Gina Rinehart's Hancock, SQM Agree to Buy Azure for $1.1 Billion.

Chilean lithium company SQM and Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting have agreed to make a cash offer of A$1.7 billion ($1.1 billion) to acquire Azure Minerals. This offer represents a nearly 52% premium to the price before a previous bid in October. The deal is expected to secure the bid, as other major shareholders have indicated their intention to sell their shares to the joint bidders. The acquisition allows Rinehart to gain a stake in the lithium industry, while SQM gains supply outside of Chile. [Extracted from the article]