Deals

Sandfire Resources has completed the retail component of its $103 million equity raising announced in November, with a total of $37 million raised from participating and eligible retail shareholders.

After months of speculation Qantas has confirmed it has taken over regional airline Network Aviation to move into the fly-in-fly-out air charter market in a deal believed to be valued at more than $30 million.

Bulk minerals explorer Sheffield Resources has closed its $7 million initial public offer a week early after it was substantially oversubscribed.

Property developer Finbar Group has announced plans to raise $45.6 million via a placement and share purchase plan to step up development activity on its Karratha project and continue to bolster its Perth project pipeline.

Gold Road Resources has completed a $9 million share placement to professional and sophisticated investors, which will be used to fund exploration and evaluation of its Yamarna project east of Laverton.

Rio Tinto has bolstered its links with China, with the announcements today of an extension of its Pilbara joint venture with SinoSteel and an Asia-based minerals exploration joint venture with Chinalco.

The Chinese majority owner of Moly Mines, Hanlong Mining Investment, has received Chinese government approval for a $US466 million loan to complete financing for the Spinifex Ridge molybdenum-copper project in the Pilbara.

Equinox Minerals has declared its $1.25 billion takeover offer for Citadel Resource Group free of all defeating conditions if it receives an interest in Citadel shares of more than 50 per cent by December 16.

The state's largest independent fuel company, Gull Petroleum, has been acquired by Archer Capital-backed Ausfuel for an undisclosed sum.

Breakaway Resources has announced plans to raise $3.5 million via a share purchase plan to underpin new drilling and exploration programs at its flagship nickel sulphide projects in WA and copper projects in Queensland.

Automotive Holdings Group has confirmed media reports that it is in discussions with other motoring firms about possible transactions.

South Korea's GS Engineering and Construction says it has won a $2.96 billion order to build Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers Collie urea fertiliser plant.

Sphere Minerals has changed its board after a takeover offer by Xstrata became unconditional.

Shareholders in Empire Beer could soon find themselves the owners of car park technology company Meter Eye after Empire announced plans to acquire the New Zealand-based company for an undisclosed amount.

Hong Kong listed Wah Nam International has launched a conditional off market takeover offer for emerging iron ore producers Brockman Resources and FerrAus valued at about $1.2 billion.

Shares in Austal closed up more than 15 per cent, after the shipbuilder agreed to changes to its US Navy contract to build 10 coastal warships.

A Chinese consortium trying to win support for a deal with iron ore developer Sphere Minerals claims that a majority of Sphere shareholders will reject an alternative takeover proposal from Xstrata.

West Perth-based Bass Metals has announced it has raised $3.55 million through a placement to European institutional investors.

Gold miner Kingsgate Consolidated has launched a friendly $376 million takeover bid for West Perth-based Dominion Mining.

Quickstep has signed an agreement to allow US-based Vector Resources to use the company's patented Quickstep Process for advanced composites manufacturing.

Chinese-controlled Perth miner Perilya has unveiled a friendly $186 million takeover of Canadian copper miner GlobeStar Mining Corporation that will see the base metals producer spread its wings to the Caribbean and Canada.

Owner of fast food chain CHOOKS Fresh & Tasty, Steven Hansen, has sold the Perth-born franchise to Red Rooster and Chicken

Latin Resources has closed a $6 million initial public offering and hopes to list on the Australian Securities Exchange tomorrow.

Gold company Cleveland Mining Company, formerly Western Kingfish, has closed an over-subscribed, $6 million capital raising.

US company Monsanto, best known for developing genetically engineered seed, has taken a 20 per cent minority interest in WA-based cereal breeding company InterGrain.

Cape Lambert Resources has completed a $7.7 million acquisition of the Leichhardt Copper Project in Queensland from Matrix Metals.

Apex Minerals has successfully completed a $5 million capital raising through a share placement to institutional and sophisticated investors to fund operational improvements at its Wiluna gold project.

PERTH-BASED surveying and mapping firm McMullen Nolan says it will use the acquisition of mid-tier surveyor DM Gerloff & Associates to build its business outside of metropolitan land development and expand its capabilities of servicing mining and resource

THE corporate advisory sector is expecting a rise in mergers and acquisitions activity now that the resources tax base has been narrowed, however buyers remain nervous about the detail and wary of global markets that have worsened since the tax debate sta

WA-based West African gold explorer Gryphon Minerals has announced a friendly all-scrip takeover bid for fellow West African gold player Shield Mining.

NEW Zealand-based contracting group Fulton Hogan is aiming to boost its market share in Western Australia after buying out its joint venture partners and rebranding its local operations.

Advanced materials company Quickstep Holdings has announced plans to set up a US base in an effort to target and secure defence and aerospace contracts.