status of the deal, page-3

I may well be looking at this with rose coloured glasses.

I believe the Indians did not have a deep enough cheque book to counter bid and provide the capex for building the mine. They are in this for the grade of zinc and this deal eventually gives them what they want.

Chinese want access to grade and would have the capex to consider in getting a mine built. Trade off for North West was that they get access to the ore body for 7 years in return for owning and building a mine.

I see this as a win win.

Had the Indians not stepped aside, then this deal would have fallen over. Hence, a two week delay. They had to get this out of the road first or there was no point in going any further.

Indians obviously squeezed MII for some compensation for moving aside, so I see that as a positive for ensuring the deal goes ahead.

Only my view, but, yes, I see more positives than negatives in the latest announcement.