Iron Ore Tycoon Muscles In On Albemarle’s Lithium Takeover

  • US company set to complete due diligence on Liontown next week
  • Hancock has criticized Kathleen Valley project’s management

Gina Rinehart.

Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Australia’s richest woman has added to her stake in lithium miner Liontown Resources Ltd. for the fourth time in under a month, edging closer to a position that could block a A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) takeover by the world’s biggest producer of the metal.

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting Pty. now owns 14.67% of Liontown, the target of the Albemarle Corp. bid, according to an ASX filing late Tuesday — closing in on the 15% level that is generally considered to be an effective blocking minority stake. Her holding stood at just under 8% on Sept. 12.