Deals

National private equity group Catalyst has made its second acquisition in Western Australia, buying frozen foods manufacturer Vesco and announcing plans to merge it with an east coast food business

Shares in listed oil and gas explorer Jacka Resources closed the day's trade more than 14 per cent higher after the company announced it had secured a convertible facility worth up to $5.5 million.

Base-metals company Ventnor Resources has announced a joint venture with

Perth-based investment group Bentley Capital has launched a $2.3 million unconditional on-market takeover offer for South Australian minerals explorer Marathon Resources.

Rare earths explorer Northern Minerals struck a 50 per cent offtake agreement with Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corporation last December – but it was nine months before the deal was announced. The timeframe is indicative of the measured approach taken by the Japanese, according to Northern Minerals managing director George Bauk.

Chinese interest in Australian property and resources may be in the spotlight, but Japan still has a significant foothold, particularly in WA.

Perth-based stockbroking firm Hartleys has largely maintained its profitability in challenging conditions - a feat that few, if any, of its competitors managed to achieve in the 2013 financial year

Environmentally-friendly cleaning products supplier ENJO has teamed with corporate advisory firm Azure Capital to embark on an expansion of its business to the United States.

Sundance Resources has signed agreements to raise $40 million from a consortium of investors as it looks to progress its Mbalam-Nabebe iron ore project in West Africa.

Adelaide-based company Minotaur Exploration has acquired 91 per cent of Perth-based Breakaway Resources in an off-market takeover.

Perth-based explorer Australian American Mining Corporation has announced further capital raising plans as it looks to bring its American copper interests to production.

Anatolia Energy has completed a $6.2 million capital raising and commenced development works at its Temrezli uranium project in Turkey.

Canning Vale based medical and emergency services provider Hostile Environment Services has stepped up its growth strategy after agreeing to sell 55 per cent of its business to Europe's largest private ambulance service provider, Falck.

Iron ore junior Pluton Resources has completed a $3 million placement.

West Perth-based junior Avanco Resources has completed an $18.1 million share placement as it looks to fast-track development of its Pedra Branca copper project in Brazil.

Perth based stockbroking firm Patersons Securities is punting on investors' emerging appetite for biotech stocks, agreeing to underwrite New Zealand biopharmaceutical company Innate Immunotherapeutics's $16.5 million initial public offering.

Shares in Tawana Resources have soared on the back of news the junior miner plans to raise $2.9 million through a share placement.

Antares Energy has raised $10 million from institutional investors towards drilling activity at its Northern Star project in West Texas.

Subiaco-based miner Attila Resources says it is fully funded to move towards a final development decision on its Kodiak coking coal project following the completion of a $7 million capital raising.

The Brian Gilberston-led Jupiter Mines plans to seek a delisting of its shares from the Australian Securities Exchange, after its major shareholder lifted its stake in the business.

The past year has been tough for listed WA companies looking to raise funds but a lift in activity during the past three months has the industry cautiously optimistic.

A $93 million private merger funding for City Farmers' expansion sets the pattern for WA companies in a tight capital investment market.

The sale of 16 private businesses worth an estimated $500 million helped to sustain activity in what was otherwise a depressed market for mergers and acquisitions in the September quarter in Western Australia.

Scooter manufacturer Vmoto has boosted its funding with a $5 million capital raising as it eyes growth opportunities in China.

Perth investment house Argonaut has seen its annual profit and revenue drop following what it described as a period of substantially reduced activity in equity capital markets and mergers and acquisitions.

Listed corporate finance firm Euroz has announced a management shuffle in its stockbroking subsidiary, with the current head of institutional dealing, Rob Black, appointed as managing director.

Toronto-based gold miner Alacer Gold has agreed to sell its Australian operations to a subsidiary of Perth-based explorer Metals X for $40 million.

Perth-based explorer Australian-American Mining Corporation has received a $10 million debt finance term sheet from a private lender as it seeks to bring its American copper interests to production.

Healthcare technology company Allied Healthcare Group will seek to raise $10 million as it looks to launch its CardioCel regenerative tissue patch in Europe.

Galaxy Resources says it is back on track to pursue the development of its flagship mine, with its Jiangsu processing facility on course to break even this year, and a further $1.1 million in cost

Information technology group Empired has agreed to acquire Melbourne-based IT consulting service provider OBS for $15 million and has also announced a major contract with an unnamed resources company.

GR Engineering has joined the share register of one of its major clients, Mutiny Gold, receiving more than $748,000 worth of stock as consideration for engineering works.