Rich Lister Chris Ellison believes his mining services empire could work alongside mining entrepreneur Bill Beament as the latter seeks to turn a small exploration company into the sort of mixed business that made Ellison a billionaire.

The market capitalisation of Mr Ellison’s Mineral Resources Limited has increased 16-fold over the past five years to $11.6 billion on the back of a unique business model that earns stable revenue by providing third parties with services such as crushing and haulage but also the volatile and cyclical earnings that come from owning mines.