Mark Beyer

The long-running takeover battle for Tethyan Copper Company Ltd has produced a surprise outcome, with Tethyan negotiating an agreed $190 million offer from Chilean mining company Antofagasta plc.

Oroya Mining is a small exploration company and Alcoa is one of the state’s biggest companies, but despite their size difference they have run into a very similar tax problem.

TheChamber of Commerce and Industry has completed a series of changes to its senior management with the recruitment of Diedre Willmott as its inaugural executive director policy.

Private agribusiness manager Rewards Group is budgeting for nearly 50 per cent growth this year, helped by strategic alliances with banking group NM Rothschild & Sons and miner-turned-property investor Chester Mining.

The single desk for Australian wheat exports has long been considered one of the pillars on which the industry has prospered but in the past month the push to free up wheat exports has gained surprising momentum.

The bidding for a $100 million waste processing project in Perth’s northern suburbs has taken a surprise turn after local company GRD decided it would not participate in the tender.

Sally Malay Mining has announced that it will not exercise its pre-emptive right to acquire the outstanding 25 per cent shareholding in the Lanfranchi nickel joint venture, now to be controlled by Canadian company Brilliant Mining Corp.

Aspiring iron ore miner Gindalbie Metals Ltd has signed a project alliance agreement with engineering company Thiess Pty Ltd to support development of its Karara project in the mid-west region near Geraldton.

A decisive shift in the Labor Party’s Western Australian factions has played a key role in dictating the momentous political changes of the past month.

Cutting taxes, improving infrastructure and tackling the skills crisis should be the top priorities for the Carpenter government, a survey of Western Australian business leaders by WA Business News has found.

The information and communications technology sector is worth around $10.1 billion to the Western Australian economy, much more than previous official statistics had found, a state government report released this week has concluded.

The chief executive and management team at portable accommodation builder Nomad Consolidated have teamed with the ANZ Bank’s private equity arm to complete a management buyout.

Business leaders in Western Australia have applauded Premier Alan Carpenter’s decision to establish a science and innovation ministry, which has been handed to up and coming minister, Francis Logan.

Western Australia’s Economic Regulation Authority has approved a nearly 20 per cent cut in “reserve capacity” prices for the state’s electricity generators, including aspiring producer Eneabba Gas.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto tripled the profit from its West Australian iron ore business last year, underpinning a strong rise in the group's underlying net profit to US$4.9 billion (A$6.5 billion).

Leighton Contractors has completed the $211 million purchase of Henry Walker Eltin's Austrralian and New Zealand contract mining business and disclosed that it is negotiating to buy HWE's 50 per cent interest in Pilbara-based indigenous contractor Ngarda

Western Power is moving into the final stages of preparing for its break-up into four separate corporations, with the announcement of the chairmen and trading names of the four new entities.

Premier Alan Carpenter used the election of two new ministers, including one with links to former premier Brian Burke, to try to bury forever discussions about WA Inc and its impact on the government.

Biotechnology company Imugene said it has achieved “one of its biggest regulatory milestones” with a licence for the limited release of its poultry productivity enhancer (PPE).

Biotechnology company Imugene said it has achieved "one of its biggest regulatory milestones" with a licence for the limited release of its poultry productivity enhancer (PPE).

It's not often that a political announcement genuinely catches everyone by surprise, but Geoff Gallop’s decision this week to step down as premier and retire from politics certainly falls into that category.

The state government’s waste management board has released a discussion paper proposing a sharp increase in Western Australia’s landfill levy, which is among the lowest in the country.

Technology company DDD Group plc has announced plans to raise £1.26 million ($A3 million) through a placement of 11.5 million shares at 11 pence per share.

Float hopeful Eneabba Gas, which is seeking to take advantage of Western Australia’s deregulated energy market, has caught the eye of the industry supervisor.

The boom conditions in Western Australia’s iron ore industry have underpinned a rapid increase in capital raisings by current and aspiring iron ore miners.

Western Australian companies raised a record $3 billion in new equity issues in 2005, underpinning a second boom year for local broking firms Patersons Securities and Euroz Securities.

The late Lang Hancock was usually described as a mining magnate but the great frustration in his life was that he never developed his own mine.

With Western Australia entering what promises to be another year of strong economic expansion, the major challenge facing the state continues to be managing its rapid growth.

Former Mallesons Stephen Jaques partners Ian Cochrane and Michael Lishman are looking forward to working for their clients of choice when they open the doors of their new law firm next week.

Private equity investors participated in some of the largest and most notable transactions in Western Australia in 2005, including the rescue of biotech company Chemeq and the acquisition of EG Green Group.

Three high-profile transactions launched during 2005 ran into unexpected difficulties, providing telling reminders that even the best-laid plans can run off course.

Big mining projects, hotly contested takeovers, new floats and trade sales feature in WA Business News’ review of the top deals of 2005.