Edited announcement

The value of investment projects being built in Western Australia has jumped 66.9 per in 12 months and is at its highest level since at least 2001.

The work of finance managers in family businesses is often hampered by business owners who wish to keep family affairs confidential and are reluctant to share financial information essential for business growth, a study has found.

WA wine group Evans and Tate Ltd will sell its Mildura winery to Neqtar Ltd for $22 million, after the British company secured the necessary equity.

Perth-based petroleum exploration company Pancontinental Oil and Gas NL aims to raise $1.3 million for further exploration activities and corporate overheads through a share placement.

Henderson-based drill and blast company Brandrill Ltd has announced an expected increase in its annual profit before tax of around $1 million, as well as the appointment of Ian Williams as a company director.

Nedlands-based information and technology company ISS Group Ltd has won a $1m contract to provide its BabelFish software to all of Rio Tinto's iron ore sites in the Pilbara.

Subiaco-based surfwear company Optima Corporation Ltd is riding high on its wholly-owned subsidiary Vmoto scooters, receiving an order for an additional 132 scooters from a US dealer.

Mount Gibson Iron Limited today announced the appointment of Alan Jones as a non executive director of the Company.

More than 97 per cent of land required for the 70.5km Perth-Bunbury Highway project is now in Government ownership, with the remaining 1.8km to be secured by mid-August, the State Government announced today.

Engineering company RCR Tomlinson Ltd will aim to raise up to $24.2 million through a share placement with corporate advisor Hartleys Ltd.

Perth-based mining explorer Arafura Resources NL has appointed Dennis O'Neill as chief executive of its uranium spin-off to be called NuPower Resources.

Resonance Health Limited has received an interim stop order from ASIC due to concerns over estimated research and development costs and cash flow assumptions.

West Perth-based zinc explorers Kagara Zinc Ltd has announced a forecast EBITDA of $230 million, up from an actual $73 million last year.

Former counsel assisting the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry Toni Lucev has been named as the first Perth-based federal magistrate.

CCIWA IR executive Bruce Williams has been appointed as a commissioner of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

WA engineering company Clough Ltd has signed contracts worth a total of $265 million for work on the North West Shelf, Victoria and New Zealand.

Perth company Portman Ltd reoported a record second quarter 2006 unaudited net profit of $35.5 million, versus net profit before transaction costs of $24.1 million in 2005.

In a unanimous decision, The Western Australian Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by former director of Astron Ltd Gavin Brown against a $30,000 fine for four charges of market manipulation.

Sydney-based pearl marketers Autore group has made its first move into Australian pearl production with the announcement of its planned acquisition of Broome's Clipper Pearling Group.

Albany-based mineral explorer Supersorb Environmental NL has announced it will acquire exploration company Friends Exploration Pty Ltd for $120,000 and the issue of 54 million shares.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director of policy Deidre Willmott has described Premier Alan Carpenter's attitude to uranium mining as "short sighted and void of useful argument".

The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has again called on State Treasurer Eric Ripper to urgently lift the tax free threshold for first home buyers.

West Perth diamond developer and producer Dwyka Diamonds Ltd will move to 70 per cent ownership of the De Beers Tailings joint venture, under an agreement with South African company Kolong Investment Holdings Pty Ltd.

Perth home entertainment company Quickflix Ltd announced the placement of $500,000 worth of shares to Victorian digital media company Destra Corporation Ltd, as well as offering the company a position on its board.

Subiaco-based pearl producer Atlas Pacific Ltd has announced its intention to commence an on-market buy back 4.3 million of ordinary shares, for approximately $1.2 million.

James Smith and Ken Last have resigned from the board of Integrated Tree Cropping Ltd, ahead of the company's de-listing this afternoon.

Western Australian A-League soccer club Perth Glory has appointed former Football West head Michelle Phillips as its CEO, adding to sweeping changes at the team which also has a new coach.

Perth-based engineering and development company GRD Ltd will be able to sell its remaining 25 million shares shares in its gold spinoff Oceana Gold Ltd, after Oceana agreed to terminate a voluntary escrow agreement set in place in May.

After going into a trading halt on Fridasy, the directors of Perth-based gold explorers Mawson West Ltd have announced the issue of 6,389,000 shares at 18 cents each to industry and sophisticated investors of BBY Limited, aiming to raise $1.2 million.

Kings Minerals NL has raised $8 million in a private placement, opened in February this year, for the development of gold and base minerals projects.

Jubilee Mines NL has entered into an off-take agreement with Inco Ltd for the sale of nickel concentrate production from its Cosmos Nickel Operations in Western Australia for the period from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007.

South Perth gold explorer Mutiny Gold Ltd has acquired two prospective gold leases from West Perth's Agincourt Resources Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiary Reliance Minerals Ltd for $5000 and 250,000 Mutiny shares.