From the last news release...
"Noront is continuing to identify companies who may be interested in becoming a strategic partner with Noront to assist it in developing its Double Eagle project. Noront is currently in preliminary discussions with a number of such candidates"
...my take is either of the following two scenarios:
1 - NOT is looking to consolidate ROF participants into a cohesive group so as to provide a unified bargaining group to enhance its negotiation ability when the big guys come seriously knocking at the door. This is the 80% factor according to Mr. Nemis.
2 - NOT is in the dancing stage with "a number of such candidates" with regards to the potential of a 10% buyout, also referred to by Mr. Nemis several months ago in, I believe, the Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal.
This is Texas Hold'em at its best and we haven't even seen the flop yet!