Biggest error SDL board made was trusting Hanlong. Insufficient due diligence was done by SDL's board in my opinion, in light of insider trading concerns by the bidders senior executives. That was a big red flag.
Once the board handcuffed shareholders to Hanlong's highly conditional with a no shop clause, for 12+ months SDL's leverage was all but gone.
This was in a hot iron market in 2012 when other companies such as SPH, and African Iron etc were being taken over all over the place.
SDL's board were totally out manouvered, now trying to make something happen in a bear market for iron ore.