Deals

South32 has made a $US1.3 billion ($A1.75 billion) bid to take sole ownership of US-focused Arizona Mining.

Perth investor Tony Grist is set to take charge of US-focused 3D printing company Robo 3D, which has announced the acquisition of a US software company operating in a related field and major cost cuts in its existing business as it seeks to achieve breakeven trading.

Perth-based Ausgold has tapped investors for $2.4 million to fund continued exploration work at the company’s Katanning project.

Mineral Resources has struck a deal to purchase the Koolyanobbing iron ore mine from US-based Cleveland Cliffs, after getting support from the state government and railway owner Arc Infrastructure for a deal that will save up to 400 jobs around Southern Cross and Esperance.

Local telco business Vonex started trading on the ASX today, after the company raised $6 million via an initial public offering.

The ownership of two major gas pipelines in Western Australia could change hands after a Chinese consortium proposed a $13 billion takeover of energy infrastructure giant APA Group, one year after the same consortium bought DUET Group, which owns the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline.

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has acquired a 19.6 per cent shareholding in takeover target Atlas Iron, joining Mineral Resources and Fortescue Metals Group in the battle for control of the mid-cap iron ore miner.

WestStar Industrial has secured a design and management contract for a mixed-use commercial property development in West Perth, while also announcing a $1 million capital raising.

West Perth-based Lithium Australia has acquired a lithium-tin project in Germany from its joint venture partner Deutsche Rohstoff in a cash and scrip deal worth about $3.1 million.

Perth companies Global Construction Services and SRG have announced an agreed merger that brings together their contracting, construction and engineering services into a combined group with an expected value of $332 million.

Transport and logistics business Centurion has secured a fuel haulage contract with Viva Energy and acquired contracts and vehicles from Perth-based Fuel Trans Australia.

Local tech company Nuheara has tapped investors for $6 million, with the proceeds set to fund an increase in inventory levels of its noise cancelling earbuds.

Uranium-focused Bannerman Resources has announced an $8 million capital raising to fund further studies on its Etango project in Namibia.

Mineral Resources has agreed to allow takeover target Atlas Iron to enter discussions with other parties, one day after the Andrew Forrest-chaired Fortescue Metals Group purchased a blocking stake in the junior iron ore miner.

Sandfire Resources has reached an agreement to purchase Talisman Mining’s stake in the Springfield joint venture project in the Goldfields region for $72.3 million.

Graphite-focused Hexagon Resources is seeking to raise up to $6 million to progress the company’s McIntosh project in the Kimberley.

Andrew Forrest-chaired Fortescue Metals Group has taken a surprise 19.9 per cent stake in Atlas Iron, and says it will block the $280 million takeover proposed by diversified mining services business Mineral Resources.

Avita Medical has tapped investors for $16 million as the company prepares to launch its spray-on burns treatment, which was co-developed by medical entrepreneur Fiona Wood.

Global Construction Services has moved to full ownership of its fast-growing east coast subsidiary, Gallery Facades, through a scrip deal worth up to $11.3 million.

Western Australia’s largest health insurer HBF and east coast counterpart HCF have ended discussions regarding a planned merger but neither has clearly explained the reasons.

Perth-based engineering firm Primero Group has appointed company director Mark Connelly as chairman and broking firm Cannacord Genuity as lead manager as its finalises plans for an initial public offering.

ASX-listed CTI Logistics has agreed to purchase regional freight company Stirling Freight Express for $4.5 million.

The board of China-focused Sino Gas & Energy Holdings has backed a takeover offer from US private equity group Lone Star, which values the gas producer at $530 million.

Cash Converters International has boosted its coffers with a $39.5 million capital raising, with the proceeds set to strengthen the company’s balance sheet and be used to reduce debt.

Two junior explorers have announced capital raisings today, with aspiring gold miner KIN Mining tapping investors for $11.3 million while Nzuri Copper has raised $6 million.

Norway-focused Koppar Resources has begun trading positively on its debut on the ASX today, after the company raised $4.5 million via an initial public offering.

Shares in Galileo Mining, which is backed by Mark Creasy and Chris Ellison, have closed up strongly on their first day of trading after the company raised $15 million via an initial public offering.

Shares in Galaxy Resources have surged after the lithium miner announced a $US280 million ($A371 million) asset sale deal with South Korean giant Posco.

Two local gold miners have announced equity investments in junior explorers today, with Resolute Mining investing $22.5 million in Canadian company Orca Gold while Westgold Resources has taken a 15 per cent stake in Musgrave Minerals.

Independence Group has agreed to sell its Jaguar base metals operation near Leonora for $73.2 million to diversified investment company Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company.

Chinese-owned mining company Perilya will take a 20 per cent stake in Myanmar Metals as part of a planned capital raising worth up to $35 million to fund its share of the Bawdwin base metals project.

Wesfarmers has sold its struggling Homebase business for a nominal sum, with managing director Rob Scott confirming the UK hardware company has cost the conglomerate about $1.3 billion.