Business News

Alex Forcke has resigned as non-executive director of Entek Energy.

BC Iron is branching out of its iron ore focus by spending up to $10.5 million as part of a joint venture with freshly listed sulphate of potash explorer Kalium Lakes.

GR Engineering Services has been contracted for work on Eni Australia’s Blacktip Gasfield operations in the Timor Sea, with the value of the work undisclosed.

Force Commodities has appointed Mark Darras as independent non-executive chair and Alistair Stephens as executive director.  Current non-executive chair Charles Thomas and managing director Ro

Crown Resorts has reportedly cut more than 200 jobs at its Crown Perth entertainment complex in the wake of a 38 per cent fall in high-roller revenue.

Kidman Resources has bought two lithium tenements from nickel miner Western Areas in a $6 million all-scrip deal, while Lithium Australia has signed a memorandum for a joint venture in Germany.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering expects to bounce back from a net loss in the first half of the 2017 financial year after announcing the “transformational” acquisition of a Sydney-based electrical contractor.

Premier Colin Barnett says the final stage of the contentious Perth Freight Link will involve expanding Stirling Bridge and not digging a tunnel under the Swan River, although the federal government doesn’t expect that to be necessary until at least the mid-2020s.

Lee-Anne de Bruin has been appointed chief financial officer of Resolute Mining.  Previous long-serving chief financial officer, Greg Fitzgerald, will remain as company secretary.

Local explorers Lithium Australia and Lepidico have settled an intellectual property dispute on mutual grounds, with the terms undisclosed.

Perth-based GR Engineering Services has kept performance up despite trying times in the mining sector, with profit and revenue slightly lower for the December half-year.

Dropsuite has appointed Bruce Tonkin as non-executive director and Zoran Grujic as chief financial officer and joint company secretary. Mark Smith will be stepping down as company secretary.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service WA has today announced former Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh as the successor of chair Neville Bassett. 

Stockbroker and funds manager Euroz has beaten expectations for its interim profit result, which was achieved on the back of an improved performance of its Euroz Securities business and increase in the share prices of its listed investment companies.

National hire equipment supplier Kennards Hire has acquired a Belmont-based company that offers similar services for an undisclosed sum.

Perth-based Monadelphous Group has received a number of contracts with multiple clients including Fortescue Metals Group, BHP Billiton and Chevron, with the work worth a combined $120 million.

Fortescue Metals Group has appointed Alison Terry as Company Secretary.  Ms  Terry is also the company’s group manager, corporate affairs.

The new Curtin Medical School welcomed its first cohort of 60 students today at an opening ceremony held this morning.

WA Labor has promised the state’s sixth-largest town, Albany, would become fully powered by renewable energy – if elected – under a $19.5 million funding commitment with Carnegie Clean Energy.

The corporate regulator has asked the Federal Court to appoint representatives of KPMG as liquidators of several subsidiaries of Pilbara-based property developer Macro Group.

Walkabout Resources has announced that Allan Mulligan will step down as managing director, but will remain as executive director.  Current non-executive chair Trevor Benson will become executi

Constructive recruits Gherardi

Elders has announced plans to expand its real estate presence in the South West through the acquisition of Bunbury-based Southern Districts Estate Agency for an undisclosed sum.

The federal government will oversee the importation of marijuana into the country from overseas until domestic supply ramps up, giving patients easier and quicker access in the interim.

Gold miner Doray Minerals says it expects to report a $40 million-$45 million impairment charge against its Andy Well and Deflector gold mines, with the former operation also expected to deliver an operational loss for the financial year.

Glenn Fowles has been appointed company secretary of Global Health. Mr Fowles takes over this role from Steven Pynt, who will remain on the board as non-executive chairman.

WA Labor has proposed a repurposing of the existing WA Future Fund into a new $1.1 billion Future Health Research and Innovation Fund that will collect annual interest, if elected next month.

Local entrepreneur Tim Brewer has joined a cohort of mentors and advisers for a new Perth-based startup accelerator program, Plus Eight, which will begin in March, around the same time Commonwealth Bank of Australia will bring its Pop Up Innovation Lab to town.

Perth-based explorer Australian Mines has announced plans to raise up to $6.3 million from investors to fund ongoing work at its Sconi and Flemington scandium-cobalt projects.

Gold miner Beadell Resources has rattled the tin for $51 million to pay for plant upgrades and further exploration work at its Tucano mine in Brazil.

BHP Billiton has extended its partnership with indigenous organisation Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, following the announcement of a $14.7 million contribution to the Martu Ranger program over the next five years.

Gold has firmed as the US dollar has softened, although trading was thin due to the US holiday and as markets awaited details on President Donald Trump's tax policy.