Perenti (ASX:PRN) has concluded a US$350 million ($532 million) issue of guaranteed senior unsecured notes in the US bond market. Global law firm Skadden advised Perenti on the transaction, which was undertaken via its wholly owned subsidiary Perenti Finance. The notes are unsecured at an interest rate of 7.5%. The notes are guaranteed by Perenti and certain of its subsidiaries and mature in April 2029. The proceeds will be used to partially repay Perenti Finance’s existing US$433 million notes and partially pay down amounts drawn under Perenti’s syndicated debt facility. The Skadden team was ..read more

Aya Gold & Silver (TSX:AYA) reports recent drill results confirm continuity of silver mineralisation at its Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco in North Africa.  Silver mineralisation up to 5,794 grams per tonne (g/t) from at-depth has been returned from drilling of 176 holes completed using various drilling methods. The results demonstrate various intercepts over 1,000g/t silver across the Central, Western, and Eastern zones at Zgounder.  Up to 9,900m of the 2024 underground exploration program has been drilled year to date.  President and CEO Benoit La Salle sa ..read more

Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS) has been suspended from trade following lodgement of the Supreme Court of Western Australia orders with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) approving the scheme of arrangement. Under the scheme of arrangement, SH Mining which is a bid vehicle jointly owned by Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile and Hancock Prospecting, will acquire the multi-commodity exploration company. The deal includes a consideration of $3.70 per Azure share and a fall-back conditional off-market takeover offer for cash consideration of $3.65 per Azure share should the sche ..read more

Fin Resources (ASX:FIN) is expecting to post initial results from diamond drilling at the White Bear Lithium discovery, as part of its Cancet West Project in Canada, within the next four to six weeks as phase one nears completion.  Fin says six diamond holes have been completed at White Bear so far, with four of the six holes intersecting megacrystic spodumene-bearing pegmatite, initially identified in outcrop.  Drillhole intercepts of the spodumene-bearing pegmatite zone have been identified up to 7m in downhole thickness and confirmed using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Tr ..read more

Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM) has begun a capital raising via a private placement as its voluntary suspension continues.  The battery and critical metals explorer and developer has now been in suspension on the ASX for just over three months.  The company expects to complete the private placement in the week beginning 6 May and anticipates it will remain in voluntary suspension until 9 May 2024 or once it announces the outcome of the placement.  Pan Asia’s prolonged suspension has continued due to ongoing discussions with strategic investors regarding their participation in a propo ..read more

SCEE Group (ASX:SXE) has secured a $160 million contract from Synergy for work at the energy provider’s Collie Battery Energy Storage System (CBESS) in Western Australia.  The CBESS project is being developed in line with the Western Australian government’s decarbonisation strategy to be delivered by 2030. Up to 500 jobs are expected to be created at the peak of construction, with completion of construction at CBESS scheduled for 2025.  Under the contract, SCEE Electrical will undertake civil, electrical, and major equipment installation, including the installation and commissioning ..read more

Infini Resources (ASX:I88) has received government approval to undertake geophysical surveys on high priority uranium targets at the Portland Creek Project in Canada.  Geophysical surveys will include high resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drone magnetics and a light detection and ranging or photogrammetry survey.  CEO Charles Armstrong says the approval is essential to cracking the exploration code at Portland Creek.  “High resolution 25m spaced east-west UAV magnetics at the T1-T8 targets will allow the company to see through Talus cover and highlight key structures wi ..read more

Q2 Metals (TSX-V:QTWO) will announce details of its summer exploration plans in the coming weeks following a review of drilling core collected by the previous operators of the Cisco lithium property in Quebec, Canada.  The company re-logged six drill holes completed at the end of 2023 and ensured that all relevant intervals were sampled.  Previously sampled core was dispatched to SGS Canada for lab analysis and confirmation. Q2 Metals will report on the results once they are received.  Drilling by the previous operators followed rock chip sampling, which returned grades over 1 ..read more

On 1 May 2024, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced reforms to streamline Australia’s foreign investment framework, specifically to advance investments that align with the critical minerals sector.  In the announcement, the government’s treasury says “this will ensure that Australia can attract the significant foreign capital flows needed to support our priorities, while protecting the national interest in an increasingly complex economic and geostrategic environment.” The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) welcomed the news, saying it mirrors its longstanding call for a more dyn ..read more

ASX-listed explorers continue to rattle the tin, with Predictive Discovery (ASX:PDI), Hot Chili (ASX:HCH) and Mitre Mining (ASX:MMC) among the companies looking to boost their cash balances as the week comes to a close.  Predictive is undertaking a placement to raise $50 million, with firm commitments received from institutional, professional and sophisticated investors.   Under the placement, Predictive will be issuing 263.2 million shares at $0.19 each, representing a 9.5% discount to the last traded price, as well as a 12.9% discount to the five-day volume weighted average p ..read more