News Articles for Wesfarmers

SPECIAL REPORT: There has been a notable reduction in the number of high-earning executives in WA, though some individuals do well year after year, research by Business News has found.

Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott says while decisions to sell out of Bunnings' loss-making operations in the UK and Ireland, and to demerge supermarkets giant Coles, were easy in a commercial sense, the Bunnings move in particular proved taxing on an emotional level.

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The ranks of WA's largest public companies have changed dramatically over the past two decades, but Wesfarmers has been a constant near the top. This article is part of a special series to mark Business News' 25-year anniversary.

Vikas Rambal's Perdaman Industries has signed up Canadian engineering company SNC Lavalin as lead contractor on its $4 billion Karratha urea project, one day after announcing a gas supply deal with Woodside Petroleum.

Coles shares have floated on the Australian Securities Exchange at $12.49, with Wesfarmers' price adjusting in early trade without the supermarket giant in its stable.

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: WA companies have been on the receiving end of nearly every major takeover completed during the past two decades, with Wesfarmers a notable exception. This article is part of a special series to mark Business News' 25-year anniversary.

Wesfarmers shareholders have voted to approve the $20 billion demerger of its supermarket business Coles, 11 years after it acquired the group in Australia's biggest corporate takeover.

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: From those who risked their own capital to the corporate cowboys of WA Inc and the ‘hired help' of today, WA's corporate story features many powerful personalities. This article is part of a special series to mark Business News' 25-year anniversary.

The Channel 7 Telethon Trust achieved another fundraising record over the weekend, raising $38 million for medical research, but its success has not been shared across the charity sector, with Variety WA's Carols by Candlelight the latest of several events to be cancelled due to a lack of financial support.

The National Gallery of Australia and longstanding indigenous arts partner, Wesfarmers Arts, have today announced a $4 million partnership over six years.

As the key commodity soars on healthy demand in Asia, big Australian companies may be rueing decisions to offload valuable coalmining assets in the face of intense opposition.

Coles' supermarket sales have jumped during the first quarter, with parent company Wesfarmers citing a successful 'Little Shop' campaign, and investment in flybuys promotions, as preparations continue for a vote on the chain's proposed demerger.

Opinion: Investment bank Credit Suisse says there could be a new micro-LNG train getting ready to roll in WA, and smaller players such as Beach Energy could be in the driver's seat.

Wesfarmers has appointed a new managing director to run office supplies business Officeworks, with Sarah Hunter from Coles stepping into the role.

Shareholders in retail giant Wesfarmers will vote next month on whether the $20 billion demerger of supermarket chain Coles will proceed.

Wesfarmers' new technology agribusiness, Decipher, has appointed its first chief executive, after recruiting Anthony Walker from international geospatial services company AAM.

Opinion: Retailers face ongoing challenges, as sluggish sales square off with pay problems and online competition.

Opinion: A look at the length of CEO tenure across the sphere of corporate activity points to some interesting parallels, and other key differences.

Opinion: A giant US retailer has embraced online sales and boosted its profit.

Santos is set to become the dominant supplier of gas in the Western Australian domestic market after striking a deal to buy privately-owned Quadrant Energy for $US2.15 billion ($A2.95 billion).

Investors seem unconcerned by the fallout from the banking royal commission, with banks' shares rising despite the flood of bad news.

Australia's most generous corporate donors have been named in the inaugural GivingLarge report, with Wesfarmers and CSL receiving top billing.

Australian Potash has appointed experienced mining industry executive and director Jim Walker as non-executive chair.

Wesfarmers has suffered a 58 per cent drop in full-year net profit after taking more than $1.3 billion in costs and losses on its disastrous Bunnings UK exit and a $300 million write-down on underperforming Target, while also announcing leadership changes at its department stores.

Wesfarmers has struck a deal to sell its Kmart Tyre and Auto Service (KTAS) business to German company Continental AG for $350 million.

Sydney-based energy supplier AGL Energy has continued its slow growth in to the WA market, with its annual results revealing it had secured 21,000 gas customers locally by the end of June.

Perth-based conglomerate Wesfarmers has sold its stake in the Bengalla coal mine in NSW, continuing a major reshaping of its portfolio after the sale last year of another coal mine and the planned spin-off of its Coles business.

New APM chief executive Michael Anghie has bolstered his team by recruiting Youth Focus chief executive Fiona Kalaf to take a newly created role with the human services company.

The science-fiction comedy Skylab will premiere in Perth this August in a production that marks a first-time collaboration between Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and Black Swan State Theatre Company.

Wesfarmers has announced it anticipates the demerger of Coles to be completed by the end of November, after the company's annual general meeting, and will seek to retain a 15 per cent stake of the business.

SPECIAL REPORT: Battery metals businesses such as Pilbara Minerals, Altura Mining, and Western Areas have joined AusCann Holdings, Buru Energy and OM Holdings among the best-performing stocks in the year to June.

The federal government has launched an inquiry into cheap imports of ammonium nitrate following an application by three local manufacturers, including Wesfarmers subsidiary CSBP and Orica.

Melbourne-based fertiliser and explosives manufacturers Incitec Pivot and Orica have continued their battle for iron ore contracts in the Pilbara, with Incitec winning a five-year supply deal with Fortescue Metals Group.

Wesfarmers bosses have vowed to focus on delivering returns to shareholders after the company's disastrous foray into the UK hardware market.

Opinion: Investors are awaiting clues as to Wesfarmers' next moves, as it exits the British hardware business and plans a spin-off of Coles.

Wesfarmers has sold its struggling Homebase business for a nominal sum, with managing director Rob Scott confirming the UK hardware company has cost the conglomerate about $1.3 billion.

Moves to encourage downstream lithium processing in Western Australia continued today, with the state government announcing a taskforce to develop a strategy for the sector.

Interest is growing in Kwinana as a possible battery manufacturing hub, with Wesfarmers mooted to be considering a move into the sector and representatives from US electric car manufacturer Tesla in Perth to meet with Premier Mark McGowan today.

Business News' index of 30 Western Australian stocks hit an all-time high this week, helped by solid gains by copper miner Sandfire Resources, oil and gas giant Woodside Petroleum and engineering and construction contractor Monadelphous Group.

WA Symphony Orchestra has deep roots planted firmly across Western Australia, having spent 90 years connecting with communities beyond its core audience of classical music aficionados.