Daily speculations in the media about potential mining M&A we...

Daily speculations in the media about potential mining M&A we hear all the time. As far as AGO goes, it has been going on for more than a year. But one I heard yesterday may possibly have legs or it may not.

If so, the clock may be ticking.

Now someone on the AGO thread may recall KB making a remark a few months ago to the effect that if there is some sort of corporate level transaction, it is alright for the port allocations to be a part of that.

The suggestion I now hear is that Reinhart is displeased (media stories confirms this) at Colin Barnett's royalty relief scheme which one may surmise may just buy AGO at least 3-4 months of time to enter into negotiations with potential suitor(s) who if the speculation is correct "supposedly" are eyeing the combined port allocation of South West Creek and Utah Point of close to 50MTA.

http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/rinehart-has-no-heart-for-junior-miners

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/13919035/atlas-iron-boss-in-rail-talks-with-rinehart/

Note: I am reminded (hence I dug up this link) that Flanagan previously negotiated a port/rail swap deal with Reinhart without result. Atlas port allocation at South West Creek directly adjoins Roy Hill's port facilities. Not sure who would benefit being first-come-best-dressed and first-cab-off-the-rank to grab AGO's port allocation should it goes belly up.

What is being floated to me is that India has been ramping up IO imports (from Australia) in 2014 and looks like will increase over time due to nationwide crack down on illegal and environment damaging domestic IO industry.

It is suggested that AGO is ONLY one of 2 Australian miners supplying India's entire IO imports (TATA steel may be AGO's customer).

However, the speculation is that Indian state owned NMDC - previous potential suitor to AGO's asset including the Ridley magnetite mine - is likely to be the party should anything materialize.

http://www.*.com.au/companies/news/5541/indias-nmdc-bids-for-atlas-iron-iron-ore-assets-5541.html

But then the Chinese who ultimately own Brockman (via the Limo front Wah Nam) may also have ideas.

Question is would Tianjin Port Group be investing in South West Creek if it is just for Brockman's puny allocation alone.

Incidentally, Baosteel which just bought AQA (to develop the West Pilbara Iron Ore Project - WOPIOP) has it's home based in Tianjin where seaborne ore are delivered.

http://www.theajmonline.com.au/mini...ckman-proposes-port-plan-with-chinese-partner   

....The company has signed an MOU with the Chinese-owned Tianjin Port group to investigate development of multi-user port infrastructure for the North West Infrastructure (NWI) alliance...

http://www.myresources.com.au/index...hernews/7977-barnett-takes-aim-at-rail-access

...."Mr Barnett, on the eve of another trip to China in search of a breakthrough in discussions over the stalled Oakajee Port and Rail project, said he welcomed the Tianjin interest in the Pilbara"......

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...-aquila-takeover/story-e6frg8zx-1227013439559

Could KB be very busy right now ?