And your better half is right on, Verm.
The last two posts by Rhammer say it all. Up until now, The offer had no chance on account of the SRP, unless the FWR BOD scrapped it. We would all suffer since both parties would spend most of the winter battling each other rather than finding minerals.
Now we have a time limit, and apparently everyone is on board with it. FWR is continuing negotiations with this third party until Dec 01, after which the SRP will be abandoned. This is good for FWR, but apparently is also good for NOT.
One would have to assume that, in order for the agreements that have taken place today, that NOT is aware of who this third party is, and is onside with it. If this thing is allowed to run it's course in a normal fashion, FWR will continue negotiations with this 3rd party until it is successful, or else revert to negotiations with NOT, but one way or the other it is now safe to say that FWR is on the block.
One thing I will predict though is that on or before Dec 01, There will be either;
1. A joint news release wherein FWR announces a deal with this 3rd party, and NOT is onside with it
2. A joint news release announcing a deal between FWR and NOT, with no 3rd party involved.
And everyone will be happy with it (except the usual few).
Best regards
K