don't be fool by shorters, page-2

S8g, these is no doubt the likes of BHP, RIO and Vale would love China to fail in acquiring SDL or simply have things dragged on indefintely so that even if China one day can gets it's hands on SDL, it may not be shipping IO from Cameroon in meaningful quantity until 2018 or later.

Notice I refer to China and not Han Long. The moment ASIC gives a red card to Han Long, another Chinese entity will step up. The only one with any sort of legitimacy and viability is Hunan Valin (also minority owned by Arcellor Mittal). I "speculate" the Chinese have pulled the funding (knowing Han Long will be barred) and set up HV as the contingency plan. If the PRC has any confidence that Han Long won't be found guilt, Xiao would now be in Sydney (a reasonable conclusion I would have thought).

The issue now is how long the ASIC probe will last. Xiao has been out of the country for almost 6 months now. He (as the Exective MD of Han Long) also dropped the bomb shell that Han Long was directly involved in the insider trading scam. Now, his voice is nowhere to be heard. What he admitted to (if true) is enough justification for the Han Long bid to be made null and void.

Under this circumstances, I can't how ASIC can give Han Long the green light. If anything, I would have thought ASIC would step on the gas and turn the inquiry into full blown criminal proceedings (perhaps applying for extradition of Xiao). I don't believe China is a signatory to an extradition agreement with Australia.

This creates a big problem if ASIC sits on it indefinitely and China doesn't hand over Xiao. Given a 6 month travel ban and asset freeze has been imposed on the others, one would think something has to give in the next 6 months.

Could this be a catalyst to opening the door to Western companies bidding against HV ??

These are mere questions.