Battery Minerals

Signs of life are starting to emerge in the sputtering initial public offerings market, with three Western Australian explorers advancing plans to list on the Australian Securities Exchange this week following the debut of two others earlier this month.

Mozambique-focused Metals of Africa has made a successful debut on the Australian Securities Exchange, its shares closing 3 cents above their issue price after their first day of trade.

Perth-based explorers Windward Resources and Auroch Resources have dipped their toes into a tough IPO market, raising a combined $5 million through initial public offerings that closed today.

Cherie Leeden returned from the front line to the conference room last week, telling Metals of Africa shareholders in Perth and Sydney about the copper, zinc and high-grade lead found at the surface of the Rio Mazoe project in Mozambique.

Richard Heaslop has been appointed exploration manager at Metals of Africa's exploration tenements in Mozambique.Mr Heaslop has spent the last seven years working for Rio Tinto, most recently at its iron ore project in Guinea.

Metals of Africa has announced plans to raise nearly $2.5 million to fund exploration activities and first drilling at the Rulio prospect at its Rio Mazoe base metals project in Mozambique.

Leaner times in the junior mining and exploration sector have resulted in widespread cuts to chief executive pay, but the restraint has not been shared equally across the sector, with some actually lifting salaries.

Cost cutting can only take a business so far, and with tough times set to continue for mining services contractors, innovation and diversification have a big role to play. Click through to see more on our Mining Services feature.

Junior explorers Azure Minerals and Metals of Africa have tapped investors to raise a combined $4.5 million to bolster their respective projects.

Junior explorers Coventry Resources, Metals of Africa and Consolidated Zinc have tapped investors to raise a combined $13.7 million to fund ongoing development of their respective projects.

Mozambique-focused graphite explorer Metals of Africa has recruited former Atlas Iron boss David Flanagan as its new chairman.

SPECIAL REPORT: Three WA arts organisations have performed a series of firsts on tours to Asia this year, building on business and diplomatic strategies that highlight the value of cultural exchange. 

Graphite explorer Metals of Africa has announced a $9 million capital raising and rebranding plans, with the company to change its name to ‘Battery Minerals Limited’.

Perth businessman David Flanagan has taken on a larger role at aspiring graphite miner Battery Minerals, that of executive chairman, as part of a management restructure ahead of the company’s planned transition to the production phase.

Graphite players have posted strong share price gains in the past 12 months and raised $66 million between them, but they are struggling to kick off production of the mineral. 

David Flanagan-led graphite explorer Battery Minerals has slashed the development cost of its Montepuez project in Mozambique by two-thirds, as the company restructures its plans for the operation.

SPECIAL REPORT: Activity in Western Australia’s graphite sector is continuing apace, with local hopefuls seeking to raise more than $70 million this quarter, an amount similar to that raised for the entire financial year just past.

Battery Minerals has announced a $20 million capital raising, primarily through a strongly supported share placement, ensuring the company can progress at its graphite projects in Mozambique.

Our daily board moves wrap includes David Flanagan, Ivy Chen, Paul Glasson, Ged Hall, Robert Scott, Peter Meagher, Frank Knezovic, Jim Simpson, Jon Latto, and Kim Massey.

Jeremy Sinclair, managing director of Battery Minerals, will transition to the role of non-executive director on November 22.

Our board moves wrap includes Darryl Clark, Kent Balas, Jeremy Sinclair, Hian Siang Chan, Justin Mouchacca, Stephen Buckley, Hugh Warner, Harry Greaves, Anthony Cina, George Bauk, Gary Billingsley, Brian McMaster, and Nicholas Lindsay.

Our board moves wrap includes Scott Nicholas, Sophie Raven, David Flanagan, Dimitri Bacopanos, and Bernard Hockings.

Our board moves wrap includes Peter Duerden, David Flanagan, Jonathan Downes, Richard O'Shannassy, Adam McKinnon, Andrew Ferrier, David Nour, Hannah Hudson, and Russell Thomson.

Our board moves wrap includes Nerida Schmidt, Tony Walsh, Stephen Strubel, David Leavy, Lawrence Teo, Kevin Coutinho, Josh Hunt, Andrew Worland, and Phil Hearse.

Our board moves wrap includes Darryl Clark, David Flanagan, Andrew Stewart, Jeff Dowling, Richard Willson, Nerida Schmidt, Peter Batten, Paul Brown, Stephen Hall, Park Wei, Kelly Ross, John Percival, Brett Lambert, Mark Zeptner, Tim Manners, Alan Thom, Richard Jones, and Deborah Ho.