biggest and most successful engineering construction companies, but it wouldn’t be running today if it hadn’t been rescued by the co-founders of United Construction.

In 1969, John (Giovanni) Rubino, John (Giancarlo) Trettel, Sam (Santino) Castelli and Charlie (Carmelo) Bontempo were among the thousands of young migrants toiling in workshops and construction sites across Australia.

Private Welshpool company NRW has emerged as the surprise second bidder for Henry Walker Eltin’s contract mining business, after teaming up with HWE’s senior management team.

Perth companies Total Eden Watering Systems and Emeco Holdings aim to crank up their growth via new acquisitions after completing multi-million dollar deals with private equity funds.

Property investment and property development have been the main commercial pursuits of John Trettel, Sam Castelli and Charlie Bontempo since they left United Group.

Monadelphous Group is looking to spend up to $100 million on an acquisition to strengthen its maintenance and services business.

The Len Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd has upped the ante in its long-running battle with the Gallop government by developing plans for a container port at Cockburn Sound to compete directly with the Fremantle Port Authority.

The Gallop government has heeded long-running calls from the business community by agreeing to develop a state infrastructure strategy.

Production trials of genetically modified cotton undertaken near Kununurra have highlighted its potential as a commercial crop in the Ord River irrigation area.