News Articles for Michael Ashforth

Goldminer Northern Star Resources is taking early steps in preparation for the 2026 departure of stalwart John Fitzgerald and chair Michael Chaney, with recruitment talks underway.

Eminent company director Michael Chaney is coming to the end of his career, with Wesfarmers naming its next chair and a likely successor emerging at Northern Star Resources.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes Michael Ashforth, Tony McClure, Dean Horton, Monique Connolly, Shannon Coates, James Hopkins, Jared Dimbleby and Alex Biddulph.

Today's board moves wrap includes Penelope Beattie, Carol Marinkovich, Michael Ashforth, John Richards, Gavin Rutherford, Craig Moulton, Shaun Menezes, Alec Pismiris, Melissa Haslam, Darryl Hockey, Laura Harrison, Craig Haskins, Angus Ross, Gereurd Roberts, Trent Dickeson, Brook Hall, Vikki Friscic, Maryna Fewster, Steven James, Peter Richards, and Anthony Polglase.

Perth dealmaker Michael Ashforth has joined the board of goldminer Northern Star Resources, while stepping away from his role with Goldman Sachs.

Senior journalist Claire Tyrrell talks about highlights from her recent conversation with Primewest's founders following the group's rebranding as Centuria.

Perth dealmaker Michael Ashforth is making a return to investment banking, seven years after he retired from Macquarie Capital to work for ‘rich lister' Angela Bennett.

Perth-based Wright Prospecting has confirmed its status as one of the country's most profitable companies, lifting its annual earnings on the back of higher iron ore prices and paying a whopping $172 million dividend to its owners.

The descendants of iron ore pioneer Peter Wright have received total dividends of $702 million over the past three years, according to recently lodged financial statements that also reveal the big legal expenses they have paid.

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.

Former corporate lawyer Ian Cochrane has joined the board of Ausdrill as deputy chairman, adding to a suite of board positions on the private companies of some of Perth's wealthiest families.

The new owners of Quadrant Energy have spoken to Business News about how the $2.7 billion acquisition came together and their plans for the oil and gas producer.

Two of Perth's prominent business families have shed light on their future plans, after the Bennett family struck a deal to buy a marina operation in Fremantle from the Kailis family.

Wesfarmers has acquired a 13.7 per cent shareholding in Quadrant Energy, less than three weeks after the oil and gas producer was established as an independent company.

Macquarie Capital's Kate Vidgen has been named as the inaugural chair of newly formed oil and gas company Quadrant Energy, which will have six directors representing its three owners – Macquarie, Brookfield Asset Management and Angela Bennett's AMB Holdings.

The third daughter of late mining heir Michael Wright has succeeded in her bid to extract much more than she was left from his will, with a judge ruling she should get $25 million.

Some of Perth's top company directors and dealmakers, including Michael Smith, Ian Cochrane, Michael Ashforth and Tony Iannello have been recruited to help run prominent family companies.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest's Minderoo Group has recruited finance executive Aaron Hood to take charge of its expanding commercial investment activities.

The appointment of investment banker Michael Ashforth as manager of the Bennett family's $1.5 billion fortune highlights the maturing of Western Australia's private wealth market.

FEATURE: The June quarter presented a broad range of transactions for corporate players, however a noticeable lack of direction remains.

SPECIAL REPORT: The past 12 months have been tough for WA's corporate finance professionals, but there is cautious optimism that 2014 will be a different story.

There have been few bright spots in M&A deals this year in what some are calling a 'cautiously willing' market.

Competition in the state's investment banking sector is hotter than ever despite a fall-off in takeover deals and capital raisings last year.

The managing director of Gresham Advisory Partners' Western Australian office, Justin Mannolini, quit the firm yesterday and has been replaced by new co-heads Darren Martin and Julian Mills.

Perth's capital markets players reckon the past few months have been hard to take but they are seeing signs of growth as money returns.

THREE corporate advisory firms, each with a very different profile, stood out as market leaders in the mergers and acquisitions sector last year.

This year's survey of mergers and acquisitions activity in WA reveals a new ranking among corporate advisory firms in Perth.

The booming advisory market in Perth is creating some musical chairs among the key players, with corporate lawyer Justin Mannolini heading to Gresham Advisory Partners Ltd, prompting Freehills to fill the vacancy by appointing a new partner, Simon Reed.