In today’s Funding Friday, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) saw a wave of funding announcements from mining and resources companies, all culminating in the week ending 19 September.
Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) has received a US$500 million investment from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar.
As such, the diversified mining company will issue 57.51 million shares to QIA via a private placement at C$12 per share – representing a 4% stake in the company.
Ivanhoe Minerals will use the funds to advance growth opportunities related to exploring, development, and mining critical minerals, as well as general corporate purposes.
Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland says this investment is a “powerful” endorsement of Ivanhoe Mines.
“Ivanhoe’s journey is only just beginning, as we search the globe for our next discoveries and opportunities to develop new tier-one mines,” Friedland says.
“QIA’s investment will be instrumental in opening up new horizons.”
QIA Chief Executive Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi says this investment supports the team in finding, developing, and sustainably supplying critical minerals essential to the global energy transition.
Funding on horizon for Sunrise Energy
Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL) has received a letter of interest from the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the US for up to US$67 million ($100.38 million) in
financial support for the Syerston Scandium Project in New South Wales.
If Sunrise proceeds with a formal application, EXIM will conduct requisite due diligence to determine if a final lending commitment would be made. A lending commitment will depend on meeting EXIM’s criteria, authorisation process, and finalising agreed terms and conditions.
Co-Chairman Robert Friedland says this letter of interest underscores the importance of scandium to the US.
“As a key ally of the US, Australia’s significant endowment of strategic metals positions it to be an important supplier in the future,” Friedland says.
This news follows Sunrise announcing the near completion of a Feasibility Study investigating the potential to produce a high-purity scandium oxide product in Australia. The study is expected to be completed mid-to-late October 2025.
As the study progresses, the resource estimate increase at Syerston requires additional work for conversion to an ore reserve estimate and an optimised mine plan.
DroneShield surpasses 4,000 sales
DroneShield (ASX:DRO) has surpassed 4,000 systems sold worldwide with receiving a package of two standalone contracts totalling $7.9 million for handheld systems for delivery to the US Department of Defense (DoD).
The latest orders build on existing DoD programs already deploying DroneShield systems. All of the equipment is expected to be delivered in Q4 2025, with cash payments expected around the same time.
US Chief Executive Matt McCrann says passing 4,000 systems is an “important” milestone for the company.
“It underlines the performance and dependability of our solutions in the field, and the trusted place in DroneShield by those who rely on them,” McCrann says.
This milestone also comes as DroneShield reported a record revenue for the first half of 2025, totalling $72.3 million, representing a 210% increase compared to the same time the previous year.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Ivanhoe Mines, Sunrise Energy Metals & DroneShield
