April
FIRB questions linger in Azure Minerals takeover
UBS hedge fund sales trader said delays in takeover receiving necessary Foreign Investment Review Board approvals should give investors cause for concern.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
February
- Analysis
- Mining
Rinehart turns 70 at legal and lithium crossroads
As Australia’s richest person hits her milestone birthday, the market is testing Hancock Prospecting’s appetite for becoming a serious lithium force.
- Brad Thompson
Rich List fortunes gouged by green metals slump
The wealth of mining executives and investors has taken a hit from the falling price of lithium and other minerals used in the transition from fossil fuels.
- Tom Richardson
January
MinRes insists its lithium mines are still profitable
Billionaire Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison says he expects lithium prices to keep falling well into 2024.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
Lithium’s M&A frenzy is the wildcard ahead of confession season
Lower lithium and nickel prices clearly present an impairment indicator for company directors to consider. But big takeover bids could save the day.
- Updated
- Peter Ker
- Updated
- Mining
MinRes grabs big stake in lithium play Kali Metals just days after IPO
The Chris Ellison-led mining group snared a big stake in the lithium exploration company after a remarkable start to life on the ASX.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
Mark Creasy, lithium kingmaker, strikes rivers of investment gold
Accounts filed by the billionaire prospector’s Yandal Investments show its equity portfolio has risen beyond $1 billion, up from $694 million one year earlier.
- Brad Thompson
December 2023
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Rinehart walks the talk with $1.7b lithium buy
Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has been in a few lithium scraps, but has invested more in the sector than most this year. Azure Minerals is significant.
- Anthony Macdonald
Rinehart joins forces with lithium giant SQM in $1.7b Azure bid
Gina Rinehart has thrashed out a partnership that delivers part of her ambitions to become a major lithium player in her home state of Western Australia.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
Lithium heavyweights on cusp of sealing Azure partnership
The battle for control of lithium explorer Azure Minerals is expected to become clearer this week as major investors get close to a cooperation pact.
- Peter Ker
November 2023
MinRes fails to stop Wildcat director’s $28.8m lithium windfall
Wildcat Resources shareholders have signed off on a windfall for director Alex Hewlett after he made the connection that ultimately led to Mineral Resources emerging as a major backer.
- Elouise Fowler and Brad Thompson
Next lithium giant says WA deals far too rich right now
The enlarged Allkem-Livent will get aggressive acquiring lithium assets in Australia once it has a better idea of the landscape, but current valuations are far too high.
- Brad Thompson
MinRes wades into heavyweight battle over lithium target Azure
Chris Ellison’s Mineral Resources has built a big stake in lithium play Azure Minerals in the wake of SQM lobbing a $1.6 billion takeover offer.
- Updated
- Elouise Fowler and Brad Thompson
MinRes makes down payment in billion-dollar lithium blitz
Billionaire Chris Ellison faces paying a loftier premium for the Bald Hill lithium mine, and SQM is bracing for more competition for Azure Minerals.
- Brad Thompson
October 2023
MinRes takes big stake in WA lithium play Wildcat
Billionaire Chris Ellison grabbed a 19.8 per cent stake in the explorer as deal frenzy continues in the state.
- Brad Thompson
Tolga Kumova joins Pilbara lithium frenzy
The resources investor is the biggest backer of micro-cap Industrial Minerals, which has stuck a deal allowing it to extract lithium from Pilbara tenements.
- Updated
- Peter Ker
- Updated
- Mining
$2.14b dividend war chest fuels Rinehart’s lithium raid
The Pilbara iron ore mine has paid the country’s richest person $2.14 billion at the same time as management considers life after operations come to an end.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
- Updated
- Iron ore
Rinehart buoyed by $222m Atlas iron ore dividend
Gina Rinehart has more ammunition to throw at her lithium pivot after banking $222 million from her Atlas Iron subsidiary.
- Updated
- Peter Ker
Gina Rinehart set to spoil SQM’s $1.6b scheme bid for Azure Minerals
Stockbroker Euroz Hartleys was hoovering up shares in lithium play Azure Minerals on Thursday morning, after the company signed a binding deed with Chilean giant SQM at $3.50 a share.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Lithium takeovers ignite the Pilbara
One week after lithium giant Albemarle abandoned its Liontown takeover, South American lithium giant SQM is making moves of its own.
- Peter Ker