Ann: Results of Scheme Meeting, page-56

I agree that MIN don't NEED it now, but they clearly want it at some point.

What I think you are incorrect on is that "MIN will do whatever to get ESS at as low a price as possible and take their good time doing it."

The amount of money they may save by doing that simply isn't worth the risk of the unknown, anything could happen in a couple of years.

This is not a major acquisition for MIN. They do not want to waste years of their time to save $20m. They make $2bn a year.