Deals

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has fallen $14 million short of its target for the retail component of a $78 million capital raising completed today.

MZI Resources has reached agreement with two major banks to secure a $54 million project finance facility for the Keysbrook mineral sands development south of Perth.

Cortona Resources shareholders have thrown their overwhelming support behind a $25.6 million merger with Victoria's Unity Mining.

Perth-based exploration firm OreCorp has announced a backdoor listing on the ASX through fellow explorer Silver Stone Resources.

Engineering services provider Plexal Group has been acquired by global firm SPIE Oil and Gas Services.

The future of Telstra Corporation's Trading Post is under a cloud after the competition regulator blocked a proposed deal with online classifieds operator carsales.com.

There has been a small burst of activity in the flagging new floats sector, with three Western Australian firms completing initial public offers this week, raising more than $25 million collectivel

Qantas Airways shares were flat in early trade as the airline welcomed a preliminary decision giving its proposed alliance with Emirates the green light.

 The state government will get a US$22 million stamp duty windfall after Canadian company Cameco completed the purchase of the Yeelirrie uranium project for US$430 million.

Nexus Energy has exercised a put option to sell 2 per cent of its 17 per cent stake in the Crux gas field off the northwest coast to Royal Dutch Shell for $75 million.

Shares in Cape Lambert Resources gained 10 per cent on the ASX today, after the company announced a plan to buy back 10 per cent of its shares.

Murchison explorer Fortunis Resources has made a successful debut on the Australian Securities Exchange after raising $2.8 million through an initial public offering last week.

Commonwealth Bank is taking control of John Symond's Aussie Home Loans, extending its position as the country's number one home lender.

Takeover target Australand says it has not received an approach from property giant Mirvac about a potential merger.

Perth-based Peak Resources plans to tap the market for funding by mid-2013 amid plans to begin producing rare earths in three years.

Tungsten Mining has made its debut on the Australian Securities Exchange, after raising $5.1 million through its initial public offering last week.

Perth-based Firestone Energy has received an all-scrip takeover proposal from the Brian McMaster-chaired Range River Gold, that values it at $24.9 million.

Administrators for collapsed nickel miner Kagara have reached agreement to sell off the group’s North Queensland assets for $40 million.

Fairfax Media may be casting adrift one of its biggest cash generating units when it sells Trade Me, but it needs the money to support its ailing newspapers, analysts say.

Perth-based junior Kinetiko Energy has raised $3 million to fund drilling activities at its Amersfoot coal bed methane project in South Africa.

Shares in surfwear retailer Billabong have soared on reports a former director has made a $527 million offer for the struggling company.

Perth-based Paringa Resources has raised $10 million through an initial public offering, which closed fully subscribed.

Australand has rejected an offer from fellow property company GPT Group for its commercial and industrial and investment property portfolio.

Perth-based Azure Healthcare has announced a deal to acquire Sedco Communications, one of its main competitors in the hospital communications systems sector.

Fortescue Metals Group says its Iron Bridge magnetite deposit near Port Hedland could be the next non-core asset it sells off, after it announced a significant increase in resources at the project.

US food processing giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has had its second takeover knockback from Australia's GrainCorp in a month.

BC Iron has raised $47 million from a share placement which will ensure the company has enough funds to complete the its acquisition of an additional 25 per cent stake in the Nullagine iron ore joi

BHP Billiton has extricated itself from the contentious Browse gas project, agreeing to sell its interest to PetroChina in the third major ownership change the project has seen this year.

ST JOHN of God Health Care is making its move on the Peel region, signalling its desire to take over the troubled Peel Health Campus if the state government puts the hospital to tender.

Engineering contractor Clough has extended its $200 million finance facility with a consortium of banks for a further three years.

Sirius Resources has raised $44 million to advance drilling programmes and project studies at its Nova copper-nickel discovery near Norseman.

Uranium producer Peninsula Energy has secured $36 million in funding for the construction of the Lance uranium project in Wyoming.