Deals

Perth-based private company QCG Resources has announced plans to raise up to $60 million in an initial public offering to fund its purchase of the mothballed Avebury nickel mine in Tasmania.

Perth-based oil and gas services company Coretrack has signed a deal to acquire unlisted fraccing technology developer Ecopropp in an all-scrip transaction worth about $17 million.

Mineral sands explorer Sheffield Resources has raised $11.5 million through a share placement as it works towards completion of a pre-feasibility study at its Thunderbird project.

Copper and gold explorer Stavely Minerals debuted on the ASX today in what was the first float by a Western Australia-based minerals play in more than a year.

Private equity fund Denham Capital has launched its first Australian mining investment, committing $200 million to newly-formed coal venture Pembroke Resources in a deal spearheaded by the firm's Perth-based mining team.

Property firm Charter Hall Group has added to its portfolio of Bunnings stores with a $127 million acquisition of stores in Western Australia and Queensland.

Cedar Woods Properties is poised to expand into the Queensland market with the $68 million purchase of a residential development site near Brisbane.

Junior Resources firms Poseidon Nickel and Fox Resources have each outlined capital raisings in a bid to bolster company balance sheets.

Perth-based Liquefied Natural Gas says its Magnolia LNG project is fully funded with the completion of a $49.5 million capital raising.

Andrew Forrest has emerged as a surprise backer of Energy and Minerals Australia, taking a major stake in the Perth-based uranium explorer through a much-needed $12 million investment. EMA has also struck a debt-for-equity swap with its noteholders.

Continued growth of the Pilbara as an export-focused iron ore province received a huge boost today when Chinese steel giant Baosteel and Australian railway operator Aurizon teamed up to bid for the Perth company behind a $6 billion port and rail project.

Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Group has emerged as the surprise buyer of the state's largest beef processor, Harvey Beef, quashing speculation that the company would be sold to Chinese interests.

Melbourne company Vocation has acquired Perth-based Australian College of Applied Education and 50 per cent ownership of the Australian School of Management for $2.125m.

Dubber, a cloud based call recording platform, is preparing for a backdoor listing on the Australian Securities Exchange after signing a deal with West African gold explorer Crucible Gold.

Galaxy Resources has agreed to sell its Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant in China to Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries in a deal worth about $249 million.

Two Asian companies seeking control of food producer Goodman Fielder say they are undeterred by the company's rejection of their $1.27 billion takeover offer.

Energy and Minerals Australia has extended its trade suspension period to almost a month after signalling it has been unable to complete a proposed capital raising.

Subiaco-based explorer Resource and Investment has announced plans to raise up to $6.2 million through a discounted placement and share purchase plan.

Carnegie Wave Energy has completed an oversubscribed $9 million capital raising as it continues development of its CETO 6 wave power technology.

Nedlands-based explorer Bullabulling Gold has signalled it will not accept a takeover bid from Norton Gold Fields which values the company at about $24 million, saying the offer does not reflect the value of its assets.

Listed transport and logistics company McAleese Group has announced plans to acquire Forrestfield-based WA Freight Group for $15.4 million.

Perth-based private company QCG Resources has agreed to purchase the mothballed Avesbury nickel mine in Tasmania from Chinese-controlled miner MMG for $40 million.

West Perth-based junior African Energy Resources has announced plans to raise $4.5 million through a share placement and rights issue to advance its coal and power projects in Botswana.

Cassini Resources has raised $10 million via a share placement with the proceeds earmarked for exploration activities its recently acquired West Musgrave nickel project.

Perth-based financial services group Pioneer Credit has outlined plans for a $40.2 million IPO, the largest by a Perth company in 20 months.

Online education provider iCollege expects to begin trading within days on the Australian Securities Exchange as the company wraps up a reverse takeover of DGI Holdings.

Minrex Resources has agreed to a reverse takeover by private firm Skin Elements, a sunscreen and cosmetics company steered by former New Tel head Peter Malone and corporate advisor Luke Martino.

Resonance Health intends to raise up to $5.1 million with a placement and entitlement offer, pitched at 5 cents per share.

Perth-based explorer Kin Mining has agreed to purchase the Leonora gold project in the Goldfields from the administrators of Navigator Resources for $2.7 million.

Shares in Perth-based explorer Tawana Resources are trading lower after the company announced it has raised $5 million through a discounted share placement.

SPECIAL REPORT: Waning interest in the resources sector has encouraged a pick-up in IT and tech companies.

SPECIAL REPORT: The gold and technology sectors have experienced a boost in investment activity for the March quarter, but doubts remain over whether it will last.