BRIEFS

Arrium announced that Andrew Roberts, the head of its mining materials business, has been named as the successor to chief executive Geoff Plummer. Roberts will join the Arrium board immediately and is expected to take over as CEO in the first quarter of the 2013–14 financial year.

According to the announcement, Andrew Roberts will join Arrium's board immediately and is expected to formally take over as chief executive in the first quarter of the 2013–14 financial year.

The company named Andrew Roberts as the successor to the outgoing chief executive Geoff Plummer.

Mariner Corporation's takeover bid for Wilson HTM was described as a low‑ball offer that may have lapsed. Wilson said it had urgently asked Mariner whether letters to shareholders—purporting to extend the offer period to June 28—had actually been sent, and that Mariner had yet to respond.

Wilson HTM reported that it had urgently asked Mariner to confirm whether the letters notifying shareholders of an extension of the offer period to June 28 had been sent, but said Mariner had not yet replied.

Official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows seasonally adjusted new motor vehicle sales fell 2.4% in January, with 95,694 new vehicles sold compared with a downwardly revised 98,097 in December.

The vehicle sales figures were reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and are presented on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Car parts retailer and logistics group Automotive Holdings reported net profit rose to $37.9 million in the half year to December 31, up from $31.8 million in the previous corresponding period.