LionOre

LionOre Mining International, a Canadian company, agreed in 1999 to merge the LionOre group's nickel interests within the Lake Johnston Greenstone Belt in WA with those of Capricorn Resources Australia NL to form a new focused nickel company, LionOre Australia (Nickel).

Run by Mark Ashley for more than nine years until 2006, it was an aggressive acquirer of additional assets.

In 2002, the Toronto-listed company acquired the minority interests in ASX-listed LionOre Australia (Nickel). It also listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Already on the TSX, LionOre Mining International was listed on the ASX in 2003. It remained aggressive in the M&A space and was subject to a bidding war itself in 2007 when Norilsk outbid Xstrata to win the takeover battle.