and I would say that ALB was well aware that this was coming and...

and I would say that ALB was well aware that this was coming and that it will destroy approx 50% of their business (and that of SQM) by 2030, and hence the tanking of their share prices in the USA today. In other words and IMO ALB has to buy LTR if it wants to survive in the long term as the largest lithium miner in the world as there are no other options for it, noting that SQM owns 50% of Mt Holland. I also suspect that ALB made their offers to LTR fearing this move in Chile and also well aware of the rate they are eroding their Greenbushes resource. LTR (Kathleen Valley) as the largest independent still yet to be mined hard rock resource in the world (noting that Mt Holland is slightly bigger but jointly owned) just got even more desirable and valuable. IMO ALB will have to make another greatly increased offer, if not them, then someone else will.