rio & ioh, page-2

They have clearly been "negotiating" and failed to even reach the point of making a bid so I guess it could be either:

1. IOH aren't interested in selling to RIO (this doesn't make much sense unless they think there is another party or two lined up).

2. IOH terms are unacceptable to RIO - price too high... Or RIO want the whole company but IOH only wants to sell Iron Valley?

3. Hangover from the RSPT? Is RIO holding back on decisions like this until after the Fed election?

4. RIO have decided they don't want or need the ore from IOH (this seems unlikely given their business plan).

The way I see it - if RIO needs the ore to ramp up production, delaying can only make IOH more expensive as resource keeps expanding.

Do IOH hold the whip hand in these negotiations and is it IOH that have scuttled the deal - not RIO?

Opinions from those with more expertise or insight than myself?