Mark Beyer

Hancock Prospecting is poised to become Western Australia's biggest private company after a investment and acquisition spree in iron ore and agribusiness which is expected some time this year to push its revenue past that of the incumbent number one for the past 12 years, home builder BGC. A 2018 reranking appears certain following research for the Business News Private Companies list published today in a special report.

Indigenous Construction Resource Group has diversified its business by purchasing consulting group NANA Australia, the local offshoot of a giant Alaskan native corporation.

In this Business News podcast, Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Civic Heart, Richard Goyder, top IGA, local property market and WA private companies.

Private Perth company Wright Prospecting has bolstered its already impressive ranks with the recruitment of top lawyer Peter Wiese, who will guide it through continuing legal disputes with fellow Perth company Hancock Prospecting.

Mount Pleasant-based GBM Resources has struck a friendly merger agreement with listed Canadian company WCB Resources, bringing together gold projects in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The investment holding company that has bought Perth startup success story SEQTA Software is poised to lead further rationalisation in the education software sector.

Origin Energy has flagged a hit to profitability a day ahead of its half-year earnings, announcing it will take a $1.9 billion impairment charge against the value of some of its major assets, including the Australia Pacific LNG project and its Browse Basin gas fields.

Seven West Media appears to have put a value of $16.9 million on The Sunday Times newspaper and Perth Now website, as the publisher and broadcaster posted a sharp drop in first-half net profit and dividends, and sought to direct attention away from its ongoing battle with CEO Tim Worner's former lover.

Specialist oil and gas advisory firm Miro Advisors is planning to wind down its operations, a little more than six years after managing director Tim Woodall opened the business.

SPECIAL REPORT: The shake-out in Perth’s legal services market is producing some surprising winners and losers, with one of the best performers being a firm many had expected to wither.

In this Business News podcast, Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the Builton collapse, election promises, Richard Court and Rob Bransby, and WA’s professions.

Former Grant Thornton partner Matthew Donnelly and former Perth Airport executive Fiona Lander have brought to seven the number of external recruits to join Deloitte’s Perth partnership in the past five months, offsetting moves by other partners such as Jenn Morris, who has retired from the firm.

Emeco Holdings today sent out a mammoth 811 pages of documentation for its revised restructuring scheme, and buried inside is a breakdown of fees showing that, while its lawyers will get paid more, the company’s financial advisers will take a haircut after the first restructuring scheme fell over.

In this Business News podcast, Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss startups and software, Aldi, election campaign and transport infrastructure.

An Aboriginal corporation has obtained a Supreme Court ruling that will require Mitsui & Company subsidiary Onslow Salt to release documents concerning its dealings with oil and gas giant Chevron, and contractors Bechtel and Thiess, over the Wheatstone LNG project.

Perth company SEQTA Software has combined with Melbourne-based Synergetic Management Systems to create Australia’s largest education software business.

Decmil Group has substantially cut its revenue forecasts for the current financial year due to delays in recent contract wins, while suffering further losses at a Victorian construction project.

In this Business News podcast, Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the Builton collapse, CBD vacancy rates, Balla Balla iron ore and land developers.

Perth is renowned as a hub for mining and energy technology, so why do so many local firms end up in foreign hands?

The three international vendors that won the state government’s landmark GovNext contract say the initiative will provide local information and communication technology businesses with opportunities to share in the work.

A local insurance broker and a data analytics specialist have teamed up to offer grain growers the same kind of cover as energy companies and construction projects.

In this Business News podcast, Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss World Trade Centre, UWA, uranium mining, conventions and conferences.

The Labor Party moved swiftly today to reassure the business sector that it would not hand over responsibility for project approvals to an independent tribunal, after reports it was considering such a change.

The Barnett government is hoping to slash its spending on information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure by up to 25 per cent after signing contracts today with three international vendors.

Perth-based mining technology firm MiPlan has been bought by US company Hexagon Mining, six years after it was established by Robert and Louise Daw with backing from three local venture capital investors.

Sparke Helmore Lawyers will become the 12th largest law firm in Western Australia, according to the BNiQ Seach Engine, after announcing today it has finalised merger plans with local practice Jarman McKenna.

The state government has approved Canadian miner Cameco’s proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in the Goldfields, despite its failure to meet one of nine Environmental Protection Authority recommendations.

SPECIAL REPORT: Nearly 70 WA-connected companies listed on the ASX in 2016, but current prospects indicate there will be substantially fewer this year.

SPECIAL REPORT: There was a big rise in the number and value of completed capital raisings in WA last year, according to data compiled in the BNiQ Search Engine.

SPECIAL REPORT: Investment bank Gresham Partners and law firm King & Wood Mallesons were the top advisers on mergers and acquisitions in WA in 2016.

In this Business News podcast, Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss South West water, building subcontractors, WA Business awards and the deals environment.

The Australian share market closed weaker today, with nickel miners Western Areas and Independence Group leading the fall after Indonesia relaxed export restrictions on the commodity.