Deals

SPECIAL REPORT: The number of hostile takeover bids confronting Australian companies may be relatively low, but disruption from sources such as activist groups and shareholder class actions is a growing challenge for directors.

SPECIAL REPORT: Tox Free Solutions has completed nearly 20 takeovers on its way to becoming a national player in the waste management sector.

SPECIAL REPORT: A flurry of deals over the past fortnight, including four acquisitions by international companies expanding in Western Australia and the year's largest capital raising, has added life to a flat corporate finance market.

Local explorer Gascoyne Resources has tapped investors for a $15 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at two of its gold projects in Western Australia.

A $1.6 billion deal between Telstra and the company building the national broadband network has prompted concern within the competition regulator.

The board of local seafoods business Mareterram intends to accept a $19.7 million proportional takeover offer from the company's largest shareholder.

Pilbara Minerals has announced the biggest capital raising by a Western Australian company for 2016, which it will use to fund development of its Pilgangoora lithium project, while also announcing it will put its new Tabba Tabba plant on ice.

Perth-based Victory Mines has announced plans to exit resources through the acquisition of an Israeli-incorporated technology company for about $2.7 million.

Global waste management group Suez has paid $87 million for local company Perthwaste, which has experienced rapid growth in recent years with backing from WA business leader Harold Clough.

Property developer Diploma Group expects to reap $42 million from the sale of its Quest apartment hotel on Adelaide Terrace, after finalising a deal that was announced in February.

MACA is seeking an entry into the east coast civil works market by acquiring a large stake in a privately owned road asset management and maintenance services provider.

Global engineering company Wood Group has expanded its presence in Australia through the acquisition of Perth-based SVT Engineering Consultants.

Perth-founded stock investing platform Simply Wall St is branching out into the US with the acquisition of Capp.io for an undisclosed sum.

Sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has confirmed a $65 million capital raising to buy-out plantations owned by managed investment schemes.

The competition regulator has flagged a fresh review of the $9.05 billion takeover of rail and ports giant Asciano and is examining whether the new cross-ownership deal will lead to any common financial interest among the suitors.

Programmed Maintenance Services has sold another non-core business that it took control of through the Skilled Group acquisition last year.

Metals X has acquired Kidman Resources' Gunga gold project near Kalgoorlie in a deal worth up to $2.5 million.

Alcoa of Australia has agreed to sell its stake in DBP, the owner and operator of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP), to DUET Group for $205 million.

Western Areas and Panoramic Resources have announced plans to raise a combined $80.7 million from investors to continue work at their respective nickel operations in Western Australia.

The Kailis family has folded its Kailis Bros seafood business into a larger, newly-capitalised venture called KB Foods that will be 90 per cent owned by Hong Kong-listed conglomerate Legend Holdings. Click through to see the multiple WA businesses owned by members of the Kailis family in WA.

The chairman of Frankland River Olive Company looks set to wholly acquire and privatise the business, after Paul Letari increased his shareholding to over 90 per cent.

OTOC has further grown its presence on the east coast with the acquisition of a Sydney-based land surveying firm for $4 million in cash and shares.

Local explorer Salt Lake Potash has received commitments for an $8.4 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Lake Wells sulphate-of-potash project north of Laverton.

China's largest private gas company, ENN Group, is set to become Santos's biggest shareholder after agreeing to buy an 11.7 per cent stake in the Australian energy giant.

North Fremantle-based Carnegie Wave Energy has acquired a 35 per cent stake in solar power and lithium battery storage provider Energy Made Clean through a $4.5 million investment.

Danakali has tapped investors for a $5.5 million capital raising to fund work at its Colluli potash project in Africa.

Perth-based Bone Medical has made a second attempt at a backdoor listing, today announcing plans to acquire a US dermatology company and adopt its business model.

Local waste management firm Tox Free Solutions is expanding its east coast presence with the acquisition of Worth Corporation for $70 million.

Perth-based Palace Resources is one step closer to becoming a tech company, after completing a $4.5 million capital raising as part of a reverse takeover of TikForce.

Nine Entertainment has taken a 9.99 per cent stake in regional broadcaster Southern Cross Media, in the first of many moves expected in the sector as players position themselves ahead of a likely change in ownership rules.

Investment banking giant Credit Suisse has dealt a blow to the state government's hopes of a big windfall from the privatisation of Western Australia's TAB, revising its value estimate down by at least 65 per cent to under $250 million.

Flinders Mines shares have surged after the Pilbara focused iron ore junior received a $38 million takeover offer from private New Zealand company Todd Corporation, which last year offered to buy Flinders' major project.