Financial Services

Private Australian companies are weathering the effects of the global financial crisis remarkably well with a KPMG survey revealing 90 per cent of respondents claimed they were prepared to respond to market changes.

Grain hander and marketer CBH Group has appointed former Wesfarmers executive David Morony as its new chief financial officer.

Exoma Energy has moved a step closer to its acquisition of the Galilee gas project in Queensland, where it plans to spend $47 million on a four-year exploration program.

Terrain Minerals has secured $5 million in equity funding from Fortrend Securities under an innovative Standby Subscription Facility.

Subiaco-based Chrome Corporation will move into the gold sector after it struck a deal to acquire Papua New Guinea explorer Pacific Nuigini Minerals.

Shares in Atlas Iron-backed Warwick Resources have closed 17 per cent higher on a $10 million deal with Hannans Reward to acquire the iron ore rights from the latter's east Pilbara Jigalong project.

BC Iron plans to raise $22 million from a sale of new shares, as it welcomes a new cornerstone investor, Regent Pacific Group, to its share register.

South Perth-based explorer Central Petroleum has raised $31 million through a rights issue and placement which will fund a hydrocarbon exploration program in prospective basins in the middle of Australia.

Construction company Forge Group has upgraded its full-year earnings guidance by 54 per cent following revised forecasts to its projects and the inclusion of a tax credit.

Industrial software developer ISS Group has warned of continued subdued demand for its products for the rest of the calendar year as it forecasts an underlying loss of $2.1 million for this fiscal year.

Aviva Corporation and AES Corporation have submitted their wholesale power proposal in the tender phase of Synergy's 2009 energy supply procurement contract for the Mid West region.

Composites technology developer Quickstep Holdings has been awarded a $2.6 million grant under the federal government's $75 million climate ready program for the development and commercialisation of light-weight, low-emission vehicles.

CBA admits Storm Financial 'shortcomings'; Bank chiefs warn on funding gap; Corporate lawyers join forces; Another blow for investors in agri-schemes; Iron ore joint venture under fire for monopolisation

Politicians should look a bit closer to home when apportioning blame for the GFC.

CONTRACT miner Byrnecut Group has joined a host of industry and finance groups calling for the federal government to rethink budget reforms that will increase tax paid by Australians working overseas.

SUPPORTING Western Australia's arts sector is part and parcel of being a resources company, according to Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) chief executive Christopher Eves.

WESTERN Australian architects and builders are set to cash in on the federal government's latest building industry stimulus package.

Executive remuneration is slipping beyond the control of boards and even shareholders as new regulatory models emerge.

Barnett backs 9pm retail trading

THE bidding started at $17 million at 2pm on Tuesday in Darwin, with three interested parties.

There are plenty of opportuities for companies with a good story to sell.

THE proposed Western Australian iron ore joint venture between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto has reignited passions around a long-running issue between the state government and miners - land-rich tax provisions.

EVER since Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton announced plans to merge their Western Australian iron ore mining operations, Premier Colin Barnett has been issuing statements which make him sound more like Hugo Chavez, the radical socialist president of Venezuela

ON October 16 1997, the selling techniques of the fitness industry received unprecedented attention.

THE Perth-based chairman and managing director of UK-listed CustomVis plc have been challenged by a group of shareholders who want to gain control of the technology company.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering will pay up to $5.1 million to acquire FMC Corpration, which operates Hindle Offshore Services and Hindle Electrics, as part of its strategy to re-enter the oil and gas sector.

The Karl Simich-chaired investment company GoldLink IncomePlus has proposed to buy 10 per cent of shares in Subiaco-based Indago Resources as part of a bid to replace the board with its own nominees.

Administrators of CopperCo say shareholders are not likely to receive any return in respect of their holdings in the collapsed mining company.

Territory Resources' shares have been placed in a trading halt as the struggling miner finalises its debt restructuring and capital raising plans.

An estimated $800 million will be needed to eliminate overdue maintenance on the state's deteriorating road network, according to an auditor general's report tabled in parliament today.

Two more ex-Jubilee Mines executives have joined Nedlands-based Talisman Mining with Peter Langworthy and Brian Dawes today appointed executive directors.

Two of the nation's leading housing associations along with 30 suppliers and builders have today launched a campaign in Western Australia, encouraging potential home buyers to build.