Many have been attacked on this hub as bashers for stating the reality that the Blackbirds are virtually worthless, the Not offer is deceptive, and Cliffs has no interest in acquiring Not. They did so, because in conflicted with the expert opinions of longtime posters.

Hopefully this dose of reality will provoke self reflection which will allow for respect for all perspectives.---from the horses mouth:

Counter to what Noront promotes:

• Noront’s chromite deposits are smaller, thinner and deeper than Freewest’s, are unlikely to be developed for decades and, as a result, there are no synergies in consolidating Noront's and Freewest’s chromite deposits;
• Noront has grossly overstated the value of its bid by, among other things, using inappropriately aggressive assumptions to value the warrant component of its offer, an indisputable fact based on market trading;
• There are no significant tax savings from Noront’s offer, only a tax deferral if a shareholder does not sell the Noront shares.

Cliffs and Freewest are petitioning the Quebec Autorité des marchés financiers to investigate Noront’s public statements, deficiencies in its regulatory filings and potential irregularities in the trading of Noront stock, and to take appropriate action.

“Noront is exaggerating the value of its bid as well as the potential for synergies between Freewest’s and Noront’s chromite assets,” said Joseph Carrabba, president, chairman and CEO of Cliffs. "We believe only one mine will be developed. It will be a surface operation on one of the Freewest properties rather than an underground mine on Noront’s deeper, thinner and discontinuous deposit. The simple fact is that the scale and quality of Freewest's massive 2.5 km long chromite deposits render the Noront chromite properties completely irrelevant in the Ring of Fire.