The ASX Daily Monday, 18 May 2026
Top Stories
CEL — Challenger Gold delivers outstanding PFS for Hualilan with US$1.45bn pre-tax NPV and 1.84Moz AuEq production target
Challenger Gold’s Pre-Feasibility Study for its 100%-owned Hualilan Gold Project in Argentina delivers a pre-tax NPV of US$1.45 billion, post-tax NPV of US$1.10 billion, and a 14.25-year mine life producing 1.84 million ounces of gold equivalent at an AISC of US$1,618 per ounce. What makes this particularly compelling is the capital efficiency — just US$232 million upfront with a 2.25-year payback. At current spot gold prices of US$4,600 per ounce, the pre-tax NPV balloons to US$2.67 billion with an IRR of 83%. The company has backed the result with an A$85 million placement and the appointment of Yamana Gold founder Peter Marrone as Non-Executive Chairman — a signal of serious intent toward development.
GNP — GenusPlus agrees to acquire MPC Kinetic for up to A$400M in transformational deal
GenusPlus has signed a binding agreement to acquire MPC Kinetic — a leading Australian gas gathering, well maintenance and renewable construction services company — for up to A$400 million including earn-out. MPC Kinetic generated FY25 audited revenue of A$533 million and EBITDA of A$104 million, and the deal would nearly double GenusPlus’ pro-forma EBITDA to A$195 million. The acquisition is funded via up to A$200 million in equity and upsized debt, diversifying GenusPlus into gas, water and civil infrastructure alongside its existing electrical capabilities. Notably, this announcement comes on the same day GenusPlus upgraded its FY26 EBITDA guidance by up to 13% to A$96–100 million — a strong combination.
EOS — EOS launches $175M capital raise to fund MARSS acquisition amid A$726M combined order book
Electro Optic Systems is raising up to A$175 million — a fully underwritten A$150 million institutional placement plus a A$25 million SPP, both priced at A$8.00 per share — to fund the MARSS counter-drone acquisition. MARSS has just secured €102 million in new Middle East orders, pushing its order book to €135 million and the combined EOS group order book to A$726 million, with 60 to 80% expected to convert to revenue across 2026 and 2027. For investors in the defence technology theme, this is one of the most significant ASX stories of the year.
Mid-Tier Movers
OBM — Ora Banda Mining approved a A$465 million growth plan — a new 3.0 Mtpa processing plant at Davyhurst for A$375 million and a A$90 million Waihi Underground mine — targeting nearly double nameplate milling capacity to 4.2 Mtpa by FY29. The company backed this with a 69% jump in total Mineral Resources to 3.57 million ounces and a strong balance sheet of A$232 million cash plus a new A$200 million revolving credit facility.
NTU — The Australian Treasurer issued forced disposal orders under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act requiring divestment of approximately 1.68 billion Northern Minerals shares held by six named foreign-linked entities. Combined with earlier interim directions covering a further 361 million shares, over 2 billion NTU shares are now subject to government action — a highly unusual and significant regulatory intervention.
TUA — Singapore’s IMDA suspended its regulatory review of Tuas Limited’s proposed acquisition of M1 after subsidiary Simba allegedly used unauthorised radio frequency bands, potentially breaching the Telecommunications Act. With the deal’s long-stop date just days away on 21 May, this suspension creates serious uncertainty about whether the transaction can proceed at all.
AGR — Aguia Resources received its Operating Licence for the Tres Estradas phosphate project in Brazil, with mining commencing immediately on 18 May. First processed material arrives at the plant in early June, marking Aguia’s formal transition from developer to producer at a time of elevated pricing and supply disruptions in the domestic Brazilian market.
PME — Pro Medicus signed a A$90 million, 7-year contract with Boston-based Beth Israel Lahey Health — a 14-hospital system covering over 39,000 employees — for the full Visage 7 platform deployed in the cloud on a transaction-based licensing model. Go-live is targeted for Q1 2027, adding meaningful recurring revenue to PME’s already strong US contract book.
SDI — SDI Limited’s scheme booklet was registered by ASIC for a A$1.40 per share cash takeover by InnoXvest Dental, a subsidiary of Beijing Guoci linked to Shenzhen-listed Sinocera. The independent expert has declared the scheme fair and reasonable, the board unanimously recommends voting in favour, and the scheme meeting is set for 22 June with delisting expected 7 July.
Rapid Fire
* AA2 — Ariana Resources sold a 13.6% stake in Turkish gold miner Zenit for US$19.5 million, with proceeds funding a feasibility study at its 1.1 million ounce Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe — leaving the company with A$53 million cash and no debt.
* ASK — Abacus Storage King is internalising its management for A$24 million, expecting around 6% FFO per security accretion from approximately A$7 million in annual cost savings, and will rebrand as Storage King Group trading under the new ticker SKG from 30 June.
* ALC — Alcidion is acquiring three Kyra patient flow software products from Telstra Health for A$3 million upfront plus up to A$1 million in earn-outs, adding 33 customers and A$3.7 million in forecast FY26 revenue at a compelling 2.7x EBITDA multiple.
* SSM — Service Stream won A$455 million in new utility contracts including a 9-year, A$405 million deal with Yarra Valley Water commencing October 2026 — long-term annuity-style revenue across water and energy sectors.
* DWG — Dataworks Group launched BetGuard — Ontario’s centralised self-exclusion platform — marking its entry into a second regulated international jurisdiction and connecting it to over 230 wagering operators globally.
* EXR — Elixir Energy confirmed Diona-1 as a commercial gas discovery in the Taroom Trough with zero CO2 and H2S impurities, a Contingent Resource booking now being pursued, and net acreage growing to 548,000 net acres — the largest position in the play.
* RR1 — Reach Resources secured a fully-funded path to gold production at its 80,000 ounce Murchison South project via a 50/50 profit-share deal with Andel Resources, who will pay a non-refundable A$2 million option fee and fund all mining and processing costs.
ASX Daily Digest · Not financial advice · Price-sensitive announcements only
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelisteddigest.substack.com [https://thelisteddigest.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]