Chile’s SQM has finalized a A$1.63 billion takeover of lithium explorer Azure Minerals, SQM’s offer comes in at A$3.52 per share on a fully diluted basis, a 50% premium on its last offer of A$2.31 in August. It also offers a 44.3% premium relative to Azure’s last closing price, and a 55.9% premium to its ten-day volume-weighted average. One of Azure’s major shareholders, Deutsche Balaton, has confirmed that it supports the acquisition under the new offer. Azure’s Andover project in Australia’s Pilbara region is expected to provide between 2.5 million and 9 million metric tons LCE content over the course of the mine’s life. Lithium’s current low price is continuing to provide fertile grounds for consolidation, despite Albemarle’s continued struggle…