Mark Pownall

An online lecture presentation system developed at the University of Western Australia has been sold to one of its emerging competitors, US-based software company, Anysteam Inc.

Recognising the need to take advantage of growth opportunities was the driving force behind three significant private transactions collectively worth more than $120 million last week; yet that is where the similarity ends.

UK-headquartered oil services company Cape plc has bought Kwinana-based mining and industrial processing services company TCC Group in a cash and scrip deal worth $85 million.

Perth residents may bemoan a lack of life in the central city, but the Western Australian capital still rates as one of the most liveable in the world - ranking fourth in the latest analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Booming markets have all sorts of effects on an economy.

Qantas is planning a significant patch-up job on its over-crowded Perth domestic terminal, spending around $50 million to expand its overburdened check-in and security facilities - with Westralia Airports Corp investing almost $20 million as well.

Outback land may not have attracted the same amount of attention as property in metropolitan and regional centres, but a long-running acquisition strategy by the state government has focused the minds of some in the mining game.

National rural giant Elders has finally taken control of a 20 per cent stake in icon South West livestock processor Harvey Beef more than a year after striking the initial deal.

While technically a South Australian company ever since taking the national rural giant Elders, Adelaide-based Futuris Corporation Ltd is a company I’ve always watched – albeit at

Youthful exuberance has been the core of East Perth scooter company Vmoto Ltd, but leading lawyer Lee Verios reckons its time the company had some grey hair, at least on the corporate side.

Belated as it may be, the development of the Swan River foreshore to the south west of the CBD has actually taken its first serious step forward in a couple of decades.

Housing affordability in Perth has reached a crisis and the blame game has started in earnest.

If one building summarised the modern evolution of Perth’s business district, then 1 Adelaide Terrace, which sold last week for $87 million, could well be it.

Engagement, layering, connectivity. Apart from the obvious focus on some very big and very real projects, there was a subtext of language around the WA Business News boardroom.

Perth may be at the centre of a once-in-a-generation boom, but many feel we are not capitalising on it.

Housing affordability is a political hot button at the moment, but visiting American public policy guru Wendell Cox believes we’ve only got ourselves to blame.

Imagine changing the name of Kings Park to Kaarta gar-up, or river cruises that follow the route of the Aboriginal dreamtime’s rainbow serpent, the Wagyl.

It’s not often you get to sign off in the way that you want to, but I’m lucky enough to be doing just that.

We've covered Western Australia’s venture capital scene several times over the years, often featuring the argument that there is so little of it here that it makes it difficult for those seeking capital.

Redcliffe-based mining machinery sales and hire firm ET has taken naming rights sponsorship for Perth Spirit, Western Australia’s representative in the domestic competition's Mazda Australian Rugby Championship.

ROTTNEST Island is one of my favourite places. I like it in the summer and the winter. I’ve escaped there as a kid, a young adult, on my honeymoon, and with my family.

John Poynton has shed some fresh light on the events within Alinta Ltd that ultimately resulted in the sale of the business and significant public bloodletting.

John Poynton’s WA Business News Success & Leadership breakfast speech has been described as cathartic, which is a good word and appears to fit the situation well.

Only two weeks ago, Azure Capital was listed as number two in Western Australia’s active mergers and acquisitions sector this past financial year.

For two years running, BankWest has the dubious distinction of topping the underachieving/waning brands segment of WA Business News’ annual survey.

Recognising Western Australia’s brands has become something of an institution here at WA Business News, with the paper having held our survey for the past six years.

Major Western Australian family investment player, Wyllie Group, has joined the growing local fund management sector with the launch of plans to grow a $100 million private equity vehicle.

Perth-based software and IT infrastructure services group, Empired Ltd, is planning a significant restructuring of the business to spin-off its BigRedSky human resources division.

Big Western Australian family investment player Wyllie Group has joined the growing local fund management sector with the launch of plans to develop a $100 million private equity vehicle.

Car sales in Western Australia appear to be slowing, after the state's industry recorded the second month in a row of single digit growth - 7.4 per cent for June compared to the same period last year.

If it all goes ahead, Wesfarmers’ $22 billion takeover of Coles will make a fundamental difference to Western Australian business.

It’s not often that we bother our busy readership with self-congratulatory messages.