Deals

National Australia Bank has launched a massive $5.5 billion capital raising to help it get the jump on regulators and allow it to push ahead with the public float of its troubled UK business.

West Perth-based oil and gas explorer Orca Energy has announced former mining magnate Nathan Tinkler will be its new executive chairman after participating in the company’s $20 million capital raising.

TPG Telecom has quickly won backing from iiNet after lifting its takeover offer to $9.55 per share, with cash and scrip alternatives, as it fends off a rival bid from Dodo owner M2 Group.

Subiaco-based Atrum Coal has signed a deal with a Chinese enterprise that will provide a $US100 million ($A127 million) facility and mining equipment to develop a section of its flagship Groundhog anthracite project in Canada.

Specialist materials technology company Alexium International Group has raised about $8.45 million in a placement to a US private investor to fund development of its fire-retardant chemicals project.

Former gold explorer International Goldfields has become the fourth Western Australian company to move into the cannabis industry, with the acquisition of Uruguayan business Winter Garden Biosciences.

Perth-based Amcom Telecommunications has pushed back its scheme meeting to vote on the Vocus Communications takeover deal by two weeks, after Sydney competitor and Amcom’s major shareholder TPG Telecom yesterday said it would vote against the proposal.

KPMG has acquired West Perth accounting and advisory practice Hayes Knight (WA), saying this will be the first of a series of acquisitions to bolster its private client practice nationally.

Troy Resources has announced a $40 million capital raising to fund exploration and development of its Karouni gold project in Guyana.

Evolution Mining has bought a large stake in a local gold mining company with tenements near La Mancha's mines and processing plant near Kalgoorlie, which Evolution is also buying.

Iluka Resources looks set to snare Irish company Kenmare Resources after proposing a scrip takeover offer valued at $363 million.

Moore Stephens will become the 11th largest accounting firm in Western Australia after striking a merger agreement with the Perth office of UHY Haines Norton.

Minerals Corporation, which in 2013 was one of the first Perth-based mining companies to attempt a backdoor listing, has announced plans to exit the resources sector by acquiring an online music competition business.

Network Ten has warned it is nearing the limits of its $200 million loan and may need to raise more money as it attempts to boost ratings and lagging advertising revenue.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources has signed an agreement to farm-in to Clancy Exploration’s Condobolin project in New South Wales.

The fate of Perth companies iiNet and Amcom Telecommunications rests with Sydney competitor TPG Telecom and its reclusive chairman David Teoh, and possibly with the competition watchdog, after a day of surprises.

Emeco Holdings has entered merger discussions with Queensland-based Orionstone, three weeks after the rival mining equipment supplier proposed a nil-premium merger.

Oil and gas explorer Odin Energy has struck an agreement to acquire a local cannabis and hemp 'aggregator', making it the third WA-based listed company to explore the cannabis sector in recent months.

Shares in resources developer Mungana Goldmines have shot up 33 per cent today after an off-market takeover proposal backed by private equity group Denham Capital.

Corporate and financial communication firms, Citadel PR and Magnus Investor Relations, have entered into an agreement to combine their businesses to form a significant independent national player.

The company behind the reverse takeover of local cloud-based technology company Norwood Systems has raised $5.5 million in an oversubscribed share offer.

Kerry Stokes' Seven West Media is tapping investors for up to $612 million to help it reduce its $1 billion pile of debt.

Shares in internet market target iiNet surged again today to a new intra-day high before closing at around $10 each in line with yesterday's formal bid from M2 Group.

West Perth-based explorer South Boulder Mines has announced another capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Colluli potash project in East Africa.

The receivers who took charge of the Windimurra vanadium project in February have put the trouble-plagued mine up for sale, with Gresham Advisory Partners appointed to find a buyer.

East Africa Resources has become the 36th Perth-based company to announce a backdoor listing deal in the past 18 months, with plans to exit uranium exploration and acquire local security services business Threat Protect Australia.

Students at the University of Western Australia have partnered with Nedlands-based money manager Viburnum Funds to set up a $20,000 student-run managed fund.

Metals explorer TNG has secured a $2 million placement to progress a feasibility study on its planned Mount Peake vanadium project in the Northern Territory.

Exploration firm Resource Star has announced plans to acquire a 60 per cent interest in a Chinese company which holds an exclusive licence to produce and distribute Candy Crush confectionery in Asia.

Fortescue Metals Group shares surged today after it surprised the market by completing a $US2.3 billion ($A2.9 billion) debt refinancing, while also benefiting from a much-needed lift in iron ore prices.

Maca and GR Engineering Services have become the preferred contractors for work at Cassini Resources’ Nebo-Babel nickel project while also committing to the mining company’s $8 million capital raising.

Sino Gas & Energy Holdings has completed an $80 million capital raising to fund a development plan for its onshore gas projects in China.