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It may be isolated, but Western Australia has become one of the country's hotspots for producing quality franchise chains.

HBOS, the UK owner of Perth-based BankWest, said shareholders agreed to take up 8.29 per cent of its $8 billion rights issue, increasing speculation that Perth-based BankWest could be up for sale.

Iron ore miner IronClad Mining has appointed Patrick Clifford as project manager for the development of the Wilcherry Hill Iron Ore project in South Australia's Eyre Peninsular iron ore province.

While the Mid West region is dominated by the antics of iron ore stocks Murchison Metals Ltd and Midwest Corporation Ltd, another player is stepping up to secure its berth in the region's resource riches.

Franchisor of the Caffissimo coffee chain, Mike Barr, believes a good coffee franchise is all about 'location location', and a viable rent.

JONES Lang LaSalle's Perth office has made a number of new appointments in its leasing, sales and property management divisions.Jason Ridge (pictured) joins the firm as a director in the property, ass

Allied Gold Ltd Jeffrey Moore has resigned as director. CBH Resources Ltd Andrew Davies has resigned as a director. In consequence, the appointment of Mr Stephen Lonergan as his alternate ceases.

There are plenty of potential losers in the story surrounding fuel technology group, which traded under the high profile banner of Firepower.

A lot can happen in a year. Just more than 12 months ago, Western Australia franchises were concerned about the difficulties in finding new areas of growth, with the sector subject to the same labour market pressures as other industries.

SUBIACO-based Summit Resources Ltd plans to raise over $10 million through a rights issue which will be fully sub-underwritten by its two largest shareholders, Paladin Energy Ltd and Areva NC Australi

West Perth-based oil and gas company Otto Energy has appointed Richard King as commercial manager.

Those who want to see 24-hour trading across the board in Western Australia will be disappointed with one of Perth's longest-running, non-stop retailer's decision to shut overnight for the first time in 17 years.

NEARLY $93 million worth of contracts have been awarded by both the federal and state governments to improve road infrastructure in the Kimberley region.

Allied Gold Ltd Jeffrey Moore has resigned as director. CBH Resources Ltd Andrew Davies has resigned as a director. In consequence, the appointment of Mr Stephen Lonergan as his alternate ceases.

More than a month after the Varanus Island gas explosion forced businesses across WA to curtail their activity, the state's building industry is continuing its operations relatively unscathed.

As the Australian dollar nears parity with a declining US dollar, the consequences for Western Australian importers and exporters are mixed.

HBOS, the UK owner of Perth-based BankWest, said shareholders agreed to take up 8.29 per cent of its $8 billion rights issue, increasing speculation that Perth-based BankWest could be up for sale.

JONES Lang LaSalle's Perth office has made a number of new appointments in its leasing, sales and property management divisions.Jason Ridge (pictured) joins the firm as a director in the property, ass

The federal government has flagged changes to its skilled migration program, including the temporary 457 visa, which it says will give the states greater control in recruiting overseas workers.

High density development may be top of the state government's planning agenda, but the target for infill in Perth is overly ambitious and needs to be significantly downgraded, with the city likely to fall short 131,000 dwellings, according to a report fro

LEGISLATION has been passed allowing businesses applying for the Export Market Development Grants scheme to take advantage of new scheme rules.

Tourism Western Australia has welcomed a preliminary decision opposing plans to convert Rendezvous Observation City Hotel into residential apartments.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd has alerted shareholders of an unsolicited offer to acquire shares from Hassle Free Share Sales Pty Ltd, a fortnight after the same company approached Woodside Petroleum Ltd.

Western Australian stocks Mincor Resources Ltd and Panoramic Resources Ltd are just some of the nickel plays that enjoyed a healthy day on the bourse, buoyed by positive news from their respective projects.

A pre-feasibility study into Perth-based Strike Resources Ltd's Peru iron ore project has pegged total capital cost at $2.4 billion based on a 20 million tonne per annum operation.

Maddington-based engineering company Coote Industrial Ltd has signed an exclusive Australian distribution agreement with a subsidiary of global company Caterpillar Inc.

Wesfarmers Ltd has had a mixed June quarter over its coal output with production increasing in two of its operations while its Premier mine recorded a 37 per cent decline from the previous quarter.

Perth-based CO2 Group Ltd has launched a cash takeover offer for private mallee eucalyptus planting firm The Oil Mallee Company of Australia Ltd in a bid worth up to $700,000.

National company Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd has secured its first major contract with the state government, having been selected to design and construct stage two of the Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor.

Perth miner Straits Resources Ltd has been dealt a blow with the state's environment watchdog recommending against a proposal to build a $200 million solar salt farm in the Exmouth Gulf.

The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed engineering company Clough Ltd's appeal against an earlier decision to lift an interim injunction over the disputed G1 project in India with client ONGC.