==Background==
The [[L&M Group]] is made up of a number of companies with interests in the minerals and energy sectors. The “L&M” dates back to the original company founded in 1935, “Lime & Marble Ltd”. Since then the company has been through various iterations involving mineral, coal, gold and petroleum exploration and mining.<ref>L&M Group,[http://www.lmgroup.net.nz/page7f10.html "L&M Group website"], accessed April 2012.</ref> L&M Group Limited became incorporated as a NZ Limited Company (no 467639) on 26 Sep 2013. Archibald Geoffrey Loudon is the sole owner and director.<ref>Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment,[https://www.business.govt.nz/@@fb-searchlite/companydetails/4672639 "NZ Companies"], accessed October 2014</ref>
In 2005 L&M restructured and the group then comprised six operating companies: L&M Mining Ltd, L&M Lignite Ltd, L&M Coal Ltd, L&M Coal Seam Gas Ltd, L&M Petroleum Ltd, and Mintago Investments Ltd. All were owned by Hong Kong based company, Auriferous Mining Ltd.<ref>Coal Association of NZ, [http://www.coalassociation.org/publications/e-News/Coal%20e-news%20No.%2011%20%28final%29.pdf?page=1013 "Coal e-newsletter, September 2005"], accessed December 2012.</ref> The present companies in the Group are almost wholly overseas owned and hold prospecting rights over thousands of square kilometres of the New Zealand mainland. In a presentation to the 2012 conference “Excellence in Oil & Gas”, L&M Energy gave reasons for New Zealand exploration that included a supportive government and a favourable royalty regime.<ref>L&M Group, [http://www.lmenergy.co.nz/download/LME_Oil&Gas_2012.pdf?inline "2012 Excellence in Oil and Gas, page 5"], accessed December 2012.</ref>
==Role of the Chairman==