Deals

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.

China Magnesium (CMC) has launched an $8 million initial public offer and unleashed a veiled attack on the federal government's resource super profits tax.

Coogee Chemicals chief executive Phil Thick is confident a $40 million terminal transaction with Gull Petroleum will go ahead as the competition watchdog prepares to deliver its findings.

The Gordon Martin-led Coogee Chemicals has bought a terminal next to its Kwinana facilities from Gull Petroleum in a deal valued at nearly $40 million.

Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust has booked an 11 per cent increase in first-half income on the back of acquisitions and improvements to investment properties.

The anointing of a rival bidder by research houses means Pulpwood Plantations is an outsider to secure the necessary votes this week to take over Great Southern timber schemes.

Western Australian industrialist Gordon Martin has conceded defeat in his bid to take control of Great Southern's timber schemes.

The battle for the hearts and minds of Great Southern scheme investors has escalated with Gordon Martin returning to the table with a revised offer and a new partner, Nick Tana.

Wolf Minerals has announced the completion of its $4 million placement to new strategic partners Traxys Projects and Resource Capital Funds.

The Bunning family and Azure Capital's John Poynton are part of a new bid for Great Southern's timber assets, pitting themselves against Perth businessman Gordon Martin.

Limited access to debt continues to hamper the M&A sector, as corporate advisers forecast a subdued year ahead.

GLOBAL environmental and social impact assessment consultancy, Coffey Natural Systems, has bought Perth-based firm Q&A Communications Group for an undisclosed sum.

Iron Mountain has failed in its takeover bid for Terrain Minerals, attracting just over 15 per cent of Terrain shares on issue with the bulk of that coming from one shareholder.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has acquired Mainsheet Corporate, its second acquisition in the corporate consulting sector in less than two years.