Mr Benson of The Australian has a finite understanding of what is at play here. It is easy to gesture at Rare Earths, cite Defence implications and draw the Security veil over the realities.
Dy and Tb are essential for permanent magnets in high performance electric motors and generators. China has a dominant position in producing these and is exquisitely placed to hold the rest of the world to ransom.
Dealing with Mr Wu's alleged illegal buying of NTR shares has been taken up at the highest level in the Australian Government. Obliging him to divest is likely, though grinding a coherent decision through the bureaucracy will take time.
NTU investors should be concerned about a stock overhang or ILU cementing it's already dominant position on the register.
Still, as they say in showbiz, all publicity is good publicity. The scrutiny means more will become aware of NTU's valuable assets in Browns Range and Wolverine, with share price benefits.
ILU would like to own Wolverine, "understood to be the highest grade Dy and Tb orebody in Australia". If they want to take NTU over, I insist they pay a price that reflects it's value and strategic significance.
Edit: very pleased to be a holder and on the right side of this imbroglio.
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