"Would be very, very difficult to get X2 & partners out of the ring at that point."

Why that thought?

If they buy Cliffs then consider that we might not end up partners but bought out also.

If they do everything as past reputation implies then I would not want X2 out but would take their shares and hold as now with Noront.

Consider that we might not get as good a price for our Noront shares as we would like, then would we not want to ride with a company like X2 that has a good reputation and whose stock would likely rise further afterwards.

Is it not good to have dreams?