Azure owns a majority stake in the Andover lithium project in Australia’s mineral-rich Pilbara mining region, where Rinehart’s Hancock runs a large iron-ore mining business.
Azure reported that Hancock had taken a large stake in company a day after SQM’s October bid. Earlier that month, Hancock scuttled a planned takeover of Liontown Resources by Albemarle, acquiring enough stock to frustrate the American lithium giant’s intention of buying the Australian company. In a statement Tuesday, Hancock said it is reviewing a number of early-stage lithium projects.