Deals

Engine technology developer Orbital Corporation plans to raise $10 million via a convertible note issue to fund its acquisition of electrical product manufacturer REMSAFE.

Perth-based residential rentals-dedicated website rent.com.au is going public, unveiling a $10 million-plus plan to list on the Australian Securities Exchange via a backdoor listing through Select

Construction giant Leighton is handing over a 50 per cent share in its services operations to a US investment firm in a deal valuing the business at $1.075 billion.

Woodside Petroleum has substantially reshaped its project portfolio after buying a minority interest in Chevron’s half-built Wheatstone LNG plant, postponing its planned Browse LNG project and acquiring a stake in a Canadian LNG development.

Peninsula Energy has secured $69.4 million in fully underwritten institutional funding for its Lance projects in Wyoming, enabling the company to transition to a uranium producer in 2015.

Mineral developer IMX Resources will sell part of its Ntaka Hill nickel mine to Mauritius-based private equity company Fig Tree Resources Fund II, with plans to use the cash to fund its nearby graphite project.

Banks should be forced to hold more capital in order for them to impress their offshore creditors, the head of the government's financial system inquiry says.

Woodside Petroleum will spend $US2.75 billion ($A2.98 billion) to buy LNG and oil projects in Australia and Canada.

US-based logistics giant Iron Mountain is bemused with Australian data management business Recall Holdings’ dismissal of its $2.2 billion takeover offer.

The board of global drinks giant The Coca-Cola Company has approved a proposed $US500 million ($A540.98 million) investment in Australian subsidiary Coca-Cola Amatil's Indonesian business.

Nido Petroleum has launched a $US108 million ($130 million) bid for Otto Energy’s share of the Galoc oil field, coming in ahead of a recent proposal by Risco Energy International.

Construction giant Leighton Holdings will sell its John Holland subsidiary to a Chinese firm for around $1.15 billion.

Manufacturer Bradken is opening its books to its private equity suitors and fielding takeover interest from other parties.

Silver Lake Resources has cancelled the $5.5 million sale of its Lakewood Mill near Kalgoorlie, after the buyer was unable to secure financing.

Energy infrastructure business APA Group has announced the purchase of the QCLNG pipeline in Queensland for $US5 billion ($A5.41 billion).

Vacuum cleaner retailer Godfreys Group has made a strong start to trade on the share market.

Gold developer Norton Gold Fields has taken a stake of 10.8 per cent in Phoenix Gold, but has clarified it has “no present intention to make a takeover offer”.

Blackgold International Holdings has negotiated terms for a $S25 million ($A22.9 million) convertible bond issue, to supplement working capital and for acquisitions.

The run of mining companies turning to the technology sector is far from over with another reverse takeover in the works.

Property developer Finbar Group has announced an on-market share buy-back under which the company can buy back up to 12 million shares within a year.

Shares in Geopacific were up 9.3 per cent today as the company announced a $3 million rights issue, with the company planning to step up exploration activity at its Cambodian Kou Sa project.

The mining giant says it’s about heritage, but the new moniker for its less-loved assets shows the management team has plenty of latitude.

Western Australia’s first ever uranium mine could be a step closer towards completion, with uranium developer Toro Energy completing a $3.9 million raising to fund its Wiluna project.

Western Australian companies are on the outer in the quarterly reshuffle of the S&P ASX indices, with local players including Iluka Resources and Medusa Mining dropping out.

Shares in Bradken have soared to a two-month high on the back of a conditional takeover proposal, as the heavy equipment manufacturer continues to close its factories and shed jobs across Perth.

Shares in diversified mining and infrastructure contractor Decmil Group gained up to 9.2 per cent on the ASX today, following its announcement of an on market share buy-back for up to 10 per cent of the company’s shares.

Shares in Perth-based Carnarvon Petroleum have surged on news it entered into an agreement to sell its remaining 20 per cent interest in its Thailand oil production assets to the Berlanga Group for $68.5 million.

Engineering giant Monadelphous Group will enter the water market with the purchase of diversified design, build and maintenance business Water Infrastructure Group for about $6 million.

Santos shares have hit a near eight-year low as the energy company shelved a debt raising and announced plans to slash spending due to weak oil prices.

Woolworths has bought itself a foothold in China's growing wine and drinks market, acquiring one of the country's largest alcoholic drinks distributors.

Dongyi Hua-led VDM Group is looking to strengthen its balance sheet by signing a share placement agreement with a private investor to raise $3 million.

Cash Converters International says it plans to raise $45 million to help terminate commissions to development agents on its rapidly growing personal loans business.