Financial Services

GRD Ltd has promoted Malcolm Brown to chief executive at its subsidiary GRD Minproc, while continued growth has boosted its order book to $4.65 billion.

The falling nickel price has hit Perth companies Fox Resources Ltd and Australian Mines Ltd, which have been forced to either wind down operations or defer capital development.

VDM Group announced today the acquisition of WA-based engineering consultancy BCA Consultants at a purchase price of $5.2 million.

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Pivot Group chairman Peter Laurance has continued his acquisition of Axiom Properties Ltd's shares with the latest raid boosting his interest to 30.5 per cent.

Speculation is mounting that BankWest could be sold by its parent company HBOS Plc, according to a report.

Billionaire Clive Palmer's plans to raise $5 billion by floating his company Resources Development International will see an alliance forged and funding for MEO Australia Ltd's Western Australian projects.

Malaga-based Automotive Technology Group Ltd has entered into an agreement for the potential establishment of a manufacturing facility that would produce one million units each year of its patented Sprintex technology.

West Perth-based Beadell Resources Ltd will have to put its goal of stepping into the miner's sphere on hold, after turbulent market conditions stopped the company from raising equity to purchase a share of the Cracow gold mine.

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Former technology company Wavenet International Ltd has joined the rush by local investors seeking to exploit booming coal prices, agreeing to purchase a stake in four coal tenements in Queensland.

Two days after stopping the pseudo privatisation of the state's $9 billion superannuation fund, treasurer Eric Ripper and his government have yet to reveal significant detail on why they acted at the last minute.

A corporate watchdog has banned Byford resident David Roy from providing financial services for seven years, after he provided inappropriate advice to clients over the failed Westpoint group.

Explorer TNG Ltd can close its chapter on the Opes Prime saga after receivers of the collapsed stockbroker finalised the sale of nearly 17 million shares.

Gold miner Norton Gold Fields Ltd will drop its litigation claims against Alinta for lost production arising from the gas crisis, as power prices agreed to by both companies return to normal levels.

After six years at the helm, Wesfarmers Ltd chairman Trevor Eastwood will retire from the position at the company's annual general meeting in November.

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The failure of Pankaj Oswal's Burrup Holdings Ltd to appear on the stock market failed to put a dampener on Western Australian companies' enthusiasm for going public, largely defying a falling share market thanks to the resource boom.

Western Australian companies have delivered diverse results in a report of corporate governance standards by chartered accountants WHK Horwath.

Specialist taxation and business advisory firm, Cooper Partners, has expanded its self-managed superannuation fund expertise with the appointment of a new principal.

It's probably no surprise to see the number of investment bankers rising in line with the amount of work available.

When asked what he considered was the anniversary date of last year's Coles Group Ltd takeover, Wesfarmers Ltd managing director Richard Goyder nominates July 21 as the most appropriate.

WEST Perth-based minerals company, Murchison United NL, is set to be repositioned as a global uranium company after unveiling a strategic alliance with industrial and nuclear energy giant Areva NC.

The takeovers scene in Western Australia has changed significantly during the past year, with the ongoing boom boosting the stocks of local players and prompting an increasing presence from international investment banks.

Sanderson takes on agent general role OUTGOING Fremantle Ports chief executive Kerry Sanderson (pictured) has been appointed as the new Western Australian representative in Europe.

Plans to turn over ownership of the state's $9 billion superannuation manager GESB to 295,000 members have been thrown into disarray, with the body and the government apparently unable to conclude a deal at the 11th hour.

ARC Energy's erstwhile substantial shareholder and its corporate thorn in the side, Mineralogy, finally announced a notice of ceasing to be a substantial shareholder in Arc on June 11, fully six months after it began to sell its holding last December.

Gresham Advisory PartnersMichael Ashforth Branch office

If it were just about money, the investment bankers and their other advisory colleagues would find life a lot easier.

THE state government has almost doubled funding to City West-based interactive science museum, Scitech, in a bid to overcome the dearth of scientists, technology experts and engineers in Australia.

West Perth-based Giralia Resources NL will soon have a healthy bank balance of $77 million after it finalised the sale of its remaining interest in fellow Perth company Red Hill Iron Ltd.

The legal stoush between Subiaco-based explorer TNG Ltd and the Commonwealth government has been adjourned until August as the company's share price jumps 68 per cent on the discovery of high-grade iron in the Northern Territory.