John:

I was thinking about this, and a critical factor for LBE in this environment (other that obtaining the outstanding financing) is whether or not there will be a market for LBE's nickel. What I am thinking, though, is that LBE will at least be able to feed some of its product to the Chinese in payment for the debt owed them. Therefore, if they can keep paying down the debt (can they escalate the speed of payment?), as well as sell at least some of the remainder of their production, they can keep their employees gainfully occupied for a while. They can at least buy some time, productively, while waiting out this storm.

Am I over simplifying things?

-- R.