you would think that BHPs takeover of RIO @$160ish would beg the...

you would think that BHPs takeover of RIO @$160ish would beg the question: why doesnt someone come out to buy it @ $80
At $38.5 mark cap=$17.5B
At $80 mark cap=$36 B + $40B debt =$76B

At $76 B its still 30/40% below BHP mark cap of $100+B

They would get it for $36B and thats at half price to the bhp deal

BHP was 3.4/1
now its 1.4/1 at current price and 2.8/1 @$80

Interesting how buyers will wait till its $100+ again and then you will hear takeover talk of $150+ again.
You would think this is the opportune time even with funding being hard.
Rio said BHP wanted it for its long life low cost assets and the synergies were irrelevant to the market.Rio said we need to remember that BHP did not get it and RIO retains all synergies BHP wanted.
Scare mongering aside Rio can manage its way through the downturn and may yet be able to offload some non core assets whilst retaining its jewels.
dyor