Australia: metals and mining activity down 26.76% in Q1

Australia’s metals and mining industry saw a drop of 26.76% in overall deal activity during Q1 2021, when compared with the last four-quarter average, according to the latest analysis from GlobalData’s deals database.

A total of 65 deals worth $183.92mn were announced in Q1 2021, compared with the last four-quarter average of 88.75 deals.

Mergers & Acquisitions

M&A was the leading category in the quarter with 62 deals which accounted for 95.4% of all deals. In second place was private equity with two deals, followed by venture financing with one transaction, respectively accounting for 3.1% and 1.5% of overall deal activity in Australia’s metals and mining industry during the quarter.

In terms of value of deals, M&A was the leading deal category with total deals worth $160.05mn, while private equity and venture financing deals totalled $23.28mn and $0.59mn, respectively.

Australia's top mining and metals deals

Australia's top five metals and mining industry deals accounted for 59.9% of the overall value during Q1 2021. The combined value of the top five metals & mining deals stood at $110.25mn, against the overall value of $183.92mn recorded for the quarter.

Top five deals tracked by GlobalData:

• Cyprium Metals’ $46.09m acquisition of Paterson Copper
• The $23.28mn private equity deal with Newcrest Mining by Allan Gray Australia and Orbis Investment Management
• Northern Star (Carosue Dam)’s $13.94mn asset transaction with Shannon Resources
• The $13.63mn acquisition deal with Big River Gold by Dundee
• Red Emperor Resources’ asset transaction with Great Northern Palladium for $13.31mn